Monday, January 13th
2025 Pet Sitter Service Reviews
Pet Sitters International
- Free to use
- Offers courses and specializations
- Offers insurance to pet businesses
- For pros only
- "A+” rating from the BBB
With a unique approach of supporting pet sitters first, Pet Sitters International offers a place where pet sitters can come together to build their pet-focused businesses. For customers looking for a pet sitter, you're also in luck. Pet Sitters International's approach to pet sitting is centered around the concept of home sitting as opposed to opting for boarding services or doggy daycare.
Focus on in-home care
While Pet Sitters International sitters may occasionally offer additional services such as boarding, the organization primarily focuses on providing in-home care. For customers looking for pet care, the site is free to use until you hire a particular pet sitter for their services. Pet Sitters International emphasizes sending sitters to the pets' own homes, allowing the animals to maintain their regular routines and minimizing their exposure to potential illnesses. Furthermore, upon request, many Pet Sitters International sitters go the extra mile by watering plants, collecting mail, and ensuring a "lived-in" appearance for the home.
Clients can use the site at no cost
Despite being a highly-rated and reputable service, Pet Sitters International does not require any subscription fees to access its directory of licensed pet-care providers. Instead, the only fee involved is the agreed-upon rate between the pet owner and their chosen Pet Sitters International sitter. To find a suitable pet sitter in your local area, simply visit the Pet Sitters International website and navigate to the "Find a Local Pet Sitters International Sitter" tab. There, you can enter your ZIP code and specify the type of pet you need care for, be it dogs, cats, reptiles, horses, farm animals, or even exotic or special needs pets. After clicking the "Discover" button, you can explore the profiles of Pet Sitters International-certified pet sitters near you, complete with contact information.
Sitters gain insurance
One of the benefits of using a pet sitter from Pet Sitters International is that member sitters at this site are insured. Pet Sitters International offers coverage to its sitters to ensure protection for customers' homes and pets, as well as the providers themselves. Additionally, Pet Sitters International helps guide sitters toward getting benefits like official education and pet-related licenses. Some of these features that you can find with Pet Sitters International professionals include pet sitter certification, proof of background check, a certificate in disaster planning, as well as "specialist” courses offered on Pet Sitters International for dogs, cats, and birds.
Low number of listings overall
The only main drawback for Pet Sitters International is that there aren't as many pet sitters available compared to other sites. Since pet sitters need to pay for a membership, some pet sitters available in your area won't be listed here: there were only 5 sitters in our area, which was much lower than many competitors in this review. On the other hand, there is the added benefit of knowing that these pet sitters are insured and working to be professionals in their field.
Top rated with the BBB
Pet Sitters International has garnered widespread acclaim for its commitment to excellence and ethical practices. As a recipient of the Better Business Bureau 2016 Torch Award for Ethics and boasting an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, Pet Sitters International has earned a stellar reputation in the industry. Unfortunately, the site doesn't have any reviews online from third-party sites. We'd love to see more information out there to corroborate the BBB rating. But with insurance and certifications available on the Pet Sitters International site, it remains a great option to check out.
Top option for finding pros only
Pet Sitters International stands out as a leading association, especially considering its phenomenal reputation with the BBB. With a focus on in-home pet care, Pet Sitters International prioritizes the well-being and comfort of animals by maintaining their regular routines and minimizing stress. The absence of subscription fees and the emphasis on direct communication and negotiation between pet owners and sitters add convenience and transparency to the process. While the limited availability of sitters in certain areas is a drawback, Pet Sitters International's certifications and focus on providing an environment for pro-sitters only make them stand out as a top-rated service for finding your next pet sitter.
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Where is the Best Place to Find a Pet Sitter?
Are you planning a fun getaway, but you're worried about your furry friends? Sometimes you can find a relative or a neighbor to watch your puppy, lizard, or bird. However, that doesn't always work out, and you still need someone you trust to watch the extra members of your little family who can't travel with you. Thankfully, there are lots of services that help connect pet owners to pet sitters out there today.
While pet sitters used to be a word-of-mouth service, or based on who you knew locally, the addition of pet sitting services online has made it much easier to find animal carers anytime you need them. Online platforms provide a convenient way for pet owners to find reliable and trustworthy pet sitters. With just a few clicks, pet owners can connect with potential sitters from the comfort of their homes.
Pet Sitter Service FAQ
Continued from above...
One of the primary benefits of using an online pet sitting service is security. According to a survey conducted by Pet Sitters International (PSI), approximately 40% of pet owners preferred using online pet sitting services or apps to find pet sitters. One of the main reasons for this is that users found a higher level of trust in online pet sitting services.
The same survey by PSI mentioned above showed that over 70% of pet owners felt confident in the professionalism and reliability of online pet sitters. This is partially due to the qualifications and details about the individual pet sitters provided on pet sitting sites.
Furthermore, pet sitting websites and apps offer a wide selection of pet sitters with various backgrounds, experience levels, and availability. This allows owners to find the perfect match for their specific needs and requirements, even on short notice.
So, how do you find the best place to hire a pet sitter? There are so many choices out there today, it can seem overwhelming when you start browsing. With your furry family members involved, we understand why you want to take extra care in finding the perfect match.
If you're not sure where to start, we've got your back. Here's a list of things to help you narrow down your search for the best pet sitter.
- Price: Many pet sitting sites are free to use. Although some do charge for memberships, this could be worth it depending on the features you're looking for. Keep in mind what you're willing to pay for and compare those features to the free services.
- Pet Types: While lots of pet moms and dads have puppies or kitty cats, some pet parents have more exotic animals like birds, reptiles, or fish. It's important to make sure that the sitting service you're looking at offers options for the type of pet you have.
- User Interface: Shopping online is popular everywhere nowadays. For that reason, there's almost no excuse for a poor user interface. Keep away from sites that frustrate you, and make it easier on yourself to find that next pet sitter.
- Security: For a lot of pet sitting situations, you're letting a stranger into your home. To that end, you want to make sure a pet sitting service does the background security checks for you before you hire. Look for things like ID verification or background checks before you hand over your house key.
To help you feel completely confident about leaving your pet in the care of someone else, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the most popular places to hire a pet sitter out there today. We hope this will make choosing where to find someone to take care of your furry friends a stress-free process so you can enjoy your vacation and know your family is in great hands.
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