Hi there. I am wondering if there is Vets (retired?) who use this site for travelling and pet sitting? We have a dog who has bloated in past, and so need a person with knowledge. Of course nothing will probably happen, but I need peace of mind…
We are in New Zealand.
Simone
Why do we need to be retired? This is a global platform with people from a huge variety of backgrounds and circumstances. veterinary students, career breaks, nomadic vets that travel the globe, veterinary professionals working online, veterinary nurses, animal scientists etc. we are all here too.
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There are vets on the site. I would guess they look for sits that suits their needs and seem attractive for them (not necessarily vet-related sits) so it could be a chance they opt to apply for your sit (or they don’t).
Of course one could be lucky, however many pets here need medications, injections etc. that is done by ordinary sitters after having introduction by owner.
Learning the tasks can be done via videocall well ahead of sit, by learning material online and/ or by inviting a sitter to come and stay the day before departure to go through what is necessary. With bloating I think the paramount issue is to get the pet to the vet immediately(?)
One option is to choose a contact person that the sitter can ask for help should it be needed. There is supposed to be an emergency contact in the welcome guide and it could be written something about that there. With a bloating risk it should be clear what to do and who to contact.
Pets needing medical care are considered a risk among many sitters. Not only for the tasks involved and the responsibility for the pet, but also regarding possible vet expenses, reimbursement etc. That means that it is important to adress the solutions in the profile so that sitters doesn’t just scroll to the next listing. What is expected, what resources in an emergency, if applicable - do you have a vet., is there an account set up at the vets. I would think it is most important to do that in relation to experienced sitters, actually. Because they have more experience they are more likely to identify possible risks and they are more in a position to get attractive sits and have the ability to be picky. So if they see that the risks are already thought of and solved they will be more likely to apply for a sit.
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I think the op was covering vets and then retired vets, hence the ?
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Agree with previous posts. What it comes down to is this: For sitters this is a travel site that allows them to see different parts of the world. They’ll apply to locations they want to visit, to houses in those locations that sound comfortable enough, to experiences that appeal to them – for example caring for goats, having use of the kayak at a lakeside home, gardening, nearby hiking trails, etc. They’ll apply to dates that also work for them.
Out of all these sitters only a handful are going to be retired vets or active ones, and only a handful of those may be interested in your listing. If you haven’t joined, and your bottom line is finding a vet to care for your dog, then realistically this site won’t work for you. However, IMO, if you have an emergency plan, you could find an experienced sitter with common sense able to follow it.
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Thanks very much for your well thought out response. Yes have thought through most of this, and it’s starting to feel like it’s too difficult to find someone, so probably won’t be joining here, for now, anyways.
S.