If you love animals and are good at taking care of them, consider opening a small pet sitting service. You can have fun caring for animals and supplement your income at the same time. Pet sitting could even be your full-time job if you have enough clients. Whether you work 1 or 40 hours per week, you need to set up clear expectations and boundaries with your customers by writing a pet sitting contract.
Instructions
1. Make a list on a piece of scratch paper of the animals you are willing to pet sit for. (Some people love cats and dogs but don't want to deal with exotic pets, such as ferrets.) Different pets have different care requirements; keep this in mind as you go about drafting your pet sitting contract. For example, you may be willing to feed a tank full of fish, but not be willing to clean the tank.
2. Draft a "Contact Information" form to be included in your contract. On this page, the pet owner fills out the length of time he will be gone. For example, the owner may be leaving for vacation for 1 week. The owner may also simply be hiring you to come by once a day while he is at work. The owner must supply you with a way to get in touch with him in case of emergency. Also on this page, leave a space for the owner to fill in the name, address and phone number of the pet's veterinarian.
3. Write a set of questions for the next page, titled "Care Requirements." You need to ask the owner what kind of food the animal eats, how much and how often. Ask the owner if her pet has any special dietary needs, medicines or health issues.
4. Title the next page "Loving Your Pet," or something equally cute. On this page, detail how the owner wants her pet treated and loved. Also include how much time he wants you to spend playing fetch with the dog, or cuddling on the couch with his purring cat. These details are just as important to a pet owner as appropriate food and fresh water. Regardless of the type of animal, have the pet owner detail how much time you need to spend with his animal, and in what activities you and the pet shall partake.
5. You must include in your contract the amount of compensation you expect to receive for your services. Decide whether you want to be paid by the hour or by the day. Remember to factor in gas and travel expenses.
6. Schedule a visit with the pet while the owner is home. This gives the pet the opportunity to get used to you before you take care of it alone. You and the pet owner can firm up the details in your contract during this visit and negotiate if necessary.
7. Once the terms of the contract are agreed upon, print out two original copies. You and the pet owner sign and date both of them and you each keep one copy for your records.
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