Pet Sitter Responsibilities During Home Emergencies - Keep Pets Safe

Homeowners often assume pet sitting is all about feeding schedules, walks, and cuddles — and most days, it is. But when the heat stops working or a smart thermostat dies, the sitter becomes the first to discover it.

After recently managing over 32 hours with no heat, I want to clarify what pet sitters are actually responsible for and what homeowners can do to keep their pets safe during home emergencies.

1. First and foremost: the pet’s safety comes before everything else

If the home environment becomes unsafe — extreme temperatures, electrical issues, water leaks, etc. — the sitter’s primary responsibility is to protect the animals.

That may mean:

• Moving them to a warmer or cooler part of the home

• Using approved temporary solutions (like space heaters or fans)

• Contacting the homeowner immediately

• Reaching out to the emergency contact if the homeowner is unreachable

• In severe cases, relocating the animal temporarily per instructions

Our job is to keep the animals safe and calm, even when the environment isn’t cooperating.

2. Pet sitters are not repair technicians — but we are the first line of defense

A sitter should absolutely troubleshoot basic, safe, non-technical issues. Examples:

• Resetting a tripped breaker

• Checking thermostat settings

• Ensuring batteries or smart devices are powered

• Making simple adjustments, the homeowner guides them through
  

But here’s where we draw the line:
❌ opening appliances
❌ attempting repairs
❌ using tools to disassemble anything
❌ diagnosing mechanical failures
❌ climbing into crawl spaces or onto roofs

We are caretakers, not contractors. The homeowner must arrange all repairs.

3. Homeowners must be reachable — or appoint someone who is

A sitter cannot manage a house crisis alone. Homeowners should provide:

• A primary phone number

• A backup contact

• Instructions on what to do if neither can be reached

• Authorization for repair companies if the homeowner is traveling or unreachable

• Clear locations of thermostats, fuse boxes, shut-off valves, and any special systems

Sitters can act quickly, but we cannot act blindly.

4. Smart home devices are great… until they aren’t

The Google Nest, Ring cameras, and app-controlled appliances all look futuristic — but when they fail, they can leave the sitter stuck.

If your home uses smart devices, please leave:

• Charging cables

• Backup batteries

• Written “manual control” instructions

• Access permissions for your sitter

• A note on who installed the system

A sitter shouldn’t need a PhD in Smart Home Engineering to keep your house warm.

5. Communication is everything when a problem occurs

Sitters should:

• Notify the homeowner immediately

• Document the issue (photos, short video)

• Explain what troubleshooting steps they’ve already taken

• Keep the homeowner updated until the problem is resolved
  

Homeowners should:

• Respond promptly

• Provide explicit instructions

• Arrange repairs

• Check in again after the situation stabilizes

• Acknowledge the sitter's extra effort (this part gets forgotten too often)
  

A little gratitude goes a long way when your sitter just spent the night in a 50-degree house, wrapped around your beloved dog like a living space heater.

6. Extra efforts from sitters deserve recognition (and often reimbursement)

If a sitter buys:

• Space heaters

• Extra blankets

• Batteries

• Cleaning supplies

• Emergency pet supplies

• Tools requested by the homeowner

• Replacement parts (like a thermostat cable)
  

…the homeowner should reimburse those costs immediately.

And when a sitter sacrifices comfort, sleep, or safety to care for your animal during a home system failure — a sincere “thank you” is not just polite; it’s essential.

7. The takeaway: pet sitting includes the home, but the home is ultimately the homeowner’s responsibility

A great sitter will:

• Stay calm

• Protect the animals

• Communicate quickly and clearly

• Take temporary steps to stabilize the situation
  

But the homeowner must:

• Provide instructions

• Be reachable

• Supply emergency contacts

• Handle repairs

• Ensure the home is safe and functional before the sitter arrives

• Be empathetic towards the situation your pet and pet sitter are in

When both sides understand this partnership, pets stay safe, sitters stay supported, and everyone can breathe a little easier — even when the furnace decides it’s taking a 32-hour vacation.