Garrett PetMinders

Pet Ownership in the United States is continually on the rise. Currently, 63 percent of all American households have pets. The US pet population includes 73 million dogs, 90 million cats and 16 million birds plus fish, hamsters and other animals. These pets are happiest and healthiest when they're home, surrounded by familiar sights, smells and sounds.

For many years, pet owners have faced a dilemma when they had to be away from home: only limited care options were available. One choice was boarding at a kennel or vet, another was turning to family, friends, neighbors or a professional boarder. These solutions were seldom ideal.

The new alternative - pet sitting - has changed all that. Today, professional pet caregivers look after animals at home, while their owners are away. Pet sitting has taken the anxiety out of leaving a pet behind, which is why it is one of the nation's fastest growing industries.

Pet sitting offers the best of all worlds - for pets and their owners. Travel and trauma to the pet, especially older dogs and cats, is minimized. Owners need not go through the ordeal of transporting unhappy pets and worrying that they might be exposed to other animals' illnesses or poor boarding conditions. Animals get to stay in their familiar environment, maintain their diet, exercise routine and habits and are attended to by caring professionals who visit on a schedule similar to that which they normally experience.

Professional pet sitting allows owners to confidently leave their pets at home, knowing that they'll receive the love and care they so rightly deserve.