pet sitters

Jon and Kate Plus 8 Do Tell: Would You Hire a Pet Sitter For a Couple Hours?
TV

Jon and Kate Plus 8 Do Tell: Would You Hire a Pet Sitter For a Couple Hours?

On last night's episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8, Shooka and Nala had just a bit role .
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On last night's episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8, Shooka and Nala had just a bit role . . . but one that gave me food for thought. With Jon and Cara in Utah and Kate and the rest of the gang off to see Sesame Street Live!, the Gosselins hired a dog sitter to hang out with the puppies for the day. Must be nice! I understand sitters for overnight trips, and walks during the day, but have you ever hired a pet sitter for just a few hours of absence?
Photos courtesy of TLC

Do You Leave Detailed Notes With Sitter?
cute animals

Growing Up Samson: An Owner's Manual

Sugar staffer LilPeaPod went on a recent vacay to Mexico, leaving little Samson with her mom for the week.
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Sugar staffer LilPeaPod went on a recent vacay to Mexico, leaving little Samson with her mom for the week. Covering all her bases, she whipped up an "Owner's Manual" to let her mom in on all the things he's allowed to do, what to eat (and more importantly, what not to eat), as well as his sleep schedule so he can stay regular with his naps and playtime.

This totally sounds like something I would have done when I first became a dog mom, since I was kinda paranoid to leave him with other people who weren't familiar with his day-to-day behavior and quirks. So it made me wonder: Do you leave detailed notes when you leave your pets with a sitter or do you just leave the highlights?

Do You Send Thank You Notes?
Poll

Do You Send Pet-Sitting Thank-You Notes?

Sugar staffer LilPeaPod recently left Samson with a friend of hers for the weekend while participating in the Napa Valley Relay For Life.
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Sugar staffer LilPeaPod recently left Samson with a friend of hers for the weekend while participating in the Napa Valley Relay For Life. First time separation can be a little nerve-wracking, and although Samson and her friend's dog didn't get along very well, she wanted to show her gratitude for watching her baby anyway. She sent one of these awesome thank-you cards she found on Etsy, and I'm totally smitten by them!

These cards are a cute way to say thanks with some handmade love. Although I don't think you'd need to send a thank-you card to your daycare or dog walker (except on holidays of course), sending a special thank you to someone who has watched your pet for the first time (and isn't signed on for regular sessions) is a nice gesture.

Do you send thank-you notes to special sitters?

Do You Cruise Craigslist for Pet Supplies or Services?
Poll

Do You Cruise Craigslist For Pet Supplies or Services?

I'm a big fan of re-purposing old, beat up items and turning them into something great.
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I'm a big fan of re-purposing old, beat up items and turning them into something great. Since Craigslist is like a big 'ole virtual yard sale, I can pick up some pretty cool furniture pieces and things I never would find elsewhere to add to my home. However, I don't really go into the pet section on CL, mostly because I bought all of North's things new and I haven't really seen the need.

But, upon checking it out the other day, I saw that there were bunches of pet supplies either up for sale or for free. Additionally, there were tons of dog walker and pet sitter service listings in my area that I hadn't seen in the paper. So it got me to wondering: how many of you have used Craigslist to find pet services or supplies?

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To the Rescue: How-To Interview a Pet Sitter
Advice

To the Rescue: How-To Interview a Pet Sitter

Choosing someone to come into your home and care for your precious pal is not an easy process!
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Choosing someone to come into your home and care for your precious pal is not an easy process! While I have friends who've sent their dogs to a pet sitter's home for a short trip, most times it's cat owners that use these professionals. Regardless of your situation, I've gathered some key questions to ask when you're interviewing a potential sitter. It's up to you to do your homework and look for referrals and references in addition to setting up guidelines and arranging the length of time for each visit and the total trip. Check out some key questions and tips when you read more

Would You Hire a Stranger?
Poll

Would You Hire a Stranger?

It can take a village to care for a pet so I'm curious to learn how many of you have hired strangers to sit or walk your pets.
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It can take a village to care for a pet so I'm curious to learn how many of you have hired strangers to sit or walk your pets. These people gain access to your home (and your precious cargo) and building that trust can take time. I'd love to hear from you about your experiences when enlisting outside help for animal care.

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