Tips on finding a great dog sitter

You're going on vacation-but so is the trusted friend who regularly takes care of Max and Mittens when you're away. Or maybe you have to leave home for a few days to handle a family emergency, and no one's available to watch your four-legged fur kids. Hiring a pet sitter is a smart, safe and-especially for companion animals who don't do well at boarding facilities-stress-free solution.

How do you find that special someone who will take Wagsy for a long walk, feed him his meals in his favorite dish, and hide his treats all over the house so he can spend the rest of the day looking for them? All this, and water the plants and turn on your lights at night, too?

Pet sitters are available in your area

It pays to do a little research. Ask your veterinarian, local humane society or fellow pet-owning friends for a referral.
Next, you'll both want to meet-initially via telephone and then at your home-to firm up the terms of your agreement. Important points to discuss include:

• What are the sitter's fees? Does this fee include walking your dog? Brushing and grooming? Administering medication? What additional services are offered? (i.e. watering plants, bringing in the mail) Is the sitter bonded? Does he or she have commercial liability insurance? What is his or her prior animal-care experience? References?
• Is there a veterinarian he or she can work with in case of emergency?

And remember, one advantage of meeting in your home is that you'll get to see the sitter interact with your animal companions. Is he or she interested in and comfortable around them? And how about your pets' reactions? (No points off, of course, if your shy-around-strangers kitty doesn't exactly cozy up.) Don't worry that you're asking too many questions. A good pet sitter will appreciate your thoroughness, and will be better able to fulfill your pets' needs. And don't be surprised if he or she has questions for you-about your pets' likes and dislikes, contact information for your veterinarian, and any health or behavioral problems your pets may have. You can take the initiative on this last point, too-if you know that your pooch doesn't like to have his paws touched, for example, it's smart to give your sitter a heads-up.)

Once you've determined your pet sitter's responsibilities, now it's time to fulfill your part of the bargain:

• Don't wait until the last minute! Book your pet sitter as far in advance as possible.
• Make sure your pets wear proper identification--a collar and tags with up-to-date contact information, please.
• Leave a number where you can be reached, along with your veterinarian's name, address and telephone number.
• Leave thorough instructions-and don't forget to mention where your pet's food and supplies are!

You may want to hire your pet sitter of choice for a test run-say, an overnight trip-so you'll have the opportunity to work out any unforeseen problems before leaving your pets in the sitter's care when you take a more extended vacation.

Using a professional pet sitter has many advantages - for the pet as well as the owner. Pet sitters can also provide useful services for pet owners during times of illness, injury or long working hours.