Susie Q's Vacation Care Checklist
Absence Preparation Checklist One Month Ahead 1) Call Your Pet Sitter Advance notice is always a great idea for both parties. Short notice is usually not a problem, however it is always better to avoid scheduling conflicts. 2) New Clients It is best to schedule a "walk-through" time prior to your departure for familiarity/personalization of your animals daily requirements, mail pick up, gate codes, etc. and an accurate & honest price quote. This will give us a chance to meet and get introduced to your animals while they are in their normal comfort zone with Mom or Dad. 3) Notify Your Veterinarian Large and Small All veterinarians should be notified of your absence and that a professional pet sitter will be attending them. A formal authorization should be kept in your file with your veterinarians, pre-setting a monetary limit on funds to be spent for your animals, should there be an incident while you are away. Make arrangements for payment of these services prior to your departure and include what your intentions are for the animal if it is a life threatening condition. Veterinarian expenses are the sole responsibility of the pet owner!!! 4) Contact and Feed Preparation Lists (two please: one in barn one by phone) Make a thorough list of all contacts with accurate phone numbers of people that will take action in your absence-- example: House alarm company and false alarm information, immediate family members and neighbors, veterinarian large and small, back up veterinarian if needed. List all feed preparations & amounts that each horse, dog, cat, goat, pig, birds, etc. is to receive and where it is to be fed. Pre-measured & bagged supplements and foods are always a time saver, big help and greatly appreciated. 5) Awareness Notify your neighbors and local police or sheriff that they might see an unfamiliar vehicle coming and going during your absence and that this is okay. For lengthy trips & vacations most local police will add additional patrol in your neighborhood if asked. Suggestion: Stop papers and hold mail at the post office if you will be gone for over one week. Have an evacuation plan in place in case of fire and be sure your sitter is aware of your procedures. One Week Prior to Departure 1) Confirm your reservations with your pet sitter. Bring them up to speed & notify them if there are any changes or conditions they should be aware of. 2) Stock up on all feed & supplies for animals. During the summer months, be sure to have additional fly protection for your horses and plenty of fly repellent for the dogs, too. Flies love the tips of dog ears and they can be bothersome. Fleas are more prevalent in the summer months so keep your yards watered and use some form of prevention to make your outside animals more comfortable. 3) Try to reschedule blacksmith or dog grooming appointments to when you are available. These services can be accommodated however there is an additional fee that will apply. 4) Make sure you have done your emergency contact and feed menus. Have them ready and in place: one in the barn and one by the phone. Read More