Pet Sitter Precautions
Before you hand over your cat or dog to a pet sitter, please take a moment to consider some common sense precautions. Most pets in the care of a pet sitter will be well taken care of, and there shouldn’t be any problem. However, a significant percentage of the people requesting help from Three Retrievers Lost Pet Rescue start off by saying, “The pet sitter lost my pet!” When your cat or dog is in the care of a pet sitter, your pet may be anxious that you are gone, routines can change, maybe the pet sitter isn’t aware that the back door doesn’t always latch tight, or some other idiosyncratic detail. Whatever the reason, pets do go missing from pet sitters far more often than necessary. Whether the pet sitter is watching your cat or dog at your home or in their home, please take certain precautions before you go on your trip, and be sure to ask the pet sitter some basic questions.
For Dogs:
You can and should take all of these loss prevention measures at any time, even if you aren’t leaving your dog with a pet sitter.
—Make sure your dog has a microchip, and be certain the information is up to date with the microchip company.
—Make sure your dog has a reliable collar and a legible tag.
—Take many photos that are clear and simple, and show any distinguishing marks on your dog. These may be needed for a Lost Dog poster, or to post on social media. These pictures should be available to the pet sitter and a friend or relative near your home.
—For each dog, create a scent article, in case the services of a tracking dog are needed to help locate your dog. This is made by rubbing a sterile gauze pad all over your dog and storing it in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag. Make a separate scent article for each dog or cat in your home, and write the name and date on the outside of the plastic bag before sticking it in the freezer. Make sure this scent article can be made available while you are out of town.
—The pet sitter should have plenty of ways to contact you or your vet or a friend or relative. Be certain to have a clear understanding, preferably in writing, that if your dog should go missing for any reason, the pet sitter should notify you or your representative immediately. If you live in the Seattle area, you can tell them to contact Three Retrievers right away, 206-552-0304.
—If there is any chance at all that your dog might get spooked or try to back out of a collar or harness, buy a collar and a harness that fit your dog perfectly, and two leashes, and make clear that your dog is to be walked with two leashes, one to the collar and one to the harness.
—Consider getting a GPS tracking unit for your dog’s collar, and verify that it is working properly before you leave on your trip.
Take a tour of your house and yard, looking for ways your dog could escape if he wanted to, such as a gap under the gate or a loose board in the fence. Keep in mind that just because your dog hasn’t gotten out, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t. Fix any weaknesses.
—If the pet sitter is watching your dog in your home, you may want to invest in security cameras that connect to WiFi and watch your home inside and out.
—If a dog goes missing, this guide details the best methods of finding a lost dog. Make sure the pet sitter reads the whole thing before taking your dog. If the pet sitter is not willing to read this guide ahead of time, find a different pet sitter.
Questions to ask a pet sitter before handing over your dog.
—Have you ever lost a dog that was in your care? More than one?
—Did you read the Guide to Finding a Lost Dog?
—Are we clear that I will be inordinately upset if you lose my dog?
—You understand you are to call me or the designated contact right away if my dog goes missing?
—If anyone else besides you has access to my dogs, they would need to answer these questions and agree to these rules.
—If your dog will be staying somewhere other than your home, ask to see the facility before handing over your dog. If a tour is not offered, get someone else to watch your dog.
For Cats:
You can and should take all of these loss prevention measures at any time, even if you aren’t leaving your cat with a pet sitter.
—Make sure your cat has a microchip, and be certain the information is up to date with the microchip company.
—Consider a breakaway collar and tag for your cat. Not all cats will wear a collar, but if possible, have him wear one at least while you are on your trip.
—Take many photos that are clear and simple, and show any distinguishing marks on your cat. These may be needed for a Lost Cat poster, or to post on social media. These pictures should be available to the pet sitter and a friend or relative near your home.
—For each cat, create a scent article, in case the services of a tracking dog are needed to help locate your cat. This is made by rubbing a sterile gauze pad all over your cat and storing it in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag. Make a separate scent article for each dog or cat in your home, and write the name and date on the outside of the plastic bag before sticking it in the freezer. Make sure this scent article can be made available while you are out of town.
—The pet sitter should have plenty of ways to contact you or your vet or a friend or relative. Be certain to have a clear understanding, preferably in writing, that if your cat should go missing for any reason, the pet sitter should notify you or your representative immediately. If you live in the Seattle area, you can tell them to contact Three Retrievers right away, 206-552-0304.
—Consider getting a GPS tracking unit for your cat’s collar, and verify that it is working properly before you leave on your trip.
—Take a tour of your house and/or yard, (depending on whether your cat is indoor only or outdoor access) looking for ways your cat could escape if he wanted to, such as a sliding window or a door that doesn’t always latch tight. Keep in mind that just because your cat hasn’t gotten out, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t. Fix any weaknesses.
—If the pet sitter is watching your cat in your home, you may want to invest in security cameras that connect to WiFi and watch your home inside and out.
—If your cat will be transported to another location, your cat absolutely must be in a carrier that is strong and secure.
—If a cat goes missing, this guide details the best methods of finding a lost cat. Make sure the pet sitter reads the whole thing before taking your cat. If the pet sitter is not willing to read this guide ahead of time, find a different pet sitter.
Questions to ask a pet sitter before handing over your cat.
—Have you ever lost a cat that was in your care? More than one?
—Did you read the Guide to Finding a Lost Cat?
—Are we clear that I will be inordinately upset if you lose my cat?
—You understand you are to call me or the designated contact right away if my cat goes missing?
—If anyone else besides you has access to my cat, they would need to answer these questions and agree to these rules.
—If your cat will be staying somewhere other than your home, ask to see the facility before handing over your cat. If a tour is not offered, get someone else to watch your cat.
