PET SITTER, THANKFULLY YOU EXIST!
The pet sitter: the professional for our animal friends
We would never want it, but there are situations when, for health, work, personal reasons, we cannot take care of our pet or cannot take it with us.
But pet sitters are not all the same.
If we cannot take our pet with us, the least we can do is to make sure that we entrust them to experienced hands, whether those of a pet sitter or the manager of a boarding house.
Already the separation will be traumatic for the animal, it is important to make sure that there will be a professional to take care of it.
So here is a list of tips for choosing the right pet sitter and boarding house to care for our animal friends.
I introduce myself, I am the pet sitter
Pet-walker, dog walker or pet-sitter?
Taking care of pets in the absence of their owners are precisely the new animal care professionals, specialized and competent figures who respond to the needs of that particular category of consumers constituted by pets and their owners.
In Italy, a real business is flourishing around pet sitter training courses even though at present, there are no official certified procedures: in fact, there is a lack of a standard that regulates these figures and this market, establishing the necessary skills and possible responsibilities.
Therefore, it may happen to come across “improvised” pet sitters, who undoubtedly have a great love for animals but are not always able to handle them.
First, let us make an initial distinction between the person who is in charge of walking pets, mainly or only dogs, and the actual pet sitter.
The latter is one who takes care of pets (dogs, cats, birds, fish, rodents) instead of their owners by taking care of them at home or at their own private facility.
Before fostering your pet, whether at home or at a private facility, it is always a good idea to have the paperwork ready to hand over to the caregiver:
- A clean bill of health issued by your trusted veterinarian
- The vaccination record and microchip number if it is a dog, cat or rabbit
- Your identification document proving ownership of the animal
Watchword: professionalism
When you think about turning to a pet-sitter for your pet, it is essential that you request a list of his or her certified skills.
The ideal pet sitter must be able to take care of your pet all-around by properly managing it both physically and psychologically, and for this to happen he or she must be a properly trained and accredited professional.
The pet sitter “Doc”: how to recognize him or her
Don’t know how to untangle the many pet sitting offers around and want to make sure you make the right choice?
Here are what requirements the ideal pet sitter must have.
- Be in possession of a license or certificate as a dog handler or educator issued by a legally recognized training institution or school. The dog sitter, specifically, must be able to handle the dog as much in public places or places frequented by other animals as in the home.
- Have advanced ethological and dog knowledge. The dog, cat, rabbit are not just “animals”; they have their own intelligence and character specificity, and your pet sitter needs to know this.
- The “DOC” pet sitter must be familiar with and comply with animal protection and welfare regulations and traffic laws regarding animal transportation.
- It is critically important for the health of your small animal friends that your designated pet sitter is able to provide veterinary first aid.
- Professionalism also means responsibility. Make sure that the per sitter you choose is covered by a liability insurance policy: in the absence of the owner, it is the dog sitter who has civil and criminal liability for the animal for any damage the animal may cause to people or property.
The civil liability of the pet sitter
The prevailing case law holds not only its owner but also the person who momentarily holds the animal responsible for damages caused by the animal.
L’Article 2052 of the Civil Code states that “The owner of an animal, or the person who has use of it for the time he or she has use of it, is liable for damages caused by the animal, whether it was in his or her custody or was lost or escaped, unless he or she proves unforeseeable circumstances.”
The existence of damage must be proven by the injured party, but the burden of proof to prove fortuitous event and to exclude the existence of liability, is always on the owner/owner.
The criminal liability of the pet sitter
For the purpose of identifying the person criminally responsible for culpable injuries caused by a dog, it is relevant not so much to ascertain who is the owner of the animal, but rather who, in the time context in which the offense occurred, managed its custody without the appropriate precautions, and the contributory negligence of the owner by entrusting it to an inexperienced person is not excluded.
The normative reference is Art. 672 of the Criminal Code, which states the following:” Whoever lets loose, or fails to keep with due care, dangerous animals owned by him, or entrusts their custody to an inexperienced person, shall be punished with an administrative sanction from 25 euros to 258 euros.”
Retired dog
If you have decided to entrust your pet to a boarding house, go to the facility and personally make sure that all the conditions and services promoted are true and real:
- Check box sizes
- Assesses the sanitary conditions of the place
- Ensure that the presence or assistance of a 24-hour veterinarian is guaranteed
- Check to make sure that the walking areas are safe
Be aware that entrusting the dog to an organized facility falls under the type of a contract of storage for consideration governed byArt. 1766 of the Civil Code.
“Deposit is the contract by which one party receives from the other a movable thing with the obligation to keep it and return it in kind.”
The person who takes custody of the dog, or any other animal (called a custodian) must guard it with the diligence of a good family man.
From this it follows that it is responsible for any material and moral damage suffered by the animal and has the obligation to compensate the owner, for material and moral damage resulting from the loss of or damage to the animal itself.
Making detachment less traumatic
Leaving your pet in a boarding house will result in a stressful time for the animal. Here then are some tips to make the separation less distressing for your pet:
- If it is possible, we suggest that you bring the animal to the facility for a short time before the final stay. This will give him the opportunity to familiarize himself with the environment and staff, and the detachment will be less traumatic.
- Hand over to the boarding house some familiar items to the animal (a toy, its kennel, its bowls). Prepare a list of notes with any helpful hints and suggestions about the animal’s behavior and habits, including eating habits.
- Request photos and videos of the pet during the boarding period. In addition to your telephone number, provide one or more alternate contact information for any urgent communications in case it is impossible to reach you.
Clinica La Veterinaria employs qualified Dog Educators who are always available to advise you properly: request an appointment now.
We would also like to remind you that Clinica La Veterinaria is always open h24 every day, including holidays and with First Aid service from 8 pm to 8 am.
For the joy of seeing them HAPPY.
