出門旅行時，家中的寵物你會怎么處理呢？送到寵物寄養所？告訴你，現在有更便捷的方式了，請個寵物保姆（pet sitter）定期上門照看就可以啦。

A pet sitter is a contracted service provider who takes care of a pet at its own home. The term comes from baby-sitter.

寵物保姆（pet sitter）指簽訂了雇傭合同，在寵物家中提供照看服務的人。該詞源自于嬰兒保姆（baby-sitter）一詞。

The professional pet-sitting industry is growing rapidly because many pet owners feel that there are advantages to using pet sitters, rather than traditional pet care options.

因為很多寵物主人認為用寵物保姆比選擇傳統的寵物寄養有優勢，專業的寵物保姆行業正在快速發展。

Reasons people use pet sitters include:

人們選擇寵物保姆的原因包括：

1. Possible reduced stress on pets because pets are cared for in their own homes

可能會減輕寵物的心理壓力，因為寵物保姆是在家里照看寵物

2. No "travel trauma" to pets because they do not need to be transported anywhere

寵物不會經歷出行的痛苦，因為它們無需被送到別處

3. Exposure to illnesses and parasites of other animals is minimized

從別的動物身上傳染疾病和寄生蟲的幾率減小

4. Required vaccinations are often less restrictive than those necessary at a kennel

不像在寄養處那樣有嚴格的免疫要求限制

5. Pets stay on their regular routines and do not need to adapt to a new environment

寵物保持原有作息時間，不需要適應新環境

Pet sitters usually have training, such as pet first aid certification, animal husbandry classes, or pet sitting accreditation. A number of professional organizations exist to help pet sitters improve their services.

寵物保姆通常會接受諸如寵物急救認證、動物馴養或者寵物保姆認證之類的培訓。很多專業機構都會幫助寵物保姆提高服務水平。

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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