Many of us take our pets along when we visit relatives for Christmas – but some of us cannot. Loving Paws & House Sitting, Ottawa’s leading, professional pet sitting and dog walking service is pleased to announce it is “paw-fectly” set to offer pet care services in nearly all neighbourhoods of Ottawa during the upcoming Holidays.  

With pet owners working longer hours, traveling more for business and personal reasons than ever before, and looking to provide alternatives to traditional pet boarding, the demand for professional pet sitting and dog walking is at an all time high. “Our professional Sitters will happily walk your pet, pick up after them, feed them, play with them and some will even stay overnight if you wish,” says Amy Shannon Leclair, founder and owner. Leclair adds, “We do thorough background checks and bond-insure all of our Sitters.”   

And with demand at its highest during the Holiday Season, Loving Paws & House Sitting is pleased to offer these “Top 10 Tips to Ensure Pet Sitting Satisfaction” to help pet owners know how they can ensure their pets are well cared for while their owners vacation. 

~ 10 Tips for Pet Sitting Quality Assurance ~ 

1.  Confirm the service provider is a current member of the All Canadian Pet Services Network, Canada's largest organization for pet care professionals, and/or Pet Sitters International, the world’s largest organization for professional pet Sitters;

2.  Diligently check all of the service’s references – at least three should be voluntarily provided (ideally one veterinarian, one animal hospital, and one client);

3.  Ensure the company is registered in Ontario, as well as bonded & insured;

4.  Confirm that your Sitter has undergone reference checks and received proper training;

5.  Pre-interview your Sitter with your pet(s) present to observe interactions and establish a “comfort level” for both you and the pet(s) – we call this interview a Meet and Greet;

6.  Ensure the service offers 7-day per week telephone and e-mail availability;

7.  Clearly state how you would like the Sitter to use his/her assignment time in terms of walking, playing, feeding, cleaning, etc.;

8.  Provide veterinary and other emergency contact information and gather in one location all necessary supplies including food, medications, treats, and a leash;

9.  Ensure the Sitter can accommodate both your desired vacation schedule, including busy holidays, and the pet’s daily feeding and walking schedule; and

10. Confirm the service has “backup” measures and an “emergency plan” in place should your pet or Sitter have an emergency that prevents completion of your assignment.

Loving Paws & House Sitting considers these tips to be cardinal rules for picking a pet sitting service. Leclair adds, “If a pet owner takes these 10 relatively simple tips into account before they entrust their beloved pet to an animal Sitter, the owner can enjoy peace of mind that the pet will be well cared for.”

Amy Shannon concludes, “We’re seeing a tremendous need for friendly, reliable pet care service in Ottawa, where people can feel comfortable handing the keys to their home and pets to others when they go away, and we're excited to provide what we think are highly professional and quality services to pet owners.  I invite & encourage all pet owners to visit our website at www.LovingPaws.ca and use our online Quote Request form as a first step to booking our services for the Holidays.” 

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