Before you hand over your cat or dog to a pet sitter, please take a moment to consider some common sense precautions. Most pets in the care of a pet sitter will be well taken care of, and there shouldn’t be any problem. However, a significant percentage of the people requesting help from Three Retrievers Lost Pet Rescue start off by saying, “The pet sitter lost my pet!” When your cat or dog is in the care of a pet sitter, your pet may be anxious that you are gone, routines can change, maybe the pet sitter isn’t aware that the back door doesn’t always latch tight, or some other idiosyncratic detail. Whatever the reason, pets do go missing from pet sitters far more often than necessary. Whether the pet sitter is watching your cat or dog at your home or in their home, please take certain precautions before you go on your trip, and be sure to ask the pet sitter some basic questions.
For Dogs:
You can and should take all of these loss prevention measures at any time, even if you aren’t leaving your dog with a pet sitter.
—Make sure your dog has a microchip, and be certain the information is up to date with the microchip company.
—Make sure your dog has a reliable collar and a legible tag.
—Take many photos that are clear and simple, and show any distinguishing marks on your dog. These may be needed for a Lost Dog poster, or to post on social media. These pictures should be available to the pet sitter and a friend or relative near your home.
—For each dog, create a scent article, in case the services of a tracking dog are needed to help locate your dog. This is made by rubbing a sterile gauze pad all over your dog and storing it in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag. Make a separate scent article for each dog or cat in your home, and write the name and date on the outside of the plastic bag before sticking it in the freezer. Make sure this scent article can be made available while you are out of town.
—The pet sitter should have plenty of ways to contact you or your vet or a friend or relative. Be certain to have a clear understanding, preferably in writing, that if your dog should go missing for any reason, the pet sitter should notify you or your representative immediately. If you live in the Seattle area, you can tell them to contact Three Retrievers right away, 206-552-0304.
—If there is any chance at all that your dog might get spooked or try to back out of a collar or harness, buy a collar and a harness that fit your dog perfectly, and two leashes, and make clear that your dog is to be walked with two leashes, one to the collar and one to the harness.
—Consider getting a GPS tracking unit for your dog’s collar, and verify that it is working properly before you leave on your trip.
Take a tour of your house and yard, looking for ways your dog could escape if he wanted to, such as a gap under the gate or a loose board in the fence. Keep in mind that just because your dog hasn’t gotten out, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t. Fix any weaknesses.
—If the pet sitter is watching your dog in your home, you may want to invest in security cameras that connect to WiFi and watch your home inside and out.
—If a dog goes missing, this guide details the best methods of finding a lost dog. Make sure the pet sitter reads the whole thing before taking your dog. If the pet sitter is not willing to read this guide ahead of time, find a different pet sitter.
Questions to ask a pet sitter before handing over your dog.
—Have you ever lost a dog that was in your care? More than one?
—Did you read the Guide to Finding a Lost Dog?
—Are we clear that I will be inordinately upset if you lose my dog?
—You understand you are to call me or the designated contact right away if my dog goes missing?
—If anyone else besides you has access to my dogs, they would need to answer these questions and agree to these rules.
—If your dog will be staying somewhere other than your home, ask to see the facility before handing over your dog. If a tour is not offered, get someone else to watch your dog.
For Cats:
You can and should take all of these loss prevention measures at any time, even if you aren’t leaving your cat with a pet sitter.
—Make sure your cat has a microchip, and be certain the information is up to date with the microchip company.
—Consider a breakaway collar and tag for your cat. Not all cats will wear a collar, but if possible, have him wear one at least while you are on your trip.
—Take many photos that are clear and simple, and show any distinguishing marks on your cat. These may be needed for a Lost Cat poster, or to post on social media. These pictures should be available to the pet sitter and a friend or relative near your home.
—For each cat, create a scent article, in case the services of a tracking dog are needed to help locate your cat. This is made by rubbing a sterile gauze pad all over your cat and storing it in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag. Make a separate scent article for each dog or cat in your home, and write the name and date on the outside of the plastic bag before sticking it in the freezer. Make sure this scent article can be made available while you are out of town.
—The pet sitter should have plenty of ways to contact you or your vet or a friend or relative. Be certain to have a clear understanding, preferably in writing, that if your cat should go missing for any reason, the pet sitter should notify you or your representative immediately. If you live in the Seattle area, you can tell them to contact Three Retrievers right away, 206-552-0304.
—Consider getting a GPS tracking unit for your cat’s collar, and verify that it is working properly before you leave on your trip.
—Take a tour of your house and/or yard, (depending on whether your cat is indoor only or outdoor access) looking for ways your cat could escape if he wanted to, such as a sliding window or a door that doesn’t always latch tight. Keep in mind that just because your cat hasn’t gotten out, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t. Fix any weaknesses.
—If the pet sitter is watching your cat in your home, you may want to invest in security cameras that connect to WiFi and watch your home inside and out.
—If your cat will be transported to another location, your cat absolutely must be in a carrier that is strong and secure.
—If a cat goes missing, this guide details the best methods of finding a lost cat. Make sure the pet sitter reads the whole thing before taking your cat. If the pet sitter is not willing to read this guide ahead of time, find a different pet sitter.
Questions to ask a pet sitter before handing over your cat.
—Have you ever lost a cat that was in your care? More than one?
—Did you read the Guide to Finding a Lost Cat?
—Are we clear that I will be inordinately upset if you lose my cat?
—You understand you are to call me or the designated contact right away if my cat goes missing?
—If anyone else besides you has access to my cat, they would need to answer these questions and agree to these rules.
—If your cat will be staying somewhere other than your home, ask to see the facility before handing over your cat. If a tour is not offered, get someone else to watch your cat.