Pet Sitters International is asking pet owners to help celebrate Professional Pet Sitters Week, March 7-13. During the week members of PSI will be educating pet owners about the advantages of in-home pet care and encouraging others to explore pet sitting as a career.
In a news release Patti Moran, president of PSI, wrote, "Professional pet sitting has become an important service industry in the past 13 years. Their dedicated service affords their clients the ability to leave home for business or vacation with the knowledge that their beloved pets are in the capable hands of caring professionals."
Brandyn & Brandi Wehde, owners of B & B Petsitting, are two of PSI's 7,900 members.
If you're looking for a sitter, sittercity.com is your best choice
SitterCity Find a Sitter and Stay Out of Jail
Always Check Sitter Profile from a trust source like Sittercity.com before deciding to hire one! Also Check out Sittercity promo of the month to receive discount from the site
About Sittercity Inc
Sittercity, the inventor of online caregiving, is America's largest and most trusted online source for child care, pet care, senior care, housesitting, housekeeping and tutoring. Sittercity has a network of more than a million caregiver profiles nationwide, and helps families and individuals across America find the perfect in-home care provider quickly, easily and safely. Sittercity's care seekers can use the company's four-step screening process, which includes checking references, reading caregiver reviews, conducting interviews and utilizing free access to background checks. Sitter profiles also come with photos, experience, training, safety skills, availability calendars, reviews and more. Our Corporate Program now serves a number of marquee clients, including Avon, MasterCard, FOX Networks, Pitney Bowes and Monster Worldwide. For more information about the company, visit the company Web site at http://www.sittercity.com. For more information about the Corporate Program visit www.sittercity.com/corporate.
About Sittercity Inc
Sittercity, the inventor of online caregiving, is America's largest and most trusted online source for child care, pet care, senior care, housesitting, housekeeping and tutoring. Sittercity has a network of more than a million caregiver profiles nationwide, and helps families and individuals across America find the perfect in-home care provider quickly, easily and safely. Sittercity's care seekers can use the company's four-step screening process, which includes checking references, reading caregiver reviews, conducting interviews and utilizing free access to background checks. Sitter profiles also come with photos, experience, training, safety skills, availability calendars, reviews and more. Our Corporate Program now serves a number of marquee clients, including Avon, MasterCard, FOX Networks, Pitney Bowes and Monster Worldwide. For more information about the company, visit the company Web site at http://www.sittercity.com. For more information about the Corporate Program visit www.sittercity.com/corporate.
Recently a Michigan mom was held in contempt of court and almost thrown in jail for bringing her children to jury duty when she couldn't find someone to watch them. While this is an extreme case, childcare issues create a crisis for American parents everyday - but there's an answer. Sittercity.com wants to offer parents three simple steps to being prepared when the unplanned happens so they can get to work, meet their deadline OR stay out of jail.
Develop a short list of potential sitters in your area. The web is a great tool for vetting potential sitter candidates. On Sittercity, you can view comprehensive sitter profiles that provide background, experience, skills like CPR and First Aid and safety information like a background check. The also provide references and parent reviews so you can get a feel for others' experience with the caregiver.
Conduct in-person interviews with selected candidates. While online profiles and third parties can provide critical information on a potential sitter, there is no substitute to a face-to-face interview. Make sure you're prepared with a list of questions so you get the answers you need. You can find a suggested list of interview questions at http://babysitters.sittercity.com/article/parent_interview_checklist.html.Make sure you have an arsenal of childcare providers before you need them. Once you have gone through the process, you may begin to use your favorite but make sure to keep in touch with the runners-up - you never know when you'll need a back-up.
Pet sitter talks about animal caring
Looking for Pet Sitter? Sittercity can Help. Register with sittercity coupon code. Save more
Up until a few years ago, Diane Wilcox had a regular desk job. When she realized she was unable to sit at a desk all day, she quit to start her own business. Since she loves animals and enjoys helping people, she began her own pet and errand service. She said it is the best move she has ever made.
"I feel like this is my calling. Life is too short to not do something you love," she said.
What is rewarding about what you do?
People can go away on trips or when they are gone to work and they can feel totally confident that I'm taking care of their pets. The animals are always appreciative. I always get a wagging tail and a lick.
What the things you do for your clients?
