A friend of mine refuses to go on vacation because she hates leaving her pets behind. She’s not alone.

We’ve all seen postings on Facebook and other social media sites from pet parents who staycation rather than travel because of their furry family.

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Another friend only travels within the U.S. because she drives everywhere and can take her well-behaved dog with her. She stays in pet-friendly hotels and orders room service unless there is an outdoor café that welcomes pets.

That seems a bit over-the-top to me. I love to travel and I love my two cats. Yes, it’s hard saying good-bye for a long weekend or for a couple of weeks, but I have a pet sitter who takes good care of my animals. She was recommended by my veterinarian.

When the pet sitter came to my house to meet my cats, I watched how she interacted with them before I left for vacation. That’s what Alicia Kahn, 41, of Providence, Rhode Island, did as well — and it worked.

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“Prior to going on vacation, I called up a few friends with pets and asked them to recommend a dog sitter,” she told LifeZette. “I wanted someone to stay in my apartment. It could be part time, but I wanted that person to be here at nights and to be able to walk my dog three times a day.”

After she asked the recommended sitters a round of questions over the phone, she invited the “finalists” to her apartment to meet her dog, a three-year-old Schnauzer named Trixie.

“I stayed and watched how they interacted with her,” she said. “Trixie has a special diet. I wanted to make sure the person in charge would take good care of her, and not introduce any new foods.”

Kahn narrowed down her selection to two pet sitters who Trixie seemed comfortable with. Today, “I use one as a backup if the first can’t make it,” she said.

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A few weeks before she left for vacation, she hired the pet sitter to come on a Saturday while she was out doing chores.

“I wanted to give Trixie some alone time with the pet sitter and be able to pop in to check on them,” she said.

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Caitlin McWilliams, public relations director for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, thought that was a smart idea.

“Hiring a pet sitter is a serious process,” she said. “The person you choose is not only responsible for your pets, but is also responsible for your home. So you should make sure the pet sitter is licensed and bonded and has excellent references.”

Ask these questions before hiring a pet sitter, McWilliams suggested.

  • Do you have references? (Ask to see them.)
  • Do you have liability insurance to cover accidents and negligence?
  • Do you know a nearby veterinarian who can provide emergency service?
  • Will you feed, brush, play, walk (the dog), and stay over in the evenings? (Not all pet sitters will do that. Some will come for a few hours two or three times a day. Work out a schedule suitable to both of you.)
  • What do you charge?
  • Will you take in the mail, water the plants, and clean the cat box?

And here, in 11 easy steps, is what you absolutely must do before you go on vacation.

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1.) Make reservations with your pet sitter as early as possible. The best ones book up for vacation time early.

2.) Tell the pet sitter if your pet is social or if your pet should avoid interaction with other pets. (That means no dog park for dogs who prefer people to other dogs.)

3.) Make sure your pets have collars with your name and phone number on them.

4.) Share information about current vaccinations and any health issues.

5.) If your pet takes medication, make sure the pet sitter knows how to administer it.

6.) Provide your veterinarian’s phone number and address.

7.) Leave emergency phone numbers just in case something happens to the pet sitter and you need a substitute caretaker.

8.) Show the pet sitter where you keep the pet food, medical supplies, toys, and other pet products.

9.) Give a key to a trustworthy neighbor as a backup, and make sure the pet sitter and your neighbor trade phone numbers.

10.) Go over all important features in your home, such as a circuit breaker and security system.

11.) Have a fun trip — and relax knowing you’ve done all you can to ensure your pet’s safety, health and well being in your temporary absence.

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