Pet care needs a written routine — not “just look after the dog”
Briefing your helper on pet care routines (Singapore homes) is the employer checklist for feeding times, walks, litter/cage cleaning, and when to call you or a vet. General day-one orientation sits in Day One Orientation Checklist for New MDWs. Childproofing sits in Childproofing Instructions for New Helpers. Human medical emergencies sit in Emergency Procedures: Hospital and GP Visits. This page owns pet-care handover.
General guidance only — not veterinary advice. MOM: mom.gov.sg. SmartMaid.com.sg is a marketplace. Licensed EAs place helpers. (no made-up vet fees).
Neighbouring hubs:
- Day-one orientation checklist
- Written house rules sheet
- Preventing burnout through fair workloads
- Emergency procedures: hospital and GP
- Rubbish and recycling briefing
- Building trust while maintaining standards
- Relief helper for a few days
- Childproofing for new helpers
- This article: pet-care routines briefing
Step 1 — One written pet chart
Species, name, feeding amounts/times, walk windows, litter or cage tasks, and “do not feed” list. Walk through once on day one (Day One Orientation Checklist for New MDWs). Put limits in house rules (Creating a Simple Written House Rules Sheet).
Step 2 — Hygiene and waste
Where bags, litter, and waste go — link to estate waste habits (Briefing Your Helper on Rubbish and Recycling (Singapore)). Keep pet chemicals separate from kid zones (Childproofing Instructions for New Helpers).
Step 3 — Escalate ladder (pet)
- Not eating / vomiting / injury → call you first
- Severe distress → your nominated vet (live contact; )
- If *she* is hurt by an animal → human emergency Emergency Procedures: Hospital and GP Visits
Step 4 — Fair workload
Dawn walks plus full housework burn helpers out (Preventing Burnout Through Fair Workloads). If care needs exceed one person, consider short relief (When You Need a Relief Helper for a Few Days (Singapore)). Trust with clear standards: Building Trust While Maintaining Employer Standards.
Step 5 — MOM rules
Pet care is work — brief it, don’t assume. Fair treatment: mom.gov.sg. Soft only.
MOM rules
Clear duties and rest still apply. Soft framing on mom.gov.sg.
Checklist
- Written pet chart posted
- Walk / litter / feed demo done once
- Waste disposal clear (#141)
- Vet / escalate contacts saved
- Workload checked
Scripts
To helper: Here is the pet chart. Feed only what is written. If the pet looks unwell, call me before you guess medicines.
To co-employer: Pet care is a briefed duty with a chart — not an unspoken add-on.
Bottom line
Hand over pets with a written chart, waste plan, escalate contacts, and a fair workload check. Browse on SmartMaid; place through a licensed EA under MOM rules.
