Being prepared to be away from your pet is crucial to your ability to relax while you are gone. Here are some ways to ensure that you are all set:

• Always make sure your pet sitter knows when you are leaving (date and hour) and when you plan to return (date and hour).
  
  
• Leave all appropriate phone number (at every assignment) as well as your cell phone, pager, fax or whatever contact information you have.
  
  
• Make sure your pet sitter has all your keys, garage door opener/code and any other codes necessary to enter your home. If you have an alarm system, don't forget to notify your service that your pet sitter will be entering your home.
  
  
• Notify your pet's veterinarian that your pet sitter will be caring for your pets and has the authority to bring your pet in for treatment. Make sure your pet sitter has written verification that your pet is current on all its vaccinations.
  
  
• Notify any neighbors or family members that you have hired a pet sitter and that the sitter has permission to enter your home.
  
  
• Leave plenty of water and food for your pet before you go. It is helpful to make sure that your pet sitter knows where you keep all your pet supplies. If possible it's good to leave all pet supplies on the kitchen counter. Make sure you have extra food and supplies (paper towels, towel to wipe paws, etc.) on hand in case you are delayed upon your return.
  
  
• If you have more than one pet, make sure each pet is wearing an ID tag with his/her name on it.
  
  
• Make sure you have appropriate sized carriers for your pet, should your pet stay in a carrier while you are gone. Don't put a Golden Retriever in a small crate.
  
  
• Let your pet sitter know if there are any areas of your home or yard in which your pet is not allowed to go.
  
  
• Make sure to provide your pet sitter with other local contact persons with respective phone numbers who have access to your home in case of emergency.
  
  
• If you are going away for an extended period of time, you may want to notify the police that you will be gone and that a pet sitter will be overseeing your animals and home occasionally.