Acreage Sitters & Animal Care

Guide

Before you hire a sitter

Someone who looks after your animals and your place while you're away needs to be someone you trust. A few steps before you hand over the keys make it easier for you, your animals and the sitter.

1. Meet first
2. Call the references
3. Put it in writing
4. Leave an emergency sheet
5. Keys and access
6. Ask about insurance

Meet first

• Meet at your place before the first booking. Walk the property together and introduce the animals.
• Show where the feed, water, medications, tools and gates are, and how the chores are done.
• For a long trip or a lot of animals, consider a paid trial visit or an overlap day before you leave.

Call the references

• Call at least two references yourself. Ask what animals and property they looked after, for how long, whether anything went wrong and how it was handled, and whether they'd hire them again.
• A References checked badge means we called the sitter's references before listing them. It doesn't replace your own calls.
• If a police information check matters to you, ask to see it and look at the date. It's issued by the police service or RCMP detachment where the person lives and reflects the records on the date it was issued. A Police check provided badge means we've seen one.

Put it in writing

• Agree on the dates, how often they'll visit or whether they'll stay over, the chores, the animals and their feeding, and the rate and how it's paid.
• Agree on what happens if the sitter can't make it, who pays for things like feed or a vet visit, and how you'll keep in touch (a daily text or photo, for example).
• Both keep a signed or emailed copy.

Leave an emergency sheet

• Your phone number while you're away, plus a local backup contact and a neighbour who can help.
• Your vet, an after-hours emergency clinic, and written permission for vet care with a spending limit you're comfortable with.
• Each animal's name, photo, feed, medications and habits.
• Where the water shut-off, breaker panel, furnace, well pump and septic alarm are, and who to call for propane, power or water.
• Your rural address and directions to your place, so the sitter can guide 911 or a vet to you.

Keys and access

• Hand over keys, gate and alarm codes in person, and agree on how they come back.
• Tell the sitter which buildings they can use, and which they can't.
• Don't post your travel dates on social media or community groups while you're away.

Ask about insurance

• Ask the sitter whether they carry liability insurance and what it covers.
• Ask your own home or farm insurer what's covered while someone else looks after your property and animals, and whether your policy has conditions when the home is unoccupied, such as how often it needs to be checked.

General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Acreage Owners lists independent sitters and is not an employer or agency.