If you’re an animal lover looking for an easy way to earn some extra money, pet setting could be your dream job! There are so many advantages of becoming a petsitter, from choosing your own hours, working regularly or occasionally and of course getting to spend time with animals. For some people, looking after a pet sounds like heaven, but getting paid for it too? Sign us up!
Contents
- What is petsitting?
- Why should I be a petsitter?
- Day in the life of a pet sitter
- Do I need previous experience with animals?
- How do I become a pet sitter?
- Covid-19 related information
What is pet sitting?
Pet sitting is a flourishing industry, valued at $2.6 billion dollars in 2019, and demand for pet sitters is only expected to increase over the next 10 years. As people lead busy lives they may want regular company for their pet during the day, someone to exercise their pet or perhaps they need someone to take care of their pet whilst they go away.
The roles and duties of a petsitter are varied and ever changing, from occasional dog walking jobs, to pet sitting the animal at home over a holiday period, every owner and pet will have different requirements.
Pet sitting as a job is one of the most flexible out there, especially if you are signed up to a platform such as Yoopies and are available to take jobs when they come along as you really can set your own hours. Much like babysitting, it is a superb way to earn some extra money alongside other commitments such as university, school, or even a full time job.
Why should I be a pet sitter?
Pets have always been ‘man’s best friend’ and activities such as dog walking or simply just owning a pet have been proven to be great for your mental health. Spending time with a pet is a wonderful way to relieve loneliness and stress, and in the current climate this is more important than ever.
Therefore it’s no surprise that pet ownership is on the rise, with many people using the recent lockdowns as the perfect opportunity to settle a new pet into their home. This means there will always be a great need for pet sitters, and why not grab some of the excellent benefits of owning a pet without actually having to look after them full time or pay any of the vets bills!
If you love animals, fancy getting paid for going for a walk or just need a part time job to fit in around your busy life then pet sitting could be the perfect flexible option for you!
Day in the life of a pet sitter
The duties of a pet sitter vary from role to role, as evidently every pet and every owner are different! Some common responsibilities of a pet sitter however may include:
- Dog walking
- Feeding a pet whilst it’s owner is away or at work
- Spending time with the pet at the owners or your own house during the working day
- Letting a pet out for exercise whilst the owner is away
- Taking a pet to the Vet
More hands on roles might be to look after the pet full time either at the owner’s house or by bringing the pet to your house whilst the owner goes away for a period of time such as on holiday or a business trip.
Many pet sitters work for multiple employers throughout the week, and often can perform duties such as dog walking for many clients at once, a great way to maximise your time and salary!
Do I need previous experience with animals?
The only general prerequisite for a pet sitter is that you like animals! As the owner is entrusting you with their pet, they are placing a lot of responsibility and care into your hands and will expect a pet sitter who will not simply just watch over their animal but truly care for their pet and enjoy spending time with them as if they were their own.
However certain situations or roles may require more experience than others, for example the owner of a rescue dog with an uneasy temperament may be looking for a pet sitter than has greater experience with animals of this nature for the safety of both the animal and the sitter.
Similarly for longer term roles that may include staying overnight with an animal or spending an extended period of time with them, most owners prefer their pet sitter to have experience of this nature, even if it is just through owning a pet of their own.
It is always important to never agree to a role you are not comfortable with, for the safety of both you and the pet, if you are unsure of anything you are being asked to do just be honest with the owner and ask them to explain further or express that you are not able to fulfil the task. It’s always better to be upfront than to get yourself or the pet into an uncomfortable situation!
For young people or anyone wanting to get into working with animals, pet sitting however can be a great way to build up your CV whilst carrying on with your normal day to day life. There are few jobs available at the moment that require no formal experience, however for young people pet sitting could be a great part time job. By becoming a regular dog walker, cat feeder, mucking out a horse a few times a week or any other role you might undertake, you will show great levels of commitment and responsibility whilst earning money! Not only will this be a great experience for you but you may learn new skills that will help boost your confidence as well as your CV in the future.
How to become a petsitter?
Here at Yoopies we offer pet sitting services for a range of animals in a whole variety of capacities, from regular dog walkers to holiday pet sitters and much more, by joining our platform you can search for your dream job today!
The benefit of making a profile with Yoopies is that you can set your availability and location and filter searches for great pet sitting opportunities in your area. Creating an advert for your pet sitting services with Yoopies will also allow potential employers to find you and get in contact about possible job opportunities.
There are plenty of ways to find pet sitting jobs, from local advertisements in shops, magazines and newspapers, through word of mouth in dog walking groups or training clubs, advertisements at local pet shops and veterinary practices or through online platforms.
Covid-19 related information
As with all forms of employment and activities in the present climate, you must ensure you are following Government guidelines regarding local and national Covid-19 restrictions and measures.
Presently, according to the Dogs Trust, dog walkers are allowed to continue to work and have been advised to prioritise key workers, elderly and vulnerable clients however they most follow certain restrictions to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.
All handling and exchange of dogs between owner and walker must all be done outside and in compliance with social distancing. If you do walk another person’s dog or pet, it is essential to take all the necessary precautions including using hand sanitiser, wearing a mask and staying 2 metres away from them where possible when handing over the dog and using soap and water to wash the lead or any accessory on the dog or pet that you might have touched.
For further information and advice on continuing to operate a pet sitter in a Covid-19 compliant manner visit the Government website for more advice on pet sitting during the Covid-19 pandemic.