Working as a train conductor for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Gary Garbrandt assumes responsibility for relaying and receiving information between other conductors and train stations while also maintaining compliance with regulations, signals, and train orders. Outside of his career, Gary Garbrandt supports the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
As part of their continued effort to keep pets safe, the ASPCA has written a guide for traveling pet owners to help them find a good pet sitter and ensure things go smoothly while they are away. The guide can be broken down into these three segments.
1. Contact - First and foremost, ensure your pet sitter always has a way of contacting you, should an emergency occur. One of the easiest ways to do this is to provide your pet sitter with an itinerary for your trip, listing where you will be, when you will be available, and how to contact you. Additionally, provide the pet sitter with emergency contact information for friends or family you trust to handle a pet emergency in your absence.
2. Information - Give your pet sitter a detailed list that includes your pet’s age, weight, medications, dietary information, and medical conditions. Include your pet’s current veterinarian and his or her contact information, as well as the location of the nearest emergency clinic.
3. Instruction - Tell your pet sitter about your pet’s daily routine. Let him or her know how often and how much you feed your pet to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding. For shy pets, alert your pet sitter to the animal’s favorite hiding spots so the sitter can keep a better eye on them. Create a plan of action to let your pet sitter know exactly what you want him or her to do should an emergency occur.
