What to Look for in a Bunny Sitter
Author: Alexandria Brown, San Francisco’s Exotic Pet Professional, House of Guineas LLC
It can be a stressful experience looking for an available pet sitter for your bunny, especially when there are several options. You may have questions such as: how many years of experience do they have; is this important? Is this normal across all pet sitters?
By the end of this article, you will have an answer to these questions as well as confidence in your decision of the perfect caretaker for your companion(s).
1.What are your initial impressions?
As you’re searching the web for available bunny sitters, observe what comes up. You’re checking if the sitter is a genuine caretaker or pet professional, versus an individual who’s trying to make a quick buck. An easy sign of a dedicated caregiver is if you are able to find information about their services online, or at least a method to contact them (think phone number or email).
The next step is to see how you feel around the sitter. When you’re leaving your fur baby in someone’s care, you should feel confident that the caretaker has their best interest in mind. This takes place during a “meet and greet”, where you discuss logistics for caring for your pet (and your home if Gus isn’t boarding at the sitter’s place). When arriving at your home or scheduled call, did they arrive on time? If not, did the sitter communicate if there were any delays? This is a small detail, but sets the tone for timing for future visits.
This also applies to boarding in their home. When you entered their home, was the home clean and tidy? We’re not looking for a home fresh out of a designer magazine, but we are interested if their home is clear of biohazards (what was that mysteriously colored liquid in the corner?). Take the time to observe how you feel around them. Were they asking questions to clarify any details for Fanta’s unique diet, or were they mostly quiet, aloof?
2. Do they Exhibit Trustworthiness and Reliability?
This individual will not only be looking after your precious fur babies, but they will be entering and leaving your home. If you don’t feel comfortable handing off the keys, then they shouldn’t be looking after Becky. Let’s cover characteristics that separate a peaceful experience from a stressful one: trustworthiness and reliability.
During the meet and greet or call, recall their disposition when you were showing them around. Asking questions, taking notes and reiterating information are all good signs that they have Fanta’s health in mind. Did you feel rushed; were they glossing over your rabbit’s medication needs to talk about payment? Someone looking at their phone or carrying 10% of the conversation doesn’t seem like someone I would trust to care for Johnny, and you shouldn’t either.
Now, let’s say the professional caretaker checked the right boxes—they asked great questions about where to take Pumpkin for an emergency, and acknowledged and apologized for arriving late. There are unfortunate cases where the sitter has their heart in the right place, but they seem to be spread a bit too thin. This can look like the sitter disgruntledly mentioning all of the pets they are looking after that week, and they seem to be anxious to get across town to little Fluffy. I’ve unfortunately had to turn down a well-meaning caretaker because they seemed to be everywhere at once. We all know too well that when we aren't taking care of ourselves, it is hard to be reliable and care for others.
3. Follow Cinnamon’s Gut!
There is a final note to consider when making decisions for a caretaker, and it’s typically addressed in other species. This is something that is commonly associated with dogs and cats, but not small mammals like our amazing bunnies. I am sure you have heard of how dogs and cats can tell if someone is likeable; they can just “tell.” Well, this absolutely applies to Lyle and Lulu! It is normal for bunnies to be shy around new people. However, a sign to look out for is if they are acting out of character, in a not-so-positive way. We all love it when McMuffin comes out of his shell and runs circles around their new best friend. But does he seem uncharacteristically reserved, or even scared? Trust their instinct—they can sometimes tell way before you do.
Now, if the sitter showed all of the green flags but your rabbit just isn’t a fan (they aren’t showing signs of distress but just won’t take to this specific person), sometimes it’s just not a match, and that’s okay!
Final Notes about Choosing a Pet Caretaker
We’ve reviewed some glaring red flags in a sitter, as well as subtle nuances that may not be obvious. The supposed professional sitter seems more interested in your video game setup than giving Pumpkin her meds? Maybe we shouldn’t go with this person. Did you enter the caretaker’s home for boarding and there were enough ants to feed a family of anteaters? I’d go with someone else.
It is important that your sitter cares about your pet’s well-being, is willing to learn about your pet’s quirks and preferences, and wants you to feel at peace leaving your pet in their care. Whether you choose a professional sitter or a pet caretaker, make sure they have these provisions in place—I’d rather choose a pet caretaker that made me feel confident about leaving Chungus behind, than a professional sitter who doesn’t mind letting your bun chew on some wires for “enrichment!”
Did you read through this guide and forgot to schedule an actual pet sitter? Don’t worry—follow House Rabbit Society’s link to local pet sitters and boarders in the Bay Area.
Looking to adopt a new family member? Take a look at House Rabbit Society’s adoptable bunnies!
