Pet sitting advice needed

Solarsis · 09-24-2006, 10:44 PM

My pet sitter gave me a call tonight asking if I'd be willing to pet sit a little chinnie guy for a while over the next few weeks. It turns out his owners would prefer to board him because they are moving and our pet sitter does not offer boarding. She thought of me because I'm always her first resource when it comes to chinnies.

My regular sitter was nice enough to give me a template for a vet release form I want to get the owners to fill out. It tells the vet I am authorized to seek medical attention if required and makes sure the owner knows they are responsible for expenses if anything should happen.

I'm wondering if I should have any other forms to go along with that? Has anyone done paid boarding before? Do you have any agreements or anything you get people to fill out? If so, what kind of info do you include? And do you have a template you would be willing to share?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Solarsis · 09-25-2006, 12:59 PM

Anyone?

hawaiianchinnielover · 09-25-2006, 02:14 PM

When I looked after a lady's dogs, I had the vet form that stated that if I had to take them to the vet, she was responsible for the expenses. I also had one that stated if the dogs were to cause any sort of damage (whether to my property or someone elses) that she was also responsible for that, unless of course it was my fault.

I told her upfront that if something was wrong with them that I would take them to the vet, I wouldn't sit around trying to get ahold of her to ask her permission.

Solarsis · 09-25-2006, 04:56 PM

Thanks Courtney. I'm mainly using a vet release for the vet to know that I am authorized to take the pet for mecial care and that the owner has agreed to pay the vet expenses. It also states in it that if the situation is not an emergency, I would try contacting the owner prior to taking the pet to the vet, but that in the event of an emergency, the pet's health would take priority over trying to call right away.

I'm just wondering if I shouldn't have anything else with animal info, etc. Since I don't really know the people I'll be helping, I want to make sure my

is covered in case anything happens that is out of my control.

SIChins · 09-26-2006, 02:21 PM

Sophie, you should have a waiver drawn up in case something happens to the chin (injury or death), so that the owners cannot come back at you for it. I have heard of people doing that and winning when the pet is being looked after in someones home. Accidents, although rare, still do happen, I would be ticked if they placed blame on the sitter.

Solarsis · 09-26-2006, 02:24 PM

that's what I'm thinking too Laurie, but I'm not sure what that waiver should look like and what it should say. Do you happen to have any examples on hand or know of someone who would?

Debbie · 09-26-2006, 02:29 PM

When I was at the vets last week a lady had several animals in that were being boarded with her.
She did show a paper for each animal, and she didn't even have to pay. The vet would wait for the owner to come back and pay.
I thought that was cool. I'm sure they all had it set up with the vet.
So far I've just gone with a verbal agrement, but as I seem to be doing more and more chin sitting I to have been thinking of drawing up something for them to sign, and to collect info on each.
Most are kits from me, so I know all about them.
But yes you sure need to cover your buns eh!

Arf2184 · 09-26-2006, 06:39 PM

Since the people are moving, I'd make sure to get hteir cel phone numbers as well as a relative or close friend who could help you get in contact wit them, not so much for emergency issues, but just so you don't get ditched with a chin and end up wondering if the owner will ever come back.

Other than that, when pet sitting I have never had anything other than a vet release and contact info as far as paper work goes. A release from resposibility of accidental death would not be a bad idea.

Found this through Google:
http://www.lyvers-ent.com/release.htm
It's for grooming, not pet sitting, but it might give you some ideas.

Here's more:
http://hug-a-petsitting.com/_wsn/page7.html
http://www.totallyclean.com/Pet%20Si...20Contract.pdf
http://www.riversidepetranch.com/ima...h%20release%22

Solarsis · 09-26-2006, 07:10 PM

Those links are great! Thanks Alison

I wasn't able to find much when I googled.

I've already asked them to provide me with contact info for themselves and a relative for just that reason. I think I'll include it in this new document though, just to make it more official. I'm going to work on a draft tonight.