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Planning a getaway or work trip? You may not even be aware of these surprising risk you might be taking with your pet. Whether you’re dreaming of white sand beaches or bracing for back-to-back conference calls, one thing’s for sure your pets still need care while you’re gone. Leaving your pets behind when you travel can be nerve-wracking. Whether it’s a short weekend getaway or an extended vacation, making sure your pets receive the care they need is a top priority. If you’re like many pet parents in Crestview, Florida, your first instinct might be to ask a neighbor, family friend, or that teenager down the street to swing by and feed the cat or walk the dog. It feels simple, affordable, and hey—they love animals, right? Is it worth it or should your hire a professional pet sitter?
The Real Costs and Real Risks of Cutting Corners on Pet Care
But before you toss a spare key to the closest available human, let’s take a closer look at what you’re really signing up for.
Because while hobby sitters and helpful teens mean well, there are very real risks to trusting someone untrained and unqualified with your beloved pets and your home. The reality is that choosing an unqualified pet sitter can lead to a range of problems, from medical emergencies and lost pets to home security risks and costly damages. When things go wrong non professional sitters don’t have business insurance to cover the expense for repair, replacement of items, or medical care for your pet. What happens then??? You, the pet parent, are left with the bill. Understanding what the risks are and what a true professional can offer, can help you make an informed decision about who you trust with your pets and your home.
The Illusion of Easy: Why Hiring a Non Professional Seems Tempting
We totally get it. Travel isn’t cheap. One pet parent even said to us recently, “A trip to Disney isn’t cheap!” when they hesitated on paying for professional pet care (after their original sitter cancelled last-minute). Fair point. Vacations cost money, and cutting corners on pet care can feel like an easy save. Guess what happened to that client when she hired the cheaper option though? Last minute cancellation just days before her trip – Over spring break no less! OUCH!
But pet care isn’t just a checkbox task it’s responsibility at the highest level. Feeding, walking, scooping, and belly rubs are just the tip of the iceberg. Home Security, Bio Security, and keeping your pet safe and secure are HUGE parts of the peace of mind a professional can bring. And if something unexpected happens, (and it could!), experience and preparedness can make all the difference in whether your pet is cared for with no problem and no stress. So let’s go over the risks you should consider and how to avoid them and make sure you know what you’re getting and that you’re hiring a prepared professional.
Risk #1: Lack of Training & Emergency Preparedness
Most hobby sitters don’t have any formal pet care training. They may adore animals, and that is WONDERFUL, but that doesn’t mean they know what to do when something goes sideways.
Think about this:
- A dog refuses food for more than 24 hours—do they know it could be serious?
- A cat suddenly stops using the litter box—could it be a UTI or something worse?
- Your pup is panting and wobbling after a walk—heatstroke? Anxiety? Exhaustion?
Without training in pet behavior, first aid, or emergency protocols, many hobby sitters simply don’t know what to watch for, or how to respond. A heartbroken client once called our office after having trusted a friend with their pet care to save on $$ money. The friend did not know about Bloat or its potential causes or symptoms. The outcome was expensive and tragic.
And emergencies don’t wait. Delayed care can mean permanent damage—or worse.
Risk #2: No Insurance or Accountability
Professional pet sitters carry liability insurance and are bonded. That means if something goes wrong—like a chewed-up couch, lost house key, or a dog bite, or an injury or illness there’s coverage in place to help protect you. It’s not the illusion of coverage and protection either. Some sitters that work gig work for popular pet care apps will tell you that the company has a guarantee or insurance. The truth – they don’t. One popular website/app requires owners to pay a deductible before their guarantee will kick in and then only if they decide to cover it. This could be an expensive surprise to come home to.
With a hobby sitter?
- You’re on the hook for any property damage.
- If they forget to lock a door and there’s a break-in, it’s your problem.
- If your pet gets hurt, injured, or lost under their watch you’re paying the vet bill.
Even the most responsible friend can make a mistake. Sometimes all the love in the world won’t prevent a friend or family member from making an error that you didn’t know could have harmful results. But without insurance, the fallout is yours to handle. Ouch.
