More and more people are getting on the “pet care cart,” which is a testament to the amount of money Americans spend on their millions of pets.
I’m committed to helping pet lovers have great experiences with their pet care providers, so I’ll share a few things to keep in mind to differentiate professional pet care providers from hobbyists. Fans think สัตว์น่าเลี้ยง is an easy way to earn a few bucks. Professionals are in business for the long term and realize that making money is not easy.
Here are 11 concepts to keep in mind when researching pet care providers.
1. Professionals have a backup plan. Because they consider themselves business owners, they have procedures and plans to accommodate all pets in their care, even if they have a flat tire, have a personal emergency, or get the flu. When you interview pet care providers, make sure you understand and are comfortable with their ‘backup’ plans.
2. Professionals are prepared. Any owner of a pet care business has had their share of ’emergencies’. These range in scope from dealing with a deceased pet to dealing with keys that don’t work. Make sure your pet care provider has a process to deal with any problems that may arise.
3. Professionals will never come. Find out how many visits your pet care provider makes on an average day, then do the math. Ask your pet sitter to be realistic about how many trips they can take each day to make sure your pet is visited during the time you’ve hired. No pet sitter begins to want to change their clients, but sometimes during busy seasons, in an effort to serve all clients who make requests, they may be forced to shorten visits. If you are booking visits during peak hours, keep this in mind.
4. Professionals recognize its value. It’s hard to make a living in this business, and many pet sitters start with the goal of helping as many pets as possible. However, the cost of running the business can often bankrupt a great pet sitter if they are not charging enough for the value they provide.
5. Professionals use a contract. To protect you and the business, pet care professionals have a contract detailing your responsibilities while you are gone. It is important to spend time reading the document and making sure that you and your pet care provider are clear about what is expected and what is NOT expected. I’ve heard of pet sitters trimming nails, trimming fur, and providing ‘extras’. This is great, as long as you expect your dog to be trimmed when you return home.
6. Professionals put pet well-being above all else. As the owner of a pet care business, my goal is for your pet to be happy and healthy when you return home. For that reason, we do not remove dogs from their homes, do not let them roam, or transport them in packs. Even if it’s something you would do!
7. Professionals have their businesses in order. Make sure your pet care provider has the appropriate insurance and business license required to provide service in your area. I recently heard a story about a person who had to shorten their vacation, because the friend who took care of their house left the water running overnight and flooded the finished basement, where the kittens lived! Fortunately, the kittens were fine, but cleaning was costly and the destruction was quite extensive.
8. Professionals spend time educating themselves on topics related to business and pet care. The owner of a pet care business should be up-to-date with pet care first aid and with issues affecting business owners in their jurisdiction.
9. Professionals are easy to talk to and happy to communicate with you, even when you have a less than excellent experience. They are in business for the long term and are committed to addressing your needs and concerns.
10. Professionals provide references from real life. They have a list of testimonials in their marketing materials and are happy to provide you with names and contact information for satisfied customers.
11. Professionals take pride in their profession! They never speak ill of other pet care professionals, whether by name or association.
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