The Ethical Pet Sitter Checklist: Is Your Pet Sitter Doing It Right?

We get it. Finding someone to care for your pets & home while you’re away can feel overwhelming. You want someone loving, reliable, & trustworthy—but also someone legit.

The truth is anyone can say they’re a pet sitter. But not everyone is doing it the right way—and unfortunately, some are cutting serious corners when it comes to safety, legality, & ethics.

So, before you hand over your house key or trust someone with your precious fur babies, here’s what you need to ask:

The Ethical Pet Sitter Checklist

Print this out. Save it. Use it before choosing anyone to care for your pets.

Are they a licensed to conduct business in your specific state?

• Proves they taken the necessary steps & accountability to become a legitimate business.

  
  

Are they insured with pet sitting specific insurance?

• Pet sitting specific insurance is extremely important since other insurance companies do not understand what goes into our careers, therefore do not have the proper aspects included to properly insure us, our clients, & their precious pets. Due to the nature & uniqueness of our jobs our insurance does require specific things to properly protect you, your pets, & your pet sitter if anything goes wrong.

• Ask to see proof of pet sitting-specific insurance 

• If they have a team, they also need to be bonded.

  
  

Do they have employees—or independent contractors?

• If they claim to have a “team,” they should be employees, not just random helpers.

• Employees should be properly vetted - background checked, trained, covered under the company’s insurance, & legally required to follow the company’s protocols.

If they use independent contractors…

• Are those contractors' business owners themselves with their own insurance & training?

• ICs legally must work independently—and that means the company has no real control over how they operate in your home or with your pet. 🚨 That’s risky, especially if something goes wrong.

  
  

How are they trained?

• Did they shadow a few visits—or go through actual structured training?

• Do they know what to do in an emergency?

• Are they pet first-aid/CPCR certified?

  
  

Are they background checked & drug tested?

• This should be non-negotiable. You’re trusting someone in your home—you deserve to know who they are. ✅ All Fairy Dogmothers team members undergo fingerprint-based state & federal background checks and lab-based drug testing.

  
  

Do they use a scheduling and communication system?

• Real professionals use secure pet-sitting software to schedule visits, provide updates, & track GPS check-ins. ✅ We use Time To Pet—you’ll receive messages, photos, videos, & detailed visit reports every time.

At Fairy Dogmothers, our entire team is made up of W-2 employees—trained, covered, & supervised. No gray areas. Our team is pet first-aid/CPCR certified, fear-free focused, & trained on everything from medication handling to enrichment-based care to our emergency protocols.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:

• They avoid answering questions about insurance or training

• They refer to their team as “helpers” or “trusted friends”

• They offer cash-only services or no contracts

• They don’t have a website or official policies

• They say, “I’ve never had a problem before”—when asked about vetting or emergencies

Why It Matters

Your pets are family—and your home is sacred. You deserve a pet care professional who takes that responsibility seriously. Not just someone who likes pets, but someone who knows what they’re doing, is legally operating, & has proper systems in place to protect your pets & your peace of mind.

Want to see what an ethical pet care company looks like?

We invite you to download our free “Ethical Pet Sitter Checklist” and see why Fairy Dogmothers checks every box—proudly.

With love (& lots of treats),

Kaley Reinhart ✨🐾

CPPS & Fear Free Certified Professional

Owner, Fairy Dogmothers LLC

fairydogmothersllc.com | @fairydogmothersllc