Pet care during the holidays
For all those who are planning on being away from home during the upcoming holiday season there are a few things that need to be looked at to ensure the welfare of pets. This article only looks at the situation of being unable to take your pets with you. We will address the specifics of taking a pet with you for the holidays in a separate article.
If you have a regular caregiver for your pets that you have already been using, then a lot of the work is done. But you still need to keep in mind a couple of things. The biggest concern in this situation is to make sure you book the service well in advance. The holiday season is usually the busiest time of the year for pet care providers.
* Research, Research, Research
If you do not have a regular pet care provider or if you cannot get your regular pet care provider, then you need to some leg work. First and foremost you must make sure you do your research. NOT all pet care providers are the same. Just because they are in the phone book does not always mean they are reliable and will give your pet the Tender Loving Care they deserve. Look for a pet care provider who has been in the business for at least 3 – 4 years. This will usually ensure they know their business and that they are able to handle the extra demand of the busy season.
* References checks are well worth it.
Most reputable pet care providers will be more than willing to give you references to their service. If they have been providing good quality service then they should have a number of good references that you will be able to contact and verify their service and quality.
* Verify the service they will provide.
When you meet with the pet care provider, make sure you know in detail what the service is they provide. Do they charge extra for things that you consider as part of regular pet care? How much personal attention does your pet get through the day? Most reputable and quality services will provide you with either a list or a contract of what they will do for your pet. If they do not offer it, make sure to ask for it.
* Provide pet care provider with critical details about your pets.
As with anything new you need to make sure the small details are looked after. Make sure you supply the pet care provider with any and all emergency contact numbers. This is not only the veterinary office but also your own contact information. If something critical should happen, you need to make sure your pets get the care it deserves and is used to. You do not want to leave the pet care provider in a position of making important decisions without your input, so make sure they can contact you.
Make sure the pet care provider is aware of as much of the critical details about your pet as possible. Does your pet have odd eating habits? Do they have regular eating habits? (Times they eat, how much they eat and drink in a day, etc). Are there any strange or unusual behaviors that may indicate known issues with the pet.
This is just a brief look at what you need to consider in regards to having you pet cared for by a professional. We need to remember that when you are looking for a service, make sure they are a professional and they provide a professional service.
If you are in Canada and are in need of pet sitter for the holidays, you can check out the online Pet Business directory at the Canadian Pet Care.com website. The following link will take you to the directory:
http://www.canadianpetcare.com/directory.html
The author Bradley Wallace is author and editor for CanadianPetCare.com. Their site provides one of the most comprehensive online locations dedicated to assisting pet owners with daily pet care. CanadianPetCare.com’s goal is to continuously enhance your pet’s life and your pet care abilities. Visit the site http://www.canadianpetcare.com and get your free pet care newsletter and learn more about overall Pet Care, Pet Health, Pet Behavior, Training Pets, Pet Breeds and much more.
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