Global Standards For Pet Care Professionals

Professional pet care providers like me received good news in late 2025. One of the largest pet care professional organizations, Pet Sitters International, announced they developed baseline best practices for the industry. This is very exciting for several reasons. This will improve consistency and client trust, elevate the perception of the pet care industry, and establish legitimacy in a previously unregulated industry, among other benefits. As a professional, insured, certified LLC this is the first step to establishing what it means to take care of pets professionally, as there has recently been an uptick in uninsured and unexperienced “hobby” pet sitters. Hopefully these standards will help the public, and possibly in the future regulatory bodies, weed out what high level care actually is and its true value.

These are all standards we at Mint Leash Club strive to not only meet, but to exceed. Before hiring any pet sitter, please keep these standards in mind:

• Business Legitimacy

  • Operates as a registered and insured business

  • Maintains separate business finances and accurately files taxes

  • Maintains active membership in professional and educational associations

• Contracts and Compliance

  • Uses a legally compliant contract

  • Complies with federal and local labor laws

  • Adheres to payment data security standards for payments

  • Practices fair hiring standards free from discrimination

  • Follows advertising and communication regulations

  • Understands and upholds all ordinances and laws applicable to animals in their care

• Insurance and Risk Management

  • Maintains adequate insurance covering general liability, bonding, and workers compensation as needed. Reviews coverage and needs annually

  • Develops protocols to mitigate risk and reduce insurance claims

  • Documents all incidents and reports any claim promptly

  • Can provide proof of clear criminal history when requested and adequately screens team members

• Animal Care and Stewardship

  • Learns as much as possible about the routines, behaviors, and needs of animals in their care and documents and maintains profile for each animal

  • Has adequate experience and training in caring for pets including pet behavior, first aid, and care

  • Adheres to humane, evidence-based care practices

  • Monitors animals closely for signs of stress, injury, and illness and provides adequate care, including veterinary services

• Health, Sanitation, and Safety

  • Demonstrates competency in pet handling (safe leash skills, body language recognition, etc)

  • Has up-to-date training in pet first aid and CPR

  • Uses appropriate protocols to reduce disease spread and cross contamination between households

  • Implements clear protocols to ensure safety of owner and team, including but not limited to animal-related injuries, zoonotic diseases, chemical hazards, and unsafe environments

• Emergency Preparedness

  • Has a documented contingency plan for common scenarios such as weather, pet illness, sitter illness, lost keys, etc

  • Obtains vet care notification/authorization policy for clear decision making in owner’s absence

  • Establishes emergency backup and client communication plan for personal injury or illness

• Client Security and Privacy

  • Stores keys, alarm codes, and client data securely

  • Does not disclose client personal information, travel details, or household security to unauthorized parties

  • Takes reasonable precautions to ensure a client’s absence from their home is not detectable

  • Educates teams members on confidentiality and data protection

• Professional and Ethical Conduct

  • Exhibits courtesy, respect, and professionalism in all dealings with clients, staff, and industry colleagues

  • Conducts business with honesty and integrity

  • Protects their own mental health through workload management and self-care

  • Works to foster an inclusive work environment with clear anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies for staff and clients

  • Refrains from slander of competitors, peers, industry organizations, etc

  • Upholds high ethical standards in business practice, decision making, and representation of the profession

• Client Communication and Reputation

  • Visits potential client’s home before accepting services

  • Conducts comprehensive client onboarding and maintains a pet profile

  • Provides clients with clear pricing, service descriptions, visit schedule, and policies

  • Sends timely updates to clients before and during services

  • Encourages and manages client feedback with professionalism

• Sustainability and Community Responsibility

  • Implements environmentally responsible practices whenever possible, including proper waste disposal, efficient route planning, and sustainable supply choices

  • Builds positive relationships with industry professionals

  • Accurately supports and promotes local animal welfare initiatives, encouraging community engagement and awareness

Source: Pet Sitters International, www.petsit.com