Why use a pet sitter?

As a pet sitter, it’s always interesting when people find out what you do. “It must be so fun! Just getting to play with dogs all day!”

Well, yes, I usually say. Of course it is! But pet sitting involves a whole lot more work and responsibility. People of all types - often complete strangers - trust you to care for their beloved family members (and on occasion, their homes) and it’s important that as a pet sitter, you provide a worthwhile service so that your furry charges stay safe, comfortable, healthy and happy!

So who uses pet minding services, like those provided by Pawshake? I thought I’d write a little rundown to start off this blog with some examples of my clients.

Pets who can’t come on holiday with their family

It’s the classic pet sitting scenario! Travelling with a pet can be expensive and prohibitive, and it can also distress many animals to be away from their familiar schedules, smells and spaces.

Luckily, Pawshake is an excellent (and cheap!) alternative to kennels and boarding for cats, dogs and any other type of pet. Pawshake enables to you find the perfect solution for your pal - maybe a live-in carer who can stick to your pet’s regular routine and keep them company throughout the days and nights, or perhaps an all-expenses trip to a welcoming local home with new and exciting friends.

Some low-maintenance pets, such as indoor cats, might even be happy with a carer dropping in once or twice or day for some food, a litter box clean, and they may even reluctantly allow a pat.

Pets who just need some dinner and a quick toilet break

It can be frustrating if you’re just having one night out of town, or you’re working late all week, and you know your pet needs feeding.

No problem! There are lots of Pawshake members who will happily drop over on short notice to check in on your little guys and make sure no-one’s running amuck! With the review system, you can also check to see if the Pawshake sitter has been recommended by other members and feel comfortable allowing them into your home.

Pets who are ill or not able to socialise with other animals

One of my recent clients was an exuberant 10-month-old pup named Daisy who’d had a slip and broken her back leg. With her big cast, she couldn’t get out of her doggy door to the back yard, and worse - she decided that eating her bandages would be much more fun than just sitting around moping, and anyone who has had anything similar happen knows that vet bills aren’t cheap! 

Daisy’s owners decided that having a pet sitter stay with her during the day would be a much better (and healthier) solution, so I stayed with Daisy every weekday while her parents were at work to keep an eye on her and help with her rehabilitation. (It was a great solution for me as well, as I could work remotely on my laptop in the short spaces while Daisy was napping.)

Pawshake pet sitters could also be a great solution for pets who aren’t able to go into kennels or homes with other animals for medical reasons. For example, FIV and Cat Flu are infectious diseases amongst cats that means they shouldn’t socialise with other kitties, so having a Pawshake pet sitter mind your beloved furball would mean greater peace of mind for those owners.

Pets who get bored during the day

Puppies have a LOT of energy, huh? Sometimes you just aren’t able, for whatever reason, to keep them as busy as they need to be, and keeping your pets in a crate while you’re out can be heartbreaking.

It might be an idea to book a regular Pawshake dog walking service where someone can come around once or twice during the day while you’re at work, so that your pooch can get out and about and use up some of that restless energy that might otherwise be funneled into your sofa legs or curtains. There are so many Pawshake pet sitters that offer this service, and some busier sitters might even be able to offer play dates or walking companions to switch things up a bit.

So that’s a couple of scenarios where hiring a Pawshake pet sitter might come in handy - not as simple as you might think. Trust me, though - it’s still fun for all of us!