Pet Sharer: The Manual of Excellence

How to be a Super Pet Sharer

Congratulations! As a dedicated pet parent you have made a big step towards enriching your pets life. You are allowing your family pet to receive extra companionship, care, love, and exercise through pet sharing. 

The big thing for most Pet owners (or as we like to call you- pet sharers) is overcoming “the fear”. It’s a big deal to find someone you trust and feel comfortable leaving your fur baby and best buddy with. We at Share My Pet totally understand these feelings and the emotions and questions you may have before you feel you are ready to start sharing your pet. Once you find a local pet borrower who instills a sense of trust and calm in you, then you will know you’ve found the right match. A sure sign of a great match is seeing how happy your pet is to see their pet borrower or how happy and relaxed they are when they come back from an outing.

TOP TIPS FOR BEING THE BEST PET SHARER ON THE BLOCK

COMMUNICATION

Communication will initially be made via the Share My Pet messenger system. Use the messenger to get to know each other a bit. Once you feel like you would like to meet in the “real world” arrange a date that suits you both. Share My Pet advises all initial meetings take place in neutral public areas such as a cafe or dog-friendly park. Once you have both decided that you’re a good match, phone numbers and personal details such as addresses can be exchanged. At no point in interacting via the Share My Pet site can either party see the address or phone number of the other person. This is something only you can arrange between yourselves after meeting up in person.

TRUST and HONESTY are crucial to the relationships you will form between yourself and your pet borrower. Be really honest about your pet, include their likes and dislikes, favorite foods, any medical history, current or past injuries, diet, and intolerances. Share information about how your pet is around children and other animals. The more information your pet borrower has about your pet the better.

Pet borrowers are going to want to know your family rules in regards to commands and safety, e.g. make sure doggo is on lead before exiting the car, correct feeding amounts; voice commands used and so forth. Remember Share My Pet has a policy that all dogs must be on leads during pet sharing dates. If you are happy to have your dog off lead you must both sign the “Lead Contract”. 

 

ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PET

As a pet parent, you know your pet best! You know what makes them happy and what can cause them anxiety. Please pass on all this information to your pet  borrower and spend some time with them teaching them any commands, techniques or jobs that will need doing. For example: how to clean the hutch or fish tank, how to put on a harness so it fits correctly, where food and items relating to your pet are kept, etc.

The more time you spend with each other, the more comfortable you will all feel when your pets new buddy has sole charge – including your pet. Take time to get to know each other.

ASK QUESTIONS

Some great initial questions to ask your potential pet borrower include:

How much experience do they have with your particular type or breed of pet?

Why are they keen to be pet share?

How often they can foresee themselves wanting to commit to spending time with your pet?

Are they currently involved with any other pet shares? Have they done any pet sharing in the past?

How do they feel they would cope in an emergency? What is your action plan should something happen. It is important to have this discussion. Share details about who your vet is and make sure you have each others contact details. 

Do they have their own transport?

Are they willing and able to do home care (either at their own home or at yours)?

Will children be involved with any of the pet sharing dates? Please keep in mind any person under the age of 18 will need adult supervision when pet sharing. 

 

PET CARE RESPONSIBILITIES

As the pet owner, you are responsible for providing any of the following items as is fitting for your situation. These will vary depending on the duration of care (i.e., holiday care, a short walk to the park, regular weekend help, etc.).

Pet owners need to make sure pet borrowers are left with any items their pet may need such as:

The food they may need, including any supplements or treats

Equipment such as leads/leashes/collars, etc.

Medication with clear instructions on how to give and how often.

Feeding bowls/water bowls

Kitty litter and box

Scratching post

Crates/beds/cages or tanks

Covers/jackets

Favorite toys

EMERGENCIES

We highly advise you to have a conversation with a potential pet borrower about what to do in the event of an emergency before any sharing occurs. Please provide information to your pet borrower about what to do in case of a medical emergency and tell them which vet practice your pet is registered to. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to pay for any medical costs to their pet. Discuss what you would like to do in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster.

TIME TO SHARE!

Your number one goal is to make sure that your pet’s new human buddy has all the information they will need to look after and treat your pet the way you would. If you know your pet is well cared for, then you can relax knowing they are safe and having a great time! Let the sharing begin.