Pet sitter gives peace of mind
Every time you go on holiday, do you feel sad when you bring your cat to the cattery and worry if it will adapt to an unfamiliar environment, or whether the staff will treat it well?
According to Mark Peters, founder of pet-sitting company Wish You Were Here, most cat owners hire his firm because they worry about their cat's well-being.
'Cats don't like being taken away from their homes, and they may get confused and upset if they are,' he says. 'Although cats left at home may get bored and miss their owners, at least they will be in a familiar environment.'
Although the company pet sits other domestic animals, such as dogs, 95 per cent of its clients own cats as they are easier to look after.
'For clients who have dogs, they usually have a live-in helper and we just go in every day to walk and feed their dogs,' Peters says.
Other pets that the company has cared for include rabbits, fish, hamsters, guinea pigs and birds.
For a daily visit, which lasts for an hour, the owners are charged HK$280. The cost is the same regardless of how many pets there are in the residence.
Although the pet-sitting service may be more expensive than leaving pets in kennels or catteries, clients often prefer this service if they are worried that their animals will not adapt to an unfamiliar environment.
Peters and his colleagues can end up going to about 16 to 18 clients' homes each day during peak periods, such as over Christmas, the Lunar New Year and Easter.
Due to the overwhelming demand, he advises potential clients to book at least a month before long public holidays, while a few days notice are generally sufficient for non-peak periods.
Peters says pet owners should consider hiring a pet sitter even if they are only going away for a weekend because their pets may get hurt or locked in a room. Peters and his wife set up Wish You Were Here in 2003 after noticing a great demand for such a service, especially among expatriates.
'Ninety per cent of our clients are expatriates as most of the locals have a live-in helper,' he says. The company also offers dog training and pet relocation services.
Peters is an accomplished dog trainer who has been involved in the business for more than 15 years. He offers a variety of courses, including puppy training and behavioural courses. Each lesson costs HK$500. For pet relocation, Wish You Were Here will help pet owners with the whole process, such as organising flights for their pets. The basic cost for pet relocation starts from HK$3,000.