Every home is different. When I first started, I did errands and pet service. I used to do grocery shopping, but I don't anymore. I mostly do pets. I feed them, give them fresh water, clean up after them, walk them, take them to the vet or grooming appointments. I get the mail and newspaper, take out garbage cans on garbage day. I water and look at the house and make sure it hasn't been broken into. Some animals are better off going to the kennel, but some get freaked out, so they are able to stay in the comfort of their own homes.
What is the strangest thing someone has asked you to do?
I would say (when someone) asked me to come over and pick up the dogs' bedding and wash it.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy taking care of the pets. The other day was a beautiful, sunny day. I was out walking a dog and I was thinking, "I get paid for this."
What is your favorite pet?
My favorite pets are dogs.
Which is your favorite breed?
Labs.
Have you had a funny or memorable experience?
I have a client who has a Persian cat that is mean. Whenever I go to her house, she leaves a broom by the door. I have to use it to protect myself because she will attack me. One day, she chased me around the island in the kitchen. I have to tell her, "I'm here to feed you, not harm you."
Where would you like to see your business in five years?
This is a seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year job, so I can't say I can't work a Saturday. Right now I have a gal who works for me. I would like to get to a point where I have more people working with me.
Do you ever feel like you are running around crazy? How do you deal with it?
Yes, all the time. What I do now is usually at night I look one day ahead and look at my schedule. If I go and look too far out, it gets overwhelming. I've learned to take it one day at a time.
Do you have to deal with wild pets and how do you handle them?
I do. It is typically the larger breeds like the labs. (In the past) I was around a trainer so I know how to handle them. I'm confident around all kinds of dogs and their behavior. I need to learn how to be more confident around aggressive dogs like pit bulls.
Do you ever get too attached to people's animals?
I do. I've had a lot last year where older dogs passed away. I've had a client for the past two years, her dog was only seven and had heart problems. During his last few months, I would have to check him twice a day because my client worked in Sacramento. That was hard when he passed away.
What is the best advice you can give someone who wants to do this?
Be ready to work a lot of hours and you have to really cater to people. They have different needs and you have to learn to be flexible with people and their pets.
Up until a few years ago, Diane Wilcox had a regular desk job. When she realized she was unable to sit at a desk all day, she quit to start her own business. Since she loves animals and enjoys helping people, she began her own pet and errand service. She said it is the best move she has ever made.
"I feel like this is my calling. Life is too short to not do something you love," she said.
What is rewarding about what you do?
People can go away on trips or when they are gone to work and they can feel totally confident that I'm taking care of their pets. The animals are always appreciative. I always get a wagging tail and a lick.
What the things you do for your clients?
Every home is different. When I first started, I did errands and pet service. I used to do grocery shopping, but I don't anymore. I mostly do pets. I feed them, give them fresh water, clean up after them, walk them, take them to the vet or grooming appointments. I get the mail and newspaper, take out garbage cans on garbage day. I water and look at the house and make sure it hasn't been broken into. Some animals are better off going to the kennel, but some get freaked out, so they are able to stay in the comfort of their own homes.
What is the strangest thing someone has asked you to do?
I would say (when someone) asked me to come over and pick up the dogs' bedding and wash it.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy taking care of the pets. The other day was a beautiful, sunny day. I was out walking a dog and I was thinking, "I get paid for this."
What is your favorite pet?
My favorite pets are dogs.
Which is your favorite breed?
Labs.
Have you had a funny or memorable experience?
I have a client who has a Persian cat that is mean. Whenever I go to her house, she leaves a broom by the door. I have to use it to protect myself because she will attack me. One day, she chased me around the island in the kitchen. I have to tell her, "I'm here to feed you, not harm you."
Where would you like to see your business in five years?
This is a seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year job, so I can't say I can't work a Saturday. Right now I have a gal who works for me. I would like to get to a point where I have more people working with me.
Do you ever feel like you are running around crazy? How do you deal with it?
Yes, all the time. What I do now is usually at night I look one day ahead and look at my schedule. If I go and look too far out, it gets overwhelming. I've learned to take it one day at a time.
Do you have to deal with wild pets and how do you handle them?
I do. It is typically the larger breeds like the labs. (In the past) I was around a trainer so I know how to handle them. I'm confident around all kinds of dogs and their behavior. I need to learn how to be more confident around aggressive dogs like pit bulls.
Do you ever get too attached to people's animals?
