on August 20, 2015 
I already have a few blog posts regarding this issue (on my yet-to-be-published blog archive from my old website), but due to so much public misconception out there, I feel compelled to publish a response to a post on one of the major online caregiving directories.
Name and location of the poster are edited out. Asking rate on the post is $15 per visit. Here’s the post, copied verbatim (emphasis mine):
My cool cat needs you!!
I would like to hire somebody that is licensed/bonded by the State of California to attend to cats needs feed/water, clean litter box, and play with cat for about 30 minutes a day. Thank you
My response:
Hi ________,
I hope you’ve found a great sitter for your hip kitty. I’m in Southern California. I’m way outside your service area, so I’m not inquiring about the availability of the job you’ve posted, but I’d like to give pet parents some useful tips.
State licensing is not required in California for pet sitting. There isn’t any licensing requirement for pet care in general. Private companies, not the government, provide bonding. Bonding is only for sitters or companies in general with employees. It’s not needed for sole proprietors/solo sitters. Licensing and bonding aren’t a guarantee of quality. They don’t necessarily protect you and the sitter, so they’re not the most important things to look for. They’re basically irrelevant. Of course, if you’re hiring a pet sitting company with employees, then you’d want to ask about bonding. What you want to look for is a sitter with a contract/service agreement and insurance to protect both parties. You might also want to ask about background check and/or references. Some sitters don’t consent to them due to privacy issues, but they’ll be very happy to show you their reviews or testimonials on their websites. Check out sitters’ websites to get a feel for their personality and to get more information to see if you’d like to potentially work with one of them. Most importantly, schedule a meet-and-greet. Qualified sitters normally require meeting to ensure a good fit. Go with your gut feeling. If the sitter is likable, friendly, and professional, then go for him/her.
Average professional rate for pet sitting is around $25 per 30-minute drop-in visit, so that’s what you should pretty much expect, especially since you live in one of the most expensive areas in the US.
Hope this helps. Have a pawesome rest of the summer!
Best,
Nancee
An Artful Dogger
pet care + s’more
www.anartfuldogger.com
