FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I regularly take part in conference calls, webinars, and online courses that relate to my business as well as read, read, and read some more! I've also found that I am learning quite a bit from working with Pit Bulls Against Misinformation, Sacramento House Rabbit Society, and City of Sacramento Animal Care Services. Working with Chako Pit Bull Rescue & Advocacy the past few years has also helped tremendously. I am fortunate to be a trained Temperament Tester for Chako and the training involved, as well as actually performing the tests, really opened my eyes to dog body language and behavior which helps when I'm dealing with clients.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Research, research, research! A professional pet sitter will be insured, certified in Pet CPR/First Aid by the American Red Cross or Pet Tech, and be a member of at least one professional pet sitting association. He/she should also have excellent references and a potential customer should definitely follow up on those. I'd also look for someone that has a website and is listed on sites that offer the opportunity to review that sitter, such as yelp, merchantcircle, thumbtack, cityvoter, and insider pages. Sites such as these can be a good indicator that someone is serious about providing excellent customer service because if your experience isn't awesome, you have the entire internet to share that with. Of course, if your experience is awesome, please also take the time to let the entire internet know!
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
I've been very fortunate in that my current customers know what being a professional in this business really means. It's very easy to write off pet sitting as something that any kid with a love for animals can do until you run into the stickier situations that only a true pro can handle. I've had a few run-ins with off leash dogs that I was able to control due to my background, experience, and equipment. For someone without all those things, the situations could have turned out very tragically.