Standards for excellence in pet sitting

1. The sitter is bonded and insured.
2. The sitter provides references.
3. The sitter has experience in caring for pets and is clearly mindful of their safety and well being.
4. The sitter provides written literature describing services and stating fees.
5. The sitter visits the client's home before the first pet sitting assignment to meet the pets and get detailed information about their care.
6. The sitter shows a positive attitude during the initial meeting and seems comfortable and competent dealing with animals.
7. The sitter wants to learn as much as possible about the animals in his or her care.
8. The sitter provides a service contract which specifies services and fees.
9. The sitter is courteous, interested and well informed. 
10. The sitter takes precautions to make sure a client's absence from home is not detected because of any careless actions or disclosures by the sitter.  
11. The sitter keeps regular office hours and answers client inquiries and complaints promptly.
12. The sitter conducts business with honesty and integrity and observes all federal, state and local laws pertaining to business operations and animal care.
13. The sitter has a veterinarian on call for emergency services. 
14. The sitter has a contingency plan for pet care in case of inclement weather or personal illness.
15. The sitting service provides initial and ongoing training for its sitters.
16. The sitting service screens applicants for employment carefully.
17. The sitter calls to confirm, or has the client call to confirm, that the client has returned home as scheduled.
18. The sitter refrains from criticizing competitors.
19. The sitter provides a service rating form for clients.
20. The sitter exhibits courtesy and professionalism in all dealings with staff members, customers and industry colleagues so as to present the pet sitter and the pet sitting industry favorably and positively.

  Copyright 1994 Pet Sitters International