Risk #3: Missed Visits & Unreliable Schedules
Teenagers have school, sports, and social lives. Friends get busy. And hobby sitters? They’re juggling pet care between other jobs, family, and everything else they’ve got going on. A wonder sitter’s neighbor once called in a panic because they forgot to feed their friend’s cat and wanted the wonder sitter to come with them to check and make sure the cat was still alive and had been ok without food or water for a weekend.
Some real-life horror stories:
- A sitter forgot what day the client was leaving—no one checked on the cat for three days.
- A teen decided they didn’t need to come at night since “the dog already went out.”
- A sitter overslept and skipped the morning visit altogether.
Without professional systems like scheduling software, GPS-tracked check-ins, and real-time visit reports, you have no way of knowing if your pets were truly seen—or when. A real professional has systems in place that will alert you that your visit is in progress or complete. They will have schedules that allow you to pick times and a way to make sure all visits stay consistent.
Not knowing if your pets have been visited is not just frustrating. It can be dangerous.
Risk #4: Lost Pets Due to Simple Mistakes
Pets escaping while under the care of an unqualified sitter is more common than you’d think. Listen, as of 2025 all pet sitters are only human. Even a professional could have bad luck or an off day. It’s much much more common in hobby sitters than in real professionals though. A missing pet is EVERY sitter’s worst nightmare no matter who they are. All it takes is one moment of distraction:
- A leash isn’t clipped properly and the dog escapes.
- A door isn’t latched all the way and the cat bolts.
- The fence gate wasn’t checked, and your pup finds a way out.
Lost pet flyers, frantic neighborhood searches, emergency vet visits, and sleepless nights, YES, these are real consequences of sitter inexperience. Crestview area facebook pages are full of missing pet posts in the spring and summer after pets escape from inexperienced pet sitters. Just type lost dog into the search bar and you may not like what you see.
A hobby sitter may panic or not know what to do if your pet escapes. They probably didn’t really know how to prevent the escape in the first place and didn’t have policies in place to do so. They might delay notifying you or be unequipped to handle the situation at all. They may not have a support system that could come together to help locate a missing pet either. More eyes are better than a single set after all. Unfortunately, not all missing pets make it home. Our area has seen mistakes lead to dogs being hit on Highway 85 and cats disappearing and never coming home. You WANT a professional in your corner to hopefully prevent these mistakes but also who can rally the troops if the unthinkable were to happen.
Risk #5: Inconsistent Care That Impacts Your Pet’s Health
Our furry companions thrive on routine. Dogs expect their Wonder Walks at certain times. Cats know when it’s dinner. Mess with that rhythm, and you could be looking at accidents, anxiety, or medical issues.
Here’s what can go wrong when sitters wing it:
- Dogs holding it too long and developing urinary tract issues.
- Missed medications leading to seizures, allergic reactions, or worsening conditions.
- Pets acting out from boredom or stress (cue the shredded blinds or mystery puddle on your rug).
Even if your pet “seems fine,” disruptions to their routine can cause long-term behavioral changes and emotional stress. This can lead to a host of problems that you may not expect. The dog that’s never eaten a toy is chewing out of stress because his schedule is so unpredictable. The cat who’s never clawed the couch is suddenly going to town. It’s not that they are mad at you because you’re gone. The issue is the care giver wasn’t predictable enough to meet their needs. Stress can cause health issues that can quickly land a pet in the emergency clinic too. A professional sitter is trained to spot and be proactive if they see the early signs of stress. They will communicate with you and work to come up with a solution. A teenager may not know what they are looking at, they just know fluffy chewed some stuff or had an upset tummy.
Risk #6: Property Damage & Home Security Issues
Let’s not forget—this isn’t just about your pets. Your sitter is entering your home, locking doors, turning on lights, maybe even handling mail and packages. They are responsible for make sure nobody else is accessing your home and keeping your space safe. An inexperienced pet sitter or neighborhood friend or teenager does not have the training and habits that a professional does. They are more likely to leave a door unlocked, not notice that the house looks to have been disturbed, or accidentally tell a stranger you aren’t home.
