Leaving your beloved pet in someone else’s care can be nerve-wracking, but with the right approach, you can ensure both your peace of mind and your pet’s safety and happiness. Whether you’re hiring a professional pet sitter or choosing a boarding facility, asking the right questions and doing a thorough interview are essential steps. Here’s how to interview a professional pet sitter or boarding facility.
1. Consider Your Pets’ Needs
Preparing at home, before scheduling a consultation or facility tour, is key!
Begin by noting your pet’s unique needs. Include their species, number of pets, daily routines, any medications or medical issues, fears, quirks, and preferences. Then, decide what type of care you want. Do you think your pet(s) would be more comfortable at home or in a boarding facility? If at home, how often and for how long would your pet need care? If your pet is at a boarding facility, would they need their own private space or enjoy mingling with other guests? Would all your pet species be welcome?
2. Vet Your Options
Seek recommendations from friends, your vet, or local pet groups.
Once you have a shortlist, visit their websites and social media profiles. Always check online reviews to gauge general customer satisfaction before you arrange interviews or facility tours. If a pet sitter or facility has at least 10, give or take, you can be sure they have a history serving the community. The more satisfied customer reviews, the better, of course. At PCPSI, we have a 4.9 star rating – out of 5 – and almost 250 reviews!
3. Ask the Right Questions
For Professional Pet Sitters
Experience and Training
Ask how long they’ve been in the pet sitting industry, what types of pets they’ve cared for, and if they have training or certifications in animal behavior.
Handling Emergencies
Find out how they would handle medical emergencies, behavioral issues, and unexpected situations. Ask for specific examples including if they have pet first aid and CPR training.
Daily Routine
Clarify their approach to feeding, exercise, playtime, and medication. Will they stick to your pet’s usual schedule? How much time will they spend with your pet each visit? Each day?
Updates and Communication
Will they provide daily updates and photos? Open communication is crucial for your peace of mind and many pet sitting companies like ours prioritize transparency and communication for your peace of mind.
Backup Plans
Ask what happens if they or a sitter from their team is suddenly unavailable? Do they have a reliable backup and/or a management team to support their sitters?
Insurance and References
Ensure they’re insured and bonded for your protection. Liability insurance, dishonesty bonds, and workers compensation coverage are typical in our industry. At PCPSI, we have all three.
For Boarding Facilities
Staff Qualifications
Inquire about staff training, staff-to-pet ratios, and whether a vet or veterinary technician is on-site or on call.
Safety Protocols
Ask about emergency procedures, evacuation plans, and how health issues are handled. How often is the facility cleaned and maintained?
Supervision
Is there overnight staff? Are pets monitored after hours, and how are interactions between animals supervised?
Routine and Enrichment
What is the daily schedule for feeding, exercise, and socialization? Can they accommodate your pet’s specific needs? What items are you expected to bring when you drop off your pet? What items do they provide?
Facility Tour
Always request a tour to assess cleanliness, security, and overall environment. Trust your instincts. If anything feels off, keep looking.
4. Build Trust and Set Expectations
A great pet sitter or facility will ask you detailed questions about your pet’s health, behavior, and preferences, and will offer a meet-and-greet to ensure a good fit. Always provide clear instructions, emergency contacts, pet guardians, and guidelines for your home and your pet’s care. The more details you provide, the more information your pet care provider will have access to if you cannot be reached during travel.
Make your expectations clear and let your emergency contacts know your pet care provider’s name and contact info. And, double-check your reservations to ensure you scheduled over the correct dates.
By covering your bases before you leave, you will set yourself and your pets up for a positive experience!
5. Stay Connected
Speaking of reaching you during travel, arrange for regular check-ins from your pet sitter or boarding facility. Ensure your care provider can be reached seven days a week, especially if you have travel delays or concerns. And, ask if they send texts, photos, in-app updates, etc. These check-ins reassure you that your pet is happy and healthy while you’re away.
Recommended Dallas Boarding Facilities
We recently shared a blog that includes our recommended Dallas boarding facilities. You can read it and enjoy some additional pet boarding tips here. We also explain why in-home pet care is, in our professional opinion, the better option here.
The Best In-Home Pet Sitters in Dallas
The right pet sitter or boarding facility will answer your questions confidently, show genuine interest in your pet’s well-being, and offer transparency in their operations. By preparing thoroughly and asking the right questions, you can travel with confidence, knowing your furry friend is in safe, caring hands.
At Park Cities Pet Sitter, we proudly offer cat sitting, dog sitting, and dog walking services in Bluffview, Deep Ellum, Downtown, Highland Park, Knox Henderson, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Lower Greenville, Medical District, North Dallas, Oak Lawn, Northwest Dallas, Northeast Dallas, Old East Dallas, Preston Hollow, Turtle Creek, University Park, and Victory Park.
To learn more about our services, please visit our FAQs and contact us at 214-828-0192 and pets@pcpsi.com. Alternatively, you can register via our client portal, available here. Existing clients, please submit reservations via this link.
If you are outside of our service area, check the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) or Pet Sitters International (PSI) to find a pet sitter near you.
