Preparing for travel can be overwhelming. Trying to figure out what to pack, the weather where we’re going, and what we’ll do when we arrive is enough to send us into a tizzy. Unfortunately, leaving our pets behind, whether boarding or in the comfort of our home means planning for them while simultaneously doing laundry, buying sunblock, and ordering last-minute travel items.
At Hearts at Home, we want to make the process easy for you therefore the following is a guide on how to prepare your home and pet for your pet sitter to take the guesswork out of your pet’s preparations.
Enter all pet and home care instructions into Time To Pet
Time to Pet is not only our client management tool, it’s also our communication tool therefore you’ll want to familiarize yourself to get the most out of this awesome benefit of hiring our company.
When updating your information, please be sure to update emergency contacts when preparing for each trip. We wouldn’t want your parent or best friend to be your emergency contact if they will be traveling with you. It’s important to also provide Pet Guardianship information for worst-case scenarios.
Stock all necessary pet and home care items
Please be sure you stock up on all necessary pet and home care items. We ask that you please order/purchase enough to last at least one week past your expected return date. We can certainly run errands and purchase additional supplies if needed but there is a charge involved, therefore we encourage you to plan accordingly.
Please remember to reach out to your veterinarian if your pet takes prescription drugs to ensure that they have ample supply before and after your departure.
Leave home in good/tidy condition for the pet's wellbeing and enjoyment
It’s easy for us to forget that our pets will be living in our home while we’re away when we’re checking a million things off our to-do list. We encourage you, however, to keep in mind that animals enjoy a tidy environment and may experience stress and anxiety if things are left looking like a hurricane came through while you’re away.
Inform neighbors of travel plans and provide our contact information if needed
If you have a relationship with your neighbors, it’s always a good idea to let them know that you’ll be traveling and consider leaving a house key in their possession in case there is an emergency that impacts our ability to reach your pet.
It’s also a good idea to let them know that you have hired Hearts at Home for your pet’s care and give them our phone number so that they may reach out to our management team if they notice anything out of the ordinary while you’re away.
Check the weather report if any storms are expected in the area
No matter the time of year, inclement weather can impact travel and services. Please be sure to leave us emergency plans for situations like power outages, broken windows, leaky pipes, etc. You should provide at least two emergency contacts that can step in on your behalf if there is a home-related issue while you’re away.
Plan Home Services Accordingly
Take into account any snow removal, landscaping services, etc., that are scheduled while you’re traveling. Please remind all contractors entering and exiting the yard to close gates to prevent pet loss.
We encourage you to cancel any cleaning services or similar that require access to your home. We prefer to be the only ones entering and exiting the home to ensure that we keep full track of your pets' goings-on while you’re traveling.
Inform Us of Others Accessing the Home
Finally, please let us know if anybody will be entering your yard or home and when you expect them to do so. That way, we may inform your care provider to be alert to their arrival and departure. It is unnerving and potentially dangerous for us to arrive at a home and find a car parked in the driveway or walk into a home that is unexpectedly occupied when our clients are away. Keeping us informed is key to our smooth and safe operations.
Please email us at Hello@HeartsAtHomePetSitting.com or call 757-745-9868 with any pre-travel questions or concerns. We are happy to help set you and your pet up for success on your next vacation or work trip.
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