Dog owners looking for a kennel for the holidays have another choice. Pet sitters offer an option that leaves Spot and Fido on their own turf.

“It can be a much less stressful option for a pet, especially an elderly one who needs a lot of medication,” said Jean Hartman, of Happy Home Pet Sitting Inc. in Fort Wayne.

Kim Whitenight, of Pampered Pet Care Plus, another local pet sitter, agrees: “They are more relaxed in their own home, and some owners with elderly pets don’t want to leave them in kennels,” Whitenight said.

Pet sitters can easily be found on the Web, but as with any service coming into your home, make sure the sitter is bonded and insured. Most Web sites will have that information on the Web page; www.petsit.com is a good site to start.

Hartman meets and interviews all her prospective clients before taking them on. She has them sign a contract so they understand exactly what she will be doing for them and how much she expects to be paid. She has been in the business for five years and works in a 10-mile radius of I-69 to U.S. 24.

When Hartman’s corporate job with Central Soya was eliminated five years ago, she started her own pet-sitting service. She got some help at the beginning from Pet Sitters International, a company that specializes in helping pet sitters get set up. She also took business classes and took advantage of a program at the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau Women’s Enterprise program that gives women starting their own businesses a free appointment with an accountant, an attorney and an insurance agent.

“My first year I was still living on my severance package from my former job. The second year was pretty rough, but by the third I was making a profit,” she said.

Whitenight’s husband recently relocated here for a job at General Motors, and having worked in child care in the past, she decided to try something different.

“My daughter did some dog sitting one summer, and it got me interested in pet sitting,” said Whitenight.

She has been in the business for eight months. She, too, is bonded and insured, but unlike Hartman, she offers some additional services, like taking the pet to the groomer or veterinarian.

She will stay overnight in a client’s home for an additional fee. She also offers a pet waste-removal service. Both women offer dog walking, and both will take care of other species of pets.

Hartman charges a flat rate for a visit, so the care of two pets is the same as one.

Whitenight charges by the number of animals. She charges $10 more to stay overnight outside the southwest area. She will also stay 24 hours for an additional fee. Hartman will not stay overnight.

“I have found people who want me to stay overnight really wanted someone to watch their house; I prefer to just take care of their pets,” said Hartman, although she added she will bring in the mail and newspaper.

Both women share a deep affection for their clients. Whitenight will go overtime with a pet if she thinks it seems lonely.

“I really love my job,” said Hartman. “They just give back unconditional love.”

The holidays are their busiest time of the year, so both sitters suggest calling with plenty of advance notice to reserve a pet sitter’s services.