According to the results of a recent industry survey of pet sitters conducted by Pet Sitters International, (PSI), the majority of pet sitters are fast track professionals who have traded in their management jobs in favour of a more flexible schedule, a return to core values and to earn a living by doing something they enjoy.

Additionally a 2001 survey by PSI showed that the typical pet sitter (in the states at least), is female, between the ages of 31 and 50, has received higher education and makes more than 2,000 pet sitting visits every year.

The term 'pet sitting' which used to be synonymous with 'house sitting' is rapidly being adopted as a reference to pet visiting and dog walking where the sitter calls in to see to animals at their homes as part of a 'milk round' of visits rather than stay over at the property.

Patti Moran, president of the 4,600 member PSI said:

"The statistics were not surprising. In 1983 I left the corporate arena to become a pet sitter for the same reasons others are doing so today: Pride in owning a business, working with animals, and a flexible schedule. Professional pet sitters were a rarity back then; now the profession is in demand in every community."

UK pet sitters are grabbing headlines in local papers across the country. Frances Cartledge who runs Happy Days Pet Sitting & Dog Walking in Dumfries said recently in an article in South West Life:

"There is a lot of trust involved between owners, pets and me but I love it and I get a lot out of it."

Our own editor Mary Ward began her career in the pet sitting industry in 1992 and has appeared in many articles on TV, radio and in the press. For her this is a full time business:

"I have watched the industry develope over the last 10 years. I do feel there is a need for some form of quality standards to be put in place to help protect sitters and their clients," she says.

Mary has produced a series of articles on running a pet sitting business - available here.

But not all pet sitters are full time businesses - April Caton who runs a part time cat sitting service in Norwich noted in an article in the Norwich Evening News:

"Cat sitting is something I do in my spare time - I have to be careful not to let it interfere with my day job."

Most recently the first UK franchised network of pet sitters appeared on the scene. Run by ex-surveyor, Brendan Humphries, PetPals promotes itself as the first fully flexible and nationally recognised professional and mobile pet care service company.

Average prices for pet sitting in the UK come in at around £6.00 for a 30 minute visit with surcharges normally added for additional pets, extra services and travel.

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley      

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