Don't Be Tricked by So-called Pet Sitters

KITTERY POINT, Maine - Jan. 30, 2015 - PRLog -- “Don’t Be Tricked by So-Called Pet Sitters,” Warns Wag Wagon Pet Services

Tammi Searle, owner of Wag Wagon Pet Services is partnering with Pet Sitters International for the Get A Real Pet Sitter® campaign to educate pet owners on what to look for in a reputable, professional pet sitter.

With more than 60 percent of households owning a least one pet, finding reliable pet care is likely a concern for the majority of pet owners in Kittery Point, Maine. For these pet owners, Wag Wagon Pet Services has an important piece of advice: Don’t be tricked by so-called pet sitters.

“Many pet owners, and even news outlets, use the term ‘pet sitter’ incorrectly, referring to anyone—from a family friend to the neighborhood teenager asked to walk a dog—as a ‘pet sitter,’” explains Searle. “It is important that pet owners understand that pet sitting is a professional career and professional pet sitters offer peace of mind that other pet-care options cannot.”

Even for pet owners committed to using professional pet sitters instead of friends or family, the search can be confusing. With the influx of pet-care directory sites popping up in the last couple of years and news stories touting pet sitting as an easy way to earn extra cash, more and more people are deciding to cash in on the growing need for pet care.

Searle's professional pet care business, Wag Wagon Pet Services has offered pet sitting, dog walking and dog hiking services in Kittery Point, Maine for four years. Wag Wagon Pet Services is a member in good standing of Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters. In addition, the business is fully insured through the Business Insurers of the Carolinas, licensed by the town of Kittery, Maine, is veterinarian recommended and has excellent client referrals. Tammi Searle is Pet CPR and First Aid Certified. Wag Wagon sponsors bi-monthly beach cleanups at Seapoint Beach in Kittery Point and an annual donation drive to support the Animal Welfare Society In Kennebunk, Maine.

PSI President Patti Moran—who also founded the pet-sitting industry more than two decades ago—offers additional advice for pet owners.

“Simply being listed on an online pet-sitter listing—or even on a nationally-publicized directory—does not make a pet sitter a professional, qualified care provider,” explains Moran. “Anyone can post a profile advertising pet-sitting services, so it’s important for pet owners to take a closer look to ensure they are hiring a real pet sitter.”

Searle is joining with PSI and thousands of fellow pet sitters to promote the “Get A Real Pet Sitter®” message to educate pet owners on what they should look for when selecting a professional pet sitter.

PSI and Wag Wagon advise pet owners to ask these important questions when interviewing a potential pet sitter:

•Does the pet sitter have the proper business license for your city or state?

•Is the pet sitter licensed by the proper county authority for in-home pet care?

•Is the pet sitter fully insured?

•Does the pet sitter provide client references?

•Will the pet sitter use a pet-sitting services agreement or contract?

•Has he or she participated in pet-care training, such as pet first aid and CPR?

•Is the pet sitter a member of a professional and educational association, such as Pet Sitters International?

Searle encourages local pet owners to visit www.wag-wagon.com or call (603) 620-1602 to learn more.