Printable pet sitter checklist

This is the pet care plan Hope fills in with you at the free walkthrough before your first booking. Print it, write the answers by hand, and leave it on the counter. You can reuse the same sheet for every trip and just update what changed.

Not sure what goes in each blank? What to leave your pet sitter explains the supplies and papers, and how to prepare your home for a pet sitter covers keys, codes and the house. This page is just the form.

Your trip

• Leaving on (date and time): ____________________
• Home on (date and time): ____________________
• Where you’re staying: ____________________
• Times you’ll be hard to reach: ____________________

Pets

One line set per pet. Add more on the back if you need them.

• Name, species and breed: ____________________
• Age and weight: ____________________
• Microchip number: ____________________
• Health conditions or allergies: ____________________
• Fears, hiding spots, escape habits: ____________________
• What normal looks like for this pet: ____________________

• Name, species and breed: ____________________
• Age and weight: ____________________
• Microchip number: ____________________
• Health conditions or allergies: ____________________
• Fears, hiding spots, escape habits: ____________________
• What normal looks like for this pet: ____________________

Feeding

• Food brand and type: ____________________
• Amount per meal (and which scoop): ____________________
• Meal times: ____________________
• Where the food and backup bag are kept: ____________________
• Treats allowed per day: ____________________
• Foods this pet must not have: ____________________
• Water bowls and fountains to refill: ____________________

Medications

One line per medication. Keep each one in its labeled bottle.

• Pet / medication / dose / time / with food? ____________________
• Pet / medication / dose / time / with food? ____________________
• Pet / medication / dose / time / with food? ____________________
• How the pill goes down (pill pocket, in food): ____________________
• Kept in the fridge? Where: ____________________
• What to do if a dose is missed: ____________________

Walks and exercise

• Walk times: ____________________
• How long, and the usual route: ____________________
• Leash, harness and where they hang: ____________________
• Things your dog reacts to (dogs, bikes, kids): ____________________
• Yard time, gates to keep shut: ____________________
• Play or games your pet expects: ____________________

Litter

• Where each box is: ____________________
• How often to scoop and change: ____________________
• Spare litter, scoop and liners kept at: ____________________
• Where used litter goes: ____________________

Home and keys

• Which door to use: ____________________
• Garage or keypad code: ____________________
• Alarm code and alarm company phone: ____________________
• Wi-Fi network and password: ____________________
• Thermostat setting: ____________________
• Rooms that are off-limits: ____________________
• Backup key is with (name and phone): ____________________

Vet and emergency contacts

• Vet name: ____________________
• Vet clinic phone and address: ____________________
• Emergency animal hospital you’d want used: ____________________
• Signed vet authorization is at (and spending limit): ____________________
• Your cell number: ____________________
• Local backup person (name and phone): ____________________
• Plumber, landlord or HOA: ____________________
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435

House tasks

• Mail and packages (where to put them): ____________________
• Plants to water (which ones, how much): ____________________
• Lights on or off, and when: ____________________
• Trash and recycling day: ____________________
• Anything else: ____________________

How Hope uses this list

At the walkthrough, Hope goes through every section with you in your home. She meets your pets, looks at the food, the medications and the gear, tests the key, and asks about anything that isn’t written down. Then she turns your answers into a written care plan.

If a pet needs something more involved than a pill or timed meals, tell her at the walkthrough and she’ll tell you honestly what she can do. On a stay, you get at least one text and photo every day, and she tells you right away if something seems off. More planning help is in Hope’s pet care guides.