A pet is a part of the family, but there are times when you just cannot help leaving the pet at home, and when you do that, naturally you want someone to care for your loving and valuable family member. Only a responsible, qualified and pet-loving person can take care of your pet when you're out. Most pet sitters are unregulated, but you must hire the professionals. Here is a guide that can help you choose the right pet sitter.

1. The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) conducts certification programs and if a pet sitter is certified, it means that he is a serious professional who has received adequate training in pet handling, nutrition and health. The pet sitter can be certified by any reputed institution, and it is not necessary to go with a NAPPS pro. Another thing to look for is whether the certificate is current. Whatever you do, do not hire the teenager next door.

2. A pet sitting company has an in-house training program. Ask them about it and check if their training standards are up to the mark.

3. Pay a visit to the company and observe how the pet sitters handle pets in their care. Do they make calls or play games on their mobile phones while the pet begs for care or attention? Choose pros that love and care for the pets they sit.

4. Check the pet sitter company's website and ascertain their ethics and values. Will a pet sitter sit with your pet for the whole day or will they come and go at regular intervals? How many years of experience does the company have in pet handling? It is important to go with an experienced agency.

5. Check the type of equipment used. Find out how many pets they will walk in one session. Will they use choke chains (ugh!)? How else do they guarantee the safety and care of pets while they are being walked?

6. How much does the pet sitting company understand animal behavior? Ask them questions based on your own experience and see if they have the right answers. Ask questions related to nutrition, first aid, emergency procedures, and on other behavior that is specific to your pet.

7. Ask for customer references and talk to past and present customers. Find out more before making a choice.

8. Conduct a background check on the employee who's assigned to your pet. Ask the company if it has checked his background. All credible pet sitting companies perform background checks and hire certified and responsible professionals.

9. Are you and your pet comfortable with the assigned employee? It is important that this condition is met because an uncomfortable atmosphere can ruin your holiday and scar your pet as well. The employee must be patient, caring and understanding.

10. Check if the employee has liability insurance. You don't want a case slapped on you, just in case.

11. Does the company have online tools that keep you updated on your pet's care? All forward-thinking and reputed pet sitting agencies do.

These pointers will help you select the right pet sitting agency. Before leaving your pet in their care, let them know of your pet's routine and special care considerations (including medications), give them telephone numbers to communicate in case of emergencies, show them around the house, and give them the vet's number. And, have a good, hassle-free, safe trip, secure in the knowledge that your fond family member is being looked after responsibly.