I do. I've had a lot last year where older dogs passed away. I've had a client for the past two years, her dog was only seven and had heart problems. During his last few months, I would have to check him twice a day because my client worked in Sacramento. That was hard when he passed away.
What is the best advice you can give someone who wants to do this?
Be ready to work a lot of hours and you have to really cater to people. They have different needs and you have to learn to be flexible with people and their pets.
House-sitter charged with theft
An Austin woman was charged with felony theft Thursday after she allegedly stole $6,000 from a house's safe last year because she didn't feel she was being paid enough to "house-sit."
Patricia Marie Viktora, 64, is summoned to appear April 1 in Mower County court on the single criminal count.
According to a criminal complaint, police were notified of the incident on Dec. 3 when a 64-year-old man and his 87-year-old mother returned home from a trip.
The two noticed nothing disturbed throughout the house, located on the 2700 block of 12th Street Southwest, but they did discover $6,000 missing from a safe. The man said he believed Viktora was the only one to have access to the home as they had left her to watch it.
Initially, Viktora told authorities that she had nothing to do with the missing money, the complaint states. Instead, she claimed she saw a "suspicious" man near the home while the couple was away and indicated it may have been him.
However, Viktora's written statement differed, and upon further police questioning, she admitted to taking the money.
She said she thought she had only taken $2,700 from the safe, the complaint states. Viktora said she committed the theft because she wasn't being fairly compensated for watching the home.
Patricia Marie Viktora, 64, is summoned to appear April 1 in Mower County court on the single criminal count.
According to a criminal complaint, police were notified of the incident on Dec. 3 when a 64-year-old man and his 87-year-old mother returned home from a trip.
The two noticed nothing disturbed throughout the house, located on the 2700 block of 12th Street Southwest, but they did discover $6,000 missing from a safe. The man said he believed Viktora was the only one to have access to the home as they had left her to watch it.
Initially, Viktora told authorities that she had nothing to do with the missing money, the complaint states. Instead, she claimed she saw a "suspicious" man near the home while the couple was away and indicated it may have been him.
However, Viktora's written statement differed, and upon further police questioning, she admitted to taking the money.
She said she thought she had only taken $2,700 from the safe, the complaint states. Viktora said she committed the theft because she wasn't being fairly compensated for watching the home.
Time Constraint From Snow?
Evening news announces "Snow is coming down and School is Closed tomorrow" and immediately the kids are jumping and cheering for joy as this means a day to stay home and play! However, for many working parents their reaction to this news is anything but exciting, knowing that the next several hours will be spent struggling to find last minute childcare for their kiddos. Worries no more: SitterCity can help! ( see also sittercity coupon )
Sittercity is able to help with last minute sitting help for unexpected emergencies which will allow mom or dad the ability to get to the office knowing that their children are at home with a prescreened and experienced Professional Babysitter. And one simple call to Sittercity is all it takes to request a sitter as Sittercity does all the work for you!
Sittercity is able to help with last minute sitting help for unexpected emergencies which will allow mom or dad the ability to get to the office knowing that their children are at home with a prescreened and experienced Professional Babysitter. And one simple call to Sittercity is all it takes to request a sitter as Sittercity does all the work for you!
SitterCity Supports Haiti Victim
On January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. Sittercity.com is helping support the relief efforts by donating $3.00 for each job scheduled in February. Check your local office for donation details.
Other ways to help
Also accepting cash and in-kind donations are the following sites: Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, UNICEF (1-800-4UNICEF), Direct Relief, Yele Haiti, Partners in Health, Red Cross, World Food Program, Mercy Corps (1-888-256-1900), Save the Children, Lambi Fund, Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee, Care, William J. Clinton Foundation, Meds & Food For Kids, Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Mayor's Fund for NYC
The following organizations are accepting SMS donations in the US only:- SMS text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
- SMS text "YELE" to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts
- SMS text "GIVE10" to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief
SitterCity.Com Extending Coupon Period
The holidays are almost here! This time of the year is one of the busiest for parents, filled with holiday parties, last-minute shopping, and of course New Year's Eve (one of the top babysitting nights of the year). It's a perfect time to maximize your Sittercity affiliate campaign and get your ads in front of parents who are scrambling to find holiday season sitters.
15% Off Deal Extended
To help Parent make the most of the holiday season, Sittercity is extending our 15% off promotion a bit longer. Your site visitors can save 15% on a monthly or annual Sittercity membership with promotion code SAVE15 through January 15, 2010.
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