Gathering Information for Your Dog Sitter

By Paris Permenter and John Bigley for The Dog Daily

Many dogs vacation with their families, but in some situations, it’s better to leave your dog at home. Pet sitters are a great option for providing care for your dog in your own home. Whether you hire a professional pet-sitting service, or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to care for your dog, you’ll need to leave them certain information about your dog’s care.

It only takes a few moments to assemble the following information in a handy folder for your pet sitter, and it can be vital if your dog has an emergency while you’re away.

You’ll want to leave your pet sitter:

• Your cell phone number and itinerary with hotel contact information
• The name, address and telephone number of your regular veterinarian
• The name, address and telephone number of an emergency veterinarian with a map or directions to the office
• A signed authorization for emergency veterinary care. Search online for “emergency veterinary authorization” for templates you can use
• The name and dosage of every medication your dog takes, with directions for dispensing medications
• Feeding and walking instructions, as well as information on your dog’s favorite toys and games
• A list of your nearest neighbors and their telephone numbers, in case your dog gets lost
• Your dog’s microchip number and the telephone number and/or website of subscription services where this number is registered
• A photograph of your dog, in case he is lost
• The telephone number of an alternate pet sitter, in case your pet sitter has a personal emergency

A few minutes spent gathering this information for your pet sitter can make sure your dog has everything it needs while you are gone. This bit of effort ensures your own peace of mind while you travel. After all, that’s what a vacation is all about!

Photo Credit: DogTipper

Paris Permenter and John Bigley are the founders of DogTipper.com and the authors of Barkonomics: Tips for Frugal Fidos. They are frequent contributors to The Dog Daily. The husband-and-wife team lives with its two rescue dogs, Irie and Tiki, in Texas.