Our first priority as your petsitter is to make sure your companion animal is safe and happy while you are away. However, we also strive to ensure that your home is also protected.

There are several things you may be able to do to help us care for your home and beloved animals:

1. Use timers for your lights (both inside and outside if possible) so that we're safe entering the house and the house looks lived-in. I have heard many times, that a well-lit home is less likely to be targeted than a house that looks deserted.

2. Provide as much information as possible instructing your sitter on the care of your home and animal(s). We don't like to disturb our clients while they are away, but will call if you haven't provided pertinent information. What may seam obvious to you, is not necessarily obvious to your sitter.

If your sitter has asked you to complete forms - whether via internet or old-fashioned paper, make sure to thoroughly complete them. Your sitter has probably developed and refined the questions asked based on actual experiences.

3. Provide contact numbers where you may easily be reached while away - if possible, keep your cell phone on and available and check for messages.

4. Will anyone else have access to your home while you're away? This means alerting your petsitter if you have any appointments expected; and if neighbors have keys.

5. Let your sitter know if you stopped the mail and/or newspaper. Let us know if you are expecting packages.

6. Provide your sitter with two sets of keys.

7. Do your dogs wear a collar to keep them inside an electric fence? Make sure the collar batteries are new and the system is working properly (not a bad idea to check your smoke alarm batteries too!).