Pet Sitting

daff_duck

Could anyone help with advise on pet sitting as a self employed part time job as I would love to do this but don't know where to start. I have seen a course on all you need to know but it cost 330.00 and no funding avalaible so I can't do it.
Thanx for any advice.:)

elsien

Are you thinking of the type of pet-sitting where you move into people's houses while they are away, or the type where you visit once or twice a day while people are at work to walk dogs, feed cats etc?
I don't know much about the formalities, but as a pet owner looking for a dog walker, I would want to know -
What experience do you have with animals - references eg from a vet/kennels. not just from one of your friends.
Do you have public liability insurance in case of accidents?
Do you have a criminal record check - if I'm letting you get into my house when I'm not there, I want to cover myself as much as possible.
Do you know what to do in case of accident/emergency? eg my dog escapes and gets knocked over/ bites somone?
Can you cope with unpredictable animals - they're always going to be trying to take adantage ( mine does, anyway!)

Do you have transport, so if you are looking after smaller animals - hamsters , rabbits and the like, could you board them in your house for a few days while people are on holiday.
If you do take pets home to stay, what are the arrangements for vets fees if they become ill (or die)while in your care. (Not trying to scare you, but sods law being what it is, you must always consider the worst case scanario)


There's probably lots more, but those are the immediate things that come to mind.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead.

daff_duck

These are all the things I have been thinking about. I am doing an animal care diploma at the moment and was thinking of doing the pet sitting course which would answer all these things but the cost is too high for me which is why I was looking for advice on how to start off and what insurances I would need ect.

elsien

daff_duck wrote: »

I was looking for advice on how to start off and what insurances I would need ect.

If you go to a good independent insurance broker, they should be able to advise on insurance, and I don't think it need be that expensive - our gardener at work managed to get his public liability insurance sorted out in an afternoon. Or google it, and there are several sites that can give you a quote, to give you a rough idea of what is involved.

If you want to look at crb checks, try this site - not essential for what you plan, but worth looking at to see if you want to give it a go. http://www.crb.gov.uk/



Otherwise, if you have your diploma, and get a couple of references, why don't you put an advert in the local paper/ vets surgeries etc, and see what sort of response you get. Phone up other people in your area (or get a friend to do it) to see what sort of rates they charge, and if they mention anything you haven't thought of.

The only other issues might be those of tax on your earnings and all the stuff about being self-employed, which I have no idea about, but there's probably others who can help you with that.

Hope that helps.