Sidehill Sitters

_If you are thinking about traveling for the holidays this year, now is the time to plan for your pets!  Here are a few things to remember:

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1. _If you still need a pet sitter, now is the time!  Sitters are quickly filling their holiday spots so you want to set something up before it is too late.  If you do not have a regular sitter now, is the time to set up interviews to find a sitter that works well for your household.
   
2. Be sure to leave plenty of food and regular supplies for your pets.  Get these early so you are not having to go shopping the night before you leave.
3. Leave detailed instructions for your pet care provider, the more detail the better!  If you did not sign a vet release form already then be sure to check with your vet and see if they have a form they prefer.  (All Sidehill clients fill out one of these.)
   
4. Try to spend some extra time with your pets before you leave.  I know you are busy planning for the holidays, but they will miss you when you are gone and will be confused by the holiday commotion.
5. Be sure to have plenty of toys and treats for your pet to chew while you are gone.  Special treats such as stuffed Kongs will help distract them if they are bored.  

Above all, enjoy the holidays and your pets when you return.  With a good pet sitter they will enjoy their special attention when you are gone and will be happy to see you when you return!

Do you have any tips for other pet owners?  Feel free to add your ideas!

Just a quick reminder of our snow policies for everyone!

- If possible please leave a snow shovel out for easy access.
- If you are going out of town we typically only shovel enough to get into your home.  If you need your sidewalks shoveled please let us know and we will add on extra time to your visits to take care of it.  You will be billed for the extra time after your return.
- We will do our best to keep the schedule for our regular visits.  If you are in an area that is hard to access in the snow please provide us with contact information for a neighbor that we can call in an emergency.
- Dog walks will be done as scheduled but in extreme weather we will have more inside playtime instead of a full walk.  We take into consideration the safety of your pet and your sitter.

I will be working to come up with a great list of games to play inside with your dogs since it looks like the cold months will continue!  Stay tuned!

Liana