I have only used a pet sitter once, and she was actually a neighbor that already knew the dogs (and the ferrets, snakes, sugar gliders that I was fostering) so I am not sure that qualifies as a sitter...plus since I was gone two weeks my girlfriend drove the hour and half every weekend so that the dogs had someone familiar and no "lock up time"
I would only use someone who was already familiar with all my pets for a couple reasons 1) dogs can have a fear of strangers and bite and I can't afford a lawsuit and 2) I foster so I need someone familiar with the care of all my animals and some are exotics that not a lot of people have been around and if they aren't familiar they may be too afraid to allow them their wander time that they are used to