When they’re careless or inexperienced, your home can suffer.
Common mishaps include:
- Forgetting to lock doors or set the alarm system.
- Knocking over candles or breaking fragile decor.
- Letting pets chew through walls, doors, or furniture due to boredom.
- Accidentally making it obvious that the house is empty.
And if damage happens? There’s no professional insurance to cover the repairs. You’re paying out of pocket. Yep, you read that right. If something goes wrong you’re footing the bill. With a professional pet sitter you will be able to ask for proof of insurance and they should be able to show you that they have a business policy with companies like Business Insurers of the Carolinas, Pet Care Insurance, or Pet Sitter Associates. These are all pet business insurance policies that would cover accidental damages or ones caused by negligence. Not only will insurance cover you, a professional will be ready and willing to help make claims because their livelihood depends on you being well taken care of no matter what happens. A non professional isn’t depending on this to pay their bills and feed their children at the end of the day. There is A LOT to be said for that type of motivation towards excellence.
Risk #7: Emotional Toll on You (and Your Pets)
Leaving your pets is stressful enough. You shouldn’t have to worry whether your sitter showed up, locked the door, or gave your pup their meds. While a non-professional may text you every so often to tell you things are OK, the real pro’s will keep you updated with photos, videos, gps locations, time stamps, and detailed notes multiple times a day.
And pets can tell when something’s off. A stressed sitter or an inconsistent routine can cause anxiety, clingy behavior, or even depression in pets. Sitters that work solo as a hobby may be over booked, they don’t have back up when they are sick, and they don’t have support for those tough days. A professional company with a team prevents these over tired, over stressed sitters which can in turn prevent not just mistakes but stress to you and your pet. KNOWING your pet and your home is in good hands, and getting the updates to prove it, goes a LONG way in keeping you and your pets stress free.
You deserve that peace of mind while you’re away, the kind that comes from knowing your wonder pet is not just “ok,” but truly cared for, understood, and loved and your home is locked down and secure.
What to Look for Instead
Now that we’ve covered what not to do, here are a few essentials to look for when choosing a pet sitter in Crestview:
- Experience & training in animal behavior, emergency response, and first aid.
- Clear communication with visit updates, photos, and contact access.
- Professional systems for scheduling, accountability, and backups.
- Insurance & bonding for peace of mind.
- Local knowledge, especially when dealing with Florida’s weather, local wildlife, and veterinary resources.
The right sitter doesn’t just “watch your pets.” They become a trusted partner in your pet’s care. They are someone who respects your home, loves your animals, and takes their responsibilities seriously. This is their full time job and making sure you and your pets are happy, healthy, and loved is what pays their bills as well as fills their hearts. You will find them furthering their education to continue to grow their skills and knowledge for your benefit. These are the people who sit up at night worrying because you mentioned your pet hurt their paw in a game of fetch after you returned home. They are the people who are overly detailed and take photos of EVERYTHING to make sure you always know what’s happening when you’re away. If something looks off or something unexpected happens these seasoned professionals don’t contact you with a problem. They show up with a solution! There is nothing more wonderful than the experience you get with a professional pet sitter.
The Bottom Line For You and Your Pet
Cutting corners on pet care might save a few bucks now, but the potential cost—in vet bills, property damage, emotional stress, or even the loss of a pet—is far higher. It’s not worth it. The peace of mind a professional pet sitter brings is PRICELESS.
If you’re planning a trip or just want daily support for your furry crew, do your research. Ask the right questions. Check for credentials, reviews, and professional safeguards.
Your pets are family. And when it comes to family, “good enough” just doesn’t cut it.
Bonus Tip: How to Vet a Pet Sitter
Need help knowing what to ask? Look for resources like:
- Things to Consider to make Your Pet Sitting Experience Wonderful
- How Much Does Professional Pet Sitting Cost in Crestview?
These guides break down everything you need to feel confident and informed—because choosing the right care is the most important thing you can do for your pets.
