Tips will help in selection of pet sitter

March 1, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

heloise

Dear Readers: Have you ever considered hiring a professional pet sitter to care for your pets? If so, do you know what questions to ask?

If you prefer to keep your pets at home while you’re away for short or long periods of time, consider hiring a professional pet sitter to care for them.

When selecting a sitter:

UFirst, ask if he or she is insured and bonded.

UHas the sitter service done criminal background checks on employees? If so, ask for documentation for anyone who’ll be entering your home.

UGet references — or better yet, ask your veterinarian or groomer for a recommendation.

UAsk the sitter service if it’s affiliated with professional pet-sitting organizations. Most serious pet services are.

UBe sure to introduce the sitter to your pet(s) before you leave to ensure that they respond positively to one another, and that you get a good feeling from their interactions.

UOnce you’ve found a sitter, leave written instructions so your pet’s routines change as little as possible while you’re gone.

Heloise

P.S.: Visit www.petsit.com for more information from Pet Sitters International, a super group of people who care about pets.

Dear Readers: Nana and Grampie Dinsmore of Augusta, Maine, sent a photo of their great-granddaughter, Lacey Lee, hamming it up for the camera with her kitty, Smokey.

Go to my Web site, www.Heloise.com, to see the Pet of the Week — you’ll find Lacey and Smokey’s picture there! Also, if you have a unique pet photo you’d like to share, send it to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. Heloise

Dear Heloise: As you probably know, many veterinarians recommend elevating pets’ food and water dishes to help eliminate digestive and joint problems. We have three large canine babies: Harley, a 10-year-old Dalmatian; Gus, a black Labrador; and Buddy, a golden mixed breed (all three were adopted).

The cost of raised food-dish stands can be quite expensive. However, we found a much-less-expensive alternative that works just as well as those found in stores and catalogs. We found wire plant stands that hold planters! We also bought bowls that fit inside each planter. They work very well and take up less room than the stands. The cost of each of these was less than $10, since we found them at a discount store. Davena Sawyer, Jacksonville, Fla.

Dear Heloise: When our puppy was young, a friend told us of a training tool we could make that proved to be very helpful with her training. Put several coins in a clean, metal can and tape the opened end(s) very well so the coins cannot come out.

A quick rattle gave off a loud signal that got her attention very quickly and made her stop in her tracks when she was doing something wrong. This also gets the attention of any of our cats when they are misbehaving — and that’s quite an accomplishment in itself! Rudi, via e-mail

XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate