does your pet sitter need to be licensed?

You hear it from tradespeople all the time: LICENSED, BONDED, INSURED. But what does it mean for a pet sitter to be licensed? Is it necessary? Do you know if your pet sitter is licensed?

In the world of professional pet sitting, being licensed means only one thing: You have paid a fee to your city for the right to do business in that city. It's usually a nominal fee, and some cities require it while others don't. It's basically a revenue-generator for the city, which isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't mean as much as you may think. I first opened my pet sitting business in a city that required a business license, so I would pay $50 a year for the right to do business in that city. I moved my home and my business to Phoenix, a city that does not require pet sitters to have a business license. Per the city of Phoenix web site: "The City of Phoenix does not have or issue a general business license. Only certain cities are regulated and require a license or require a recommendation/approval from the city." In our city, those activities are amusements, auction, curb painters, escort bureaus & escorts, massage, sexually oriented businesses & performers, and vending. So unless you're running "Dirty Doggie Dates" on the side, your pet sitting business would not need a license in Phoenix.

Though being licensed sounds pretty official, and it doesn't hurt for a professional pet sitter to publicize the fact that they are, having a business license does not mean that your pet sitter has been through any special training or is any more qualified than another pet sitter. By contrast, a licensed massage therapist has been through courses and training in order to hone their craft. Being licensed means they have training. 

So if being licensed as a professional pet sitter does not mean your sitter is more qualified than an unlicensed pet sitter, what should you look for to make sure you are getting a qualified service provider?

• Bonded and Insured. Being bonded and insured doesn't necessarily mean your sitter is more qualified, but at least they have the proper protection for both parties.

• Pet First Aid/CPR training. Though not often used, a pet sitter who is certified in pet first aid and CPR has been through a course giving them that designation.

• Professional Groups. Being a part of a professional pet sitting group such as Pet Sitters International shows a commitment toward education and professional standards.

• Experience and references. How long has the pet sitter been in business, and what do their references say? 

By learning about the experiences of your professional pet sitter and by checking their references, you should have a pretty good idea of your sitter's qualifications. And by building a long-term partnership in the care of your pet, you'll feel confident that you've made a good choice. But the license? It doesn't have a much clout as you might imagine.

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the importance of integrity in professional pet sitting

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how it started: opening my pet sitting business

the importance of integrity in professional pet sitting

My pet sitting clients come in all shapes and sizes. One of the main areas of variety is their ability to trust when they first call to book my services. I've had some people call me and say they'll leave a key hanging from the doorknob and to drop some food and water for whichever animals might be there, and I have others who send me 100-page pdf files on their pet's complete medical history and request a blood and urine sample from me. Thankfully, most of my clients are closer to the moderate portion of the spectrum. Regardless, I always conduct myself with integrity. Aside from knowledge of and love of animals, I believe integrity is the most important quality a professional pet sitter can have.

We all know what it means to have integrity, but how is it defined?

in•teg•ri•ty  noun  the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. "he is know to be a man of integrity"

synonyms: honesty, probity, rectitude, honor, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness, scrupulousness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness

We've all heard nightmare stories about the pet sitter who stole the diamond necklace or the pet sitter who had a rager in a client's home. Or–even worse–one that neglected or abused the animals. Thankfully, those stories are few and far between, but, unfortunately, they are the stories we remember, and they taint the whole industry.

So what can a pet sitter do show integrity? Here are a few examples of how I conduct myself with my clients and in my client's home:

• I do an initial consultation for new clients, and I don't charge them for it. It's important for a new client to meet their pet sitter, and it's equally important for the pet sitter to meet the client. By meeting the person who will have a key to their home and who their animals will be dependent on, a client should feel more at ease. This initial meeting gives me the opportunity to explain my process and my experience, and to meet and interact with the animals.

• I provide valid references. I keep my list of references up-to-date, and I periodically check with the people on the list to make sure they are still comfortable talking to new clients.

• I am bonded and insured. I know I'm not going to steal a diamond necklace, but my new client doesn't. 

• I stay with the animals for the agreed-upon amount of time. And on the rare occasion that I have to leave ten minutes early because I'm running late for my kid's doctor's appointment, I let the client know, and add the time to the next visit. They appreciate my honesty and usually tell me not to worry about making up the time (but I do anyway).

• I am upfront about any change or issue with the animal. I don't pretend that everything is perfect if it's not. If the dog had an accident on the floor in-between visits, I clean it up thoroughly and let the client know. If I can't find the cat, I call the client and ask where she might be hiding. 

• If I make a mistake, I'm upfront about it. I've occasionally left a client's home and realized I forgot to take the trash out, or there was that one pile of poop in the yard I was going to clean up, but didn't. Or maybe I forgot to pick up today's mail. I just call or text and apologize. Being contentious is important to integrity, even when you mess up. 

• I conduct myself as if there is a live video feed of my behavior going straight to the client. Period. Sure, I act like a total goofball with the animals sometimes and that might be embarrassing if there is a video camera (and sometimes there is), but I behave as if the client can see absolutely everything I do. 

Most of the time clients aren't watching, and most of the time they trust me completely, but I can hold my head high knowing that if they were watching, they would be happy with what they see, so I take pride in my work. For that reason, integrity in professional pet sitting is as important for the pet sitter as it is for the client. Pet sitters could often get away with a lot, and clients realize that. I tell my clients that aside from my experience and love of animals "my integrity is all I have." And that's the truth. 

the value added services of a pet sitter

Although pet sitters are primarily hired to care for animals, they often offer additional services at little or no cost. Every pet sitter is different, but here are examples of value added services that Well Minded provides to our clients:

drapery and light rotation     It is important that your home have a lived-in look while you are away so as not to attract unwanted interest. By rotating drapery/blinds and the interior lights, your home appears to be occupied. We can also turn the porch light on at night and off during the day.

package/flier pick-up     Packages left at the door can be stolen (especially around the holidays when the bad guys look for that kind of thing), and a pileup of fliers screams "no one has been home for days!" Burglars have even been known to place a pizza flier in your door, just to see how long it takes you to pick it up. Each time we enter a client's home, we bring in anything left on the front doorstep.

newspaper pick-up     Newspapers left in the driveway are another tell-tale sign that no one has been home for a while. Your pet sitter should bring newspapers in each day.

plant watering     Your plants can wither and die if left unwatered for a few days. We make sure plants are watered according to our clients' directions.

house sitting    Animals aside, leaving your home vacant can be nerve wracking. Did you remember to turn the stove off? Did one of the pipes spring a leak in the wall? When we visit a home, we make sure all is well. No leaks or stoves left on–check!

mail retrieval     It's pretty much a pain to stop and start mail service, and sometimes we forget that detail when we travel. Checking mailboxes is part of our service.

doo-doo cleanup     We don't want you to come home to a yard full of droppings, so we pick up after your pets. 

trash     When our clients let us know when the garbage man comes, we'll take out the cans and bring them in. You don't have to miss trash day, and it's another sign to onlookers that you are home. 

errands     The only value added service we charge extra for, but it just might be worth it. We do things like mail bills off on the day you designate, pick up dry cleaning, or even grocery shop so you have fresh milk waiting for you when you return from your trip. Sweet!

Hiring a professional pet sitter is not only great for your animals, it's great for your lifestyle and peace of mind!