Benefits of using a local professional pet sitter
While some apps and sites offer on demand pets sits and dog walks, there are many advantages to taking the time to seek out and book the services of a local professional pet sitting business:
- You avoid the ”middleman.” When you use your local professional pet sitting business, you can contract the pet sitting business owner directly and book your services through them. You also handle payment directly through the business (versus a third-party site), so this gives you more flexibility in payment options, depending upon the pet sitter’s policies. Many independently owned pet sitting and dog walking businesses use pet sitting software and/or payment processing systems that allow for the same online booking and payment options as the national apps.
- Your pet-care provider will have insurance customized to their specific business needs. While some are online pet sitter directories or apps may provide insurance for pet sitting visits booked through the site, using a local professional pet sitting or dog walking business that maintains its own pet sitter insurance allows you to confirm that the pet sitter has insurance specific to their business and the services they provide. It’s important to note that the insurance coverage offered to contractors and gig workers who advertise on some of these pet sitter apps requires a large deductible to be paid by the pet owner should an issue occur. When using your local professional pet sitter, you can ask for proof of insurance and confirm that the business has an insurance policy that is customized for pet sitting. This ensures that your pet and home are covered should an accident occur during the pet sitting assignment.
- You put more money into your local economy. While apps and online pet-sitter booking sites may offer a convenient online payment option, most sites and apps keep a portion of the payment, with pet sitters and dog walkers able to keep only around 70-80 percent or less of what the client pays. Working directly with a local professional pet sitting business allows you to fully contribute to your local economy, with your entire payment for pet sitting fees going to a local business owner who in turn, is likely supporting other local businesses.
