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Duties
Pet sitters exercise and tend animals for owners who may be traveling, busy at work, or too ill to care for their own animals. Unlike a boarding kennel, a sitter comes to the client’s home and may perform other functions such as caring for plants and collecting mail. It can be a flexible, part-time solo job or a business with several employees.
A pet sitter may work for someone else or be self-employed. A pet-sitting business can be started with little investment and can be operated from home with no costly inventory to maintain. Many pet sitters enjoy the freedom and challenge of being their own boss. The income earned will be influenced by the population of area serviced, whether one works part-time or full-time, and whether one works alone or employs other pet sitters. The national average for a pet-sitting visit is $10-$12 per visit per day, with fees ranging from $5-$25 per visit per day. An average visit is 30-45 minutes.
Background and Education
Sitters need experience caring for many kinds of animals and must be reliable and trustworthy enough to care for animals when their owners are away. For pet sitters who run their own business, marketing, interviewing, and management skills will be important, as well as educating oneself in all areas pertinent to running your own business. A well-rounded background in business and animal care would serve you well as a professional pet sitter and in the future should your career path change. Pet sitters should also have commercial liability insurance to cover accidents and negligence and bonding to protect against theft by a pet sitter or her employees.
There are no formal educational requirements for professional pet sitters. Knowledge of animal health, nutrition, and behavior are important, and pet sitters should be concerned for the well being of their animal clients as well as enjoy caring for them.
Some pet sitters gain experience with animals by working or volunteering at a veterinary facility or animal shelter. Many gain experience with pets of their own and understand the strength of the bond between pet owners and their pets. The best care and humane treatment that pet sitters want for their own beloved pets should be extended to their animal clients.
No government agency regulates or licenses pet sitters. A pet sitter may be a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) or Pet Sitters International (PSI). NAPPS and PSI may offer accreditation based on years of professional experience, completing home study courses, attending professional conferences, and abiding by a code of ethics. These membership organizations have lots of information to help pet sitters get started. These may include a mentor program for novice sitters, home study courses, videos, and publications.
Learn more about Pet Care:
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Pet Sitter
