experience and get a few references. You
will want to invite a potential sitter over
for a meet-and-greet so you can see how
she interacts with your pet.
If you're uncomfortable having a stranger
in your house, look for a reputable pet-
care facility.
Ideally you will have a chance to visit the
site to make sure it's clean, spacious, and
safe. Look for gates or fences around open
areas where pets play, and ask if they
Lucky Pawz: Dog walking, pet sitting, day visits, and overnight services
at your home. They focus on West Seattle, but they offer services
throughout the Puget Sound area. $10 surcharge on official holidays;
luckypawzpetcare.com.
PetsHotel: A division of PetSmart, PetsHotel offers boarding in Bellevue,
Tukwila, Woodinville, and Issaquah. Bring papers verifying your dog or cat
is up-to-date on its vaccinations. If your dog is comfortable away from
home and digs the company of other dogs, this might work for you, though
private dog suites are sometimes available.
Sniff Seattle: Winner of the Evening Magazine's 2013 Best of Western
Washington poll, Sniff Seattle offers dog walking, pet sitting, overnight
sitting, and daytime potty breaks. They'll even take your dog hiking.
sniffseattle.com.
segregate large and small dogs — also a
good inquiry might be how they choose to
separate more aggressive dogs from the
others. If your animal is old or has health
problems, look into alternative options
such as boarding him at a veterinarian's
office. "It may not be as fun as a traditional
kennel with other pets around," says Murray,
"but for some animals, it makes more sense.
And at least you know your pet will be
watched carefully."
