The wonderful world of pet sitting
I am currently pet sitting in Scotland – 3 beautiful dogs in Scotland. What a dream!! I love Scotland… I think. Truthfully, I haven’t seen much of it yet. I do love these dogs. They are loving and quirky but also exhausting, anxious and a lot more work than advertised. Which is why I haven’t seen much of Scotland yet.
This pet sit is a great example of the best and the worst of pet sitting. One of those experiences where later you think “Yes, I’m glad I did that despite the challenges!” And also, “Would I do it again? Absolutely and totally no!” But first, what is pet sitting?
The basics of pet sitting
Most people have heard of housesitting and pet sitting is the same… but more fun and also more work. There are several online organizations and apps you can join, either as a pet owner or pet sitter or both. Most of them involve some type of screening process and identity verification. Contrary to what most people think, it is not generally a paid position. You are essentially looking after someone’s pets and house, in exchange for free accommodations.
There are many reasons people choose to pet sit. Obviously, many people are interested in the free accommodations. It is definitely an affordable way to travel and explore new places. Most pet sits allow for you to leave the pets for 4 to 6 hours, which gives one time to go to the beach or a gallery or on a hike. It also offers the opportunity to have a place to cook, do laundry and have all the comforts of home.
And for digital nomads and those interested in slow travel, it can provide the opportunity to spend 4 weeks to 4 months in one spot, getting to know the neighborhood, the local shops and if you’re lucky, finding a gym or a book club to join. Pet sitting can provide nomads with all the comforts of ‘home’ and the ability to work and establish a routine. Most nomads love an opportunity to have a routine as much as they love moving to a new spot every few weeks or months. And of course, the absolute best perk of pet sitting, the love and companionship of a furry friend.
Benefits and challenges
There are so many benefits to becoming a global pet sitter and I highly recommend it if you love animals… AND it is not as easy to secure pet sits as people think. It is definitely not for people who are just looking for a ‘cheap way to travel.’ Pet sitting is a huge responsibility. It also take a long time to build a strong profile and reputation to secure the sought after locations. And it can be a lot more work than you anticipate, even when you are experienced.
Over the past 3 ½ years, I have completed 25 pet sits. And like most things in life, there have been ups and downs. Honestly, I have been very lucky because I have had less than a handful that were truly challenging. And I have had so many wonderful experiences with loving pets and kind owners, some of whom have become friends. Through pet sitting, I’ve been lucky enough to explore Washington State, all over Vancouver Island and other parts of BC and Alberta. I’ve had wonderful pet sits in Vancouver, Kelowna, Toronto and Hong Kong. And now, I’m pet sitting in Scotland.
And yes, sometimes it is a little strange to stay in a stranger’s home. But more often than not, it is lovely and I have met so many kind and interesting people. It’s a fascinating way to meet people that you would never meet otherwise and learn how different families and households function. It is always heartbreaking to leave animals that I often fall in love with but I carry so many beautiful memories with me that it is worth it.
If you are interested in pet sitting, I’ll be posting again about all the wonderful experiences I’ve had. I’ll also share some of the challenges and incorrect assumptions. But if you are interested in becoming a pet sitter or if you need one yourself, please reach out. I use 2 platforms and I have discount codes to join both. Links below. Trusted Housesitters has been around for years and is widely used globally but it is more expensive to join. Global Petsitters is very new but is founded by pet owners and sitters, integrating feedback from both and with lower fees.
