Has someone offered up their teenage kid for weekends and/or summers to help pet sit for you because they love animals and are great with them? Is there a college student looking for extra income? Has a neighborhood kid offered to walk your dog?

Questions to ask yourself if a child should walk your dog alone:

• 1. Does your dog walk nicely on a leash... WITHOUT PULLING?
• 2. Does your dog walk by people, dogs, cars, and wildlife totally UNDISTRACTED.
• 3. Is it physically IMPOSSIBLE for your dog TO DRAG your child or pull them over?
• 4. Can your child SPOT potential RISKS and proactively avoid danger?
• 5. Dos your child have the skills to direct your dog… and will your dog HAPPILY FOLLOW their direction outside?
• 6. Is your child MATURE enough to DEAL with a SERIOUS event, (your dog getting loose, hurt, or being rushed by another dog)?

If the answer is NO to any of the questions above, then DO NOT let a child walk your dog. If the answer is YES to all the questions above and you choose to let a child walk your dog, only let them after practicing with you FIRST.

We strongly encourage you to hire a professional pet sitter who is bonded, insured and capable.

“As an individual I support kids learning independence and hard work early on. I respect those who get jobs and learn the skills they will need as they mature. I think there are many opportunities for them to do so. Parents often advertise or offer their kids to be able to do pet sitting and baby sitting on weekends or summer break. College kids often post on social media looking for extra income. The advantage is they cost way less money for the pet parents compared to a professional. Although there are some advantages to this option for all parties involved, there is a long list of disadvantages. One is they are not bonded and insured. Another, is how mature are they to handle an emergency? Do they know what to look for? Do they have a car to drive them to the vet? Will they be able to properly dose and give medications? Will they be able to properly advocate for your animal until you can arrive home? All things to consider. Our prices cannot compete with a teenager or someone who is not properly bonded and insured, and we don’t want to. Our goal is to give quality pet care and ensure safety measures are in place for all involved.”

Raven, CEO