What You Really Get When You Hire Crockett’s Critter Care
This morning, I was talking with a friend about hiring a professional pet care provider and why the process matters so much.
The conversation started simply enough. Someone in a local Facebook group was looking for overnight pet sitting. A response appeared almost immediately from someone passing through New Bern for two months who said they would “love to help.”
What struck me wasn’t the offer.
It was the question underneath it.
Why would anyone hire this person?
No one knows them. They don’t live here. There’s no established relationship, no history, no accountability, and no way to know anything about their experience or judgment.
And yet this happens every day in pet care.
Sometimes nothing goes wrong. But sometimes it does.
1. What You’re Really Handing Over
When you hire a pet care provider, it’s easy to focus on the practical stuff first: availability, price, and whether they responded quickly. I understand that. We’re all busy.
But when you open your door to someone and hand them a leash, a key, and responsibility for an animal you love, you’re doing something that goes far deeper than a simple transaction.
You are handing over access to your home. You are trusting someone with emergency decision-making. You are counting on them to follow medication routines, recognize warning signs, and stay calm under pressure.
Why it matters: The wrong person in that role isn’t just an inconvenience. It can be dangerous. For your pet. For your home. For your peace of mind.
That kind of trust should never be casual.
2. Loving Animals Is Not the Same as Being Prepared to Care for Them
Most people who offer pet care genuinely do love animals. I believe that.
But over fifteen years of doing this work, I’ve learned that affection and professional preparation are two very different things.
Professional pet care asks for more than a warm heart. It asks for reliability. Judgment. Observation. The ability to notice stress before it escalates. The ability to recognize when something is wrong and respond appropriately.
It means understanding behavior. It means staying calm when a dog is scared or a situation becomes difficult. It means knowing how quickly a small mistake can turn into something serious.
Why it matters: Kindness matters. Love for animals matters. But so does experience, preparation, and accountability. All of it matters, and the clients who trust us deserve it all.
3. What Happens Before Anyone Walks Through Your Door
When clients hire Crockett’s Critter Care, they often see only the visit itself. What they don’t always see is everything that happened before that visit.
When I need to hire, the process starts with posting on Indeed. From there, I review applications carefully and often follow up for additional information or ask candidates to complete an employment application through our website.
For applicants who seem like a good fit, I conduct a phone interview followed by an in-person meeting at the park.
And yes. I bring my dog, Davy.
Over the years, Davy has become a real part of how I evaluate potential hires. The way someone approaches a strange dog tells me a lot. Do they rush in? Do they observe his body language? Do they respect his space and wait for him to come to them? Can they stay calm and adjust when something doesn’t go the way they expected?
Those things matter in pet care. And you can’t learn them from a resume.
If the interview goes well, I will complete reference checks and a criminal background check before training ever begins. New hires then shadow us multiple times over several weeks before they are ever alone in a client’s home.
Ongoing education is also non-negotiable. Our team receives educational support through Pet Sitters International, and continuing to learn is an expectation throughout their time with us.
Why it matters: When you hire Crockett’s Critter Care, you are not hiring a stranger who showed up in a Facebook comment. You are hiring a team that was carefully built, thoroughly trained, and held to a standard that doesn’t cut corners.
4. Why This Has Always Mattered to Me
From the beginning, my goal was simple: I wanted to be the best pet sitter I could be.
That goal shaped everything.
I joined Pet Sitters International not just for credibility, but for the education and the community. I attend conferences for both. I keep looking for better ways to care for pets, understand behavior, and raise the standards in my own business.
Difficult dogs changed me, too. Especially my own dog, Davy. Through working with him, I became more aware of stress signals, the nervous system, emotional regulation, and the real responsibility humans carry when caring for animals who depend on them completely.
That awareness shaped how I care for pets and how I build the team around me. I want clients to know that the people entering their homes share my commitment to learning, responsibility, and compassionate, professional care.
Why it matters: We have been caring for pets in New Bern for over fifteen years. That history means something to me. The trust our clients place in us is something I have never taken lightly, and I never will.
If you are looking for pet care and want to know who will actually walk through your door, I’d love to talk.
Call: (252) 635-2655
Email: crockettscrittercare@gmail.com
Jeanne Crockett
Fear Free Certified Elite Professional Animal Trainer | Canine Reactivity Specialist | ACE Free Work Trainer
First ACE Free Work Trainer in North Carolina
Crockett’s Critter Care | New Bern, NC
