Snakes, cats, rabbits and birds – you know the routine of pet sitters

Terra spoke to industry professionals to learn about the work of healthcare professionals

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Travel and long periods away from home require planning by tutors who are concerned about their parents’ well-being Pets. It is in this scenario that the pet caregiver OR pet caregiver comes into play, taking care of feeding, cleaning and entertaining the animal while the guardian is away.

Each caregiver determines which animals will provide care. Dogs, for example, dominate Brazilian homes, but there are professionals who also take care of wild (present in the Brazilian fauna) and exotic animals. Like this, feed a snakepay attention to environmental enrichment to receive a cockatoo or prepare food for a parot be routine actions in a pet sitter’s routine.

The topic may seem new to those who do not have a pet, but the bond between man and animal is not new and, with 149 million pets in Brazilian homeseven the pet nanny profession proves to have room to grow.

Cockatiels, rabbits and snakes

Debora Lucia Podda (@debora_petsitter), 48, has been a Veterinary Technician and pet sitter for over seven years. Currently his work is mainly aimed at cats, but he also has other special clients: blackberry bunnyrescued after being mistreated, the parrot They pandas AND corn snakewho receives his care when the guardian travels.

The service is based on an assessment of the pet’s needs and characteristics, also known as anamnesis. He explains that snakes generally feed on “live or frozen guinea pigs” every 15 days. Therefore, conversation is essential. “You have to figure out how long the tutor will be away to figure out what the food will be like, [precisa saber] what is the correct management like to offer the guinea pig to the snake, knowing how to take care of the nursery,” explains Débora.

The job of a pet caregiver requires constant improvement. Before blue raspberry, Débora’s experience with rabbits has focused on their handling in vivariums (facilities for scientific research). Caring for the rabbit required her to seek more information from her vet, tutor and Rabbit Support Group (GRAC). The experience was so positive that she translated into a tutorial with tips for handling and cleaning rabbit aviaries.

the cockatoo Tonic is one of the favorite guests of 41-year-old São Paulo pet sitter Leila Guimarães (@atiadosdogs). On the days when he goes to ‘Tia Leila’s house, in the Bela Vista region, his tutor is calm because he knows that, in addition to hygiene and food care, Tonico will play, dance and sing with the carer. “They like different stimuli, some prefer whistles, some prefer music. It’s important to have this moment of environmental enrichment,” he explains.

Animal caretaker since 2016, Leila never imagined that the job would become her profession. “My daughter was little at the time and wanted to have a pet. I had just quit a job and started a virtual one. I signed up for a pet sitting platform, to see if she would really fit in with animals,” she recalls. she. . The attempt was successful. Today, Leila mainly deals with dogs, cats and birds, accepting clients via platforms and often on recommendation.

Just like Débora, Leila too has found her exclusive job and source of income as a pet sitter. The amounts charged by respondents vary, but the average price charged by healthcare professionals in São Paulo ranges from R$35 to R$120 per visit.

Study and training

“Studying is key. People ask me, ‘Oh, but I like animals so much, can I work as a pet sitter? You can, but you have to study, gain knowledge. Some services may have emergencies and you will need knowledge to deal with them. with the situation,” Débora reinforces.

You can find pet care improvement courses that offer certification online or in person. Advances in veterinary medicine and animal behavioral studies are constant, so it’s important to keep up to date. Leila also explains that contact with veterinarians and mentors helps when it comes to clarifying doubts in search of the best care for animals.

For her, one of the industry’s challenges is the lack of training and regulation. “I think it’s an industry that needs regulation. People take it as a way to earn extra income and they have no idea what he’s going to do, if he can take care, give medicine,” she points out.

“We are dealing with a life and love for someone’s life, all of this is very serious. People need to understand that due to incompetence and recklessness they can respond to the process. If you are professional, don’t work like love”, concludes Debora.

How does it work?

The work is usually divided into modalities. To the home servicethe nanny travels to the site and usually spends 1 hour with the animal, taking care of feeding, cleaning and administering medicines, when necessary, and, of course, the emotional well-being, with attention, play and affection. There is also the possibility of hosting pets for shorter periods, as a sort of nursery school, or for longer periods, by turning to guardians who will be traveling and will not be able to bring their companions with them.

“In the post-pandemic, there are many people working in the hybrid system, I have animals that come every Monday and Friday because those are the days parents have to go to the office. It’s also normal for people to go out for lunch on the weekend and leave their pet with me,” explains Leila.

A medical history, the questionnaire with questions about the animal and its routine, is essential and is usually requested together with the budget. Also, it is common to have trial visits, especially when the pet sitter already has their own pets and needs to make sure everyone is in harmony.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.