Leaving town without your pet but prefer in-home treatment to boarding your four-legged friend in unfamiliar kennel-like surroundings? Waggin’ Critter is among the best in the local home pet sitting industry. The bonded, insured and owner-operated company is run by St. Pete resident Tracey Wells, a certified member of Tampa Bay Professional Pet Sitters Network whose ongoing animal education and years of petcare know-how paired with experience as a (now-retired) nurse not only backs up her competence on paper, but reflects a person accustomed to nurturing. She puts you at immediate ease with her genuine devotion to her critter clients — whom she comes out to meet prior to your trip — and her fair per-visit rates include feeding, walking, and handling any special medical needs your pet may have. She pays explicit attention to detail and logs each visit so you know exactly what went down while you were out. She’s discreet (the neighbors won’t even know you’re away), plans for all possibilities (hurricane evacuation, medical emergencies), serves pets of all types, and leaves the house just as it was when you left it. i727-687-4650, waggincritter.com.
This article appears in Sep 19-25, 2013.