When you are a pet parent it is up to you to ensure you to ensure your pet is well cared for, has food, is engaged, and stays healthy. And, as a pet lover, you do your part to see that these various forms of care are provided. But sometimes, you have to travel, and you want to be sure your pet is still properly cared for even if you aren’t the one doing it.
Many pet owners will call a friend to take care of their fur baby, but sometimes this is not an option. In other cases, pet parents will hire a pet sitter. This is a great option because it allows your pet(s) to stay in a space they are familiar and get the food, grooming, and care they need. With many years of experience in the field of pet sitting, this is our preferred approach. However, we recognize that there are times when it might be helpful to take your furry family member to a pet daycare.
If this is your scenario, then we would like to help you determine what pet daycare is best for your pet. Here are some things to keep in mind.
What to Look for in a Pet Daycare
- Is it clean? Don’t just assume that a pet care facility is going to be well-maintained and clean. If possible, show up at a potential pet daycare without an appointment and take a look around. This will give a look at how things are when they don’t know a guest is touring. If they are hesitant or unwilling to let you look around, it may not be a good choice.
- Do they have enough workers? While you can’t expect 1 worker per pet, you should expect there to be enough workers to keep up with what is happening around them. The exact number of workers needed will vary based on how many pets they have, how much space the pets have to roam in, how big or small the pets are, and a variety of other factors. The best thing is to thoroughly check out the space and decide if you and your pet will be comfortable.
- Is the staff trained? Simply liking cats or dogs is not enough. The staff needs to know how to read pet body language so they can diffuse a situation before it becomes a problem. They should also have some basic knowledge of pet first aid.
- What services do they offer? You may need to leave your pet overnight. If this happens, knowing you have a place where your pet is already at ease makes it less stressful. You will also want to find out if the daycare offers grooming or keeps your pets’ favorite food.
- Do they separate the animals? Not just by species, though this is a must for most pet owners. But also, by size of the animal, gender, etc. so that a step is taken to prevent aggressive behavior.
- What are the requirements for the pets? For instance, do they need to be spayed or neutered? Perhaps, they must be chipped. In most cases, a pet daycare will require your pet to be up to date on their shots. Other places may require you to bring your pets for attest day to determine how your pet interacts with other animals. Again, know what to expect, so you can make the experience a good one.
These are just a few of the things to look for. Other considerations are
- Does the facility have cameras?
- How are emergencies handled?
- What types of toys are available?
- How many animals comprise a playgroup?
Be a proactive parent. After all, someone has to advocate for your pet. So don’t think of yourself as a bad pet parent if you need to use a pet daycare. Just take your time, do some research, and know that your pet will be fine. Of course, if you want your pet to have even more personalized pet sitting, then talk to us. We can help you find the perfect pet sitter for your fur baby. Give us a call today.
