Features
Every Page in the Pet Sitter & Emergency Handbook
- A before-you-leave checklist
- A page to plan for the unexpected: who decides, who decides on cost, and where to go
- Questions to ask a pet sitter before you hire, with a place to compare two sitters' answers
- A contacts page for the fridge: you, a backup caregiver, your vet, and the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital
- A sitter schedule and backup plan: the visits, who takes over if plans change, who can drive your pet to the vet, and where your pets go if the house isn't safe
- A page about each pet: personality, fears, hiding spots, and escape risk
- A daily routine and feeding page, with the amount and which scoop to use
- Medicine instructions, with a 7-day dose log for your sitter's initials and the actual time
- A page for walks, bathroom habits, and the litter box
- A house guide: where the carrier, leash, and supplies are and which doors stick
- A page for your emergency care wishes (not an authorization form; ask your clinic if it has its own form for that)
- A lost pet plan
- A daily report for your sitter to fill in
- A cut-out "pets inside" door alert (it doesn't guarantee a rescue)
- Bonus: a one-page summary of your pet's key information for the fridge
Great for: vacations, work trips, overnight sitters, drop-in visits, and friends or family who pet sit.
A Filled-In Example
The pictures show a filled-in list of sitter questions, with made-up answers. The daily routine page in your PDF has a short example too. Write a word or two, or as much as you like.
A Short, Easy-to-Read Guide
Two clear pages on getting ready before you leave and planning for the unexpected, written in plain language.
Instant Download: Print It or Type in It
Download your fillable PDF right after checkout. Print on regular 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper and write by hand, or type in it. Digital filling may vary by device and PDF app. Print the pages you need, as many times as you need, for your pets. Nothing is shipped. 3% of your purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) goes to help participating animal shelters and rescues.
Why Use a Pet Sitter Handbook?
One place for what you'd tell your sitter.
| Feature | Pet Sitter Handbook | A Quick Note on the Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Vet and emergency numbers | On one page for the fridge | Somewhere in a text thread |
| Medicine | Label details and a dose log | Long instructions by text |
| If you can't be reached | A backup caregiver and your written wishes | The sitter has to guess |
| If your pet gets out | A lost pet plan | Figuring it out in the moment |
| How each day went | A daily sitter report | "All good!" |
When in doubt, your sitter calls the vet first, then you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this handbook instead of going to the vet?
No, never. This handbook helps you share your pet's care and your contacts with your sitter. It never replaces your veterinarian. It tells your sitter that if your pet seems sick, hurt, in pain, or just "not right," they should call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital right away, then call you.
Is this a pet sitter or dog sitter instructions template?
Yes, it's a fillable, printable pet sitter instructions template, covering your contacts, your pet's care, your home, and emergencies. Print it and write by hand, or type in it. Digital filling may vary by device and PDF app. It also works as a dog sitter checklist or a cat sitter checklist.
What information should I leave for a dog sitter or cat sitter?
Your contacts, your vet's information, your pet's routine, food, and medicine instructions, and what to do in an emergency, plus walk notes for dogs or litter box notes for cats. The handbook has pages for all of it.
What questions should I ask a pet sitter?
Ask about their experience, safety, what happens if something comes up, and the visits themselves. The handbook has a printable page of questions, with a place to compare two sitters' answers and add your own.
Does it have a pet sitter emergency form?
It has an emergency care wishes page, not an authorization form. Your veterinary clinic may have its own form that lets a caretaker approve care, so ask your clinic before you leave.
Does it have a page for pet sitter medication instructions?
Yes. The medicine page has a place to copy each medicine from the label, plus a dose log for your sitter. It tells your sitter to call the vet if a dose is missed or if they aren't sure it was given.
Is there a pet sitting log for my sitter to fill in?
Yes. The daily sitter report is one page per day or visit, for drop-in visits or overnight stays, so you can see how each day went.
Does it work for more than one pet?
Yes, for dogs and cats. The pages about each pet are one per pet, so print a set for each. The contacts, schedule, and house pages cover your whole home.
Is there an app, or is this on paper?
It's a fillable PDF you download right after checkout: print it and write by hand, or type in it. There's no app or login, and nothing is shipped. Digital filling may vary by device and PDF app. When the power or the computers go down, paper still works.
How does my purchase help shelter and rescue pets?
3% of your purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) goes to help participating animal shelters and rescues.