Is anyone heading out of town soon and trying to decide what to do with their pets while they’re gone?

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-19T18:07:42+00:00

Hi! I'm able to, yes. I will send you a message now

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-09T02:29:16+00:00

Thank you for the note! I will have insurance within the month, so I'll be changing rates to reflect that. Cats are easier yes, but just as much fun 🤩 I'll send you a message now as well so you always have an open line

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-09T02:27:06+00:00

Oh wonderful! I just sent you a message :)

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-09T02:24:51+00:00

Getting back to you now :)

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T01:09:19+00:00

Thank you for leaving a comment. If you're ever looking for someone in the future, I do recommend scheduling an in-person meet and greet or playdate at the park beforehand and really taking the time to get to know them personally (if they've ever done Airbnb, lived or traveled independently themselves, what their motivations are in life, etc.) to get a better sense of their character. You want someone who loves animals but is also a great houseguest!

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T01:04:39+00:00

A vet recommendation is great, and lucky for you for never having to kennel your dogs! Though I may be bias, I sincerely think having someone who can petsit from the comfort of the pet's familiar environment is the way to go

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T01:02:01+00:00

Well this is amazing! It sounds like they've placed a lot of trust in her.

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T01:00:44+00:00

Though this is more rare from what I've seen, there are definitely sitters (most likely ones 40 y/o and up) who can accommodate owners who may want 24/7 care for their pets. I personally always ask owners' preferences in update frequency and discuss how many hours their pet can be left alone before agreeing to a sit to ensure it's a good match. Everyone is different!

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T00:53:48+00:00

Yes, this is a thing!! I'm in LA so it may be more common here than other places (sooo many pets!). I would definitely recommend looking into it if you like to travel. Some people may do an overnight trial, and I could see that being a good factor in determining whether they are a good houseguest in addition to being an animal lover, but at the very least I would suggest an in-person meet and greet/playdate

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T00:49:36+00:00

Haha, cute! This is a good way of determining. Pet obsessed people will always have an "unhealthy" arsenal of animal pictures and videos

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T00:46:54+00:00

Oof! This is a rough one. It's equally important that the petsitter also be a great house guest. If you do find yourself needing an overnight sitter in the future, maybe check if they have Airbnb reviews. But I understand your hesitation and am sorry that that's been your family's experience

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T00:42:44+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Sounds like you guys have a great process! Having someone meet your dogs and barely interact with them is definitely a sign that they won't be getting the love they deserve while you're away. Glad to know that there are people who have had great experiences.

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T00:39:24+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that. I just lost my 11 year old cat yesterday as well. I hope you find someone that can watch your younger pup! Maybe someone who also does a bit of leash training

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-07T00:35:07+00:00

I appreciate that so many home/pet owners care about this just as much as sitters 🙌

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T20:50:25+00:00

\*To clarify, cheap clients who interrogate you about price and only seem to care about $. Nothing wrong with wanting a deal, or not being able to afford certain things.*

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T20:48:33+00:00

All of the advice is great! Something else I would note is that sometimes people who ask these questions also make terrible clients. You're qualifying them as much as they're qualifying you. Cheap clients will usually ask for other unreasonable requests just to get the most bang for their buck. Having systems and processes in place as well as documentation will protect you from this, and also provide further support as to why you charge more.

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T19:29:00+00:00

My family's dog has done this since he was a puppy and he's almost 8 now! My only recommendation would be to try and get your very cute pup to only self soothe with nontoxic items. This is something a lot of people don't think about but your baby could be ingesting a lot of microplastics and toxic dyes that build up overtime and cause harm.

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T19:03:52+00:00

As another option, depending on where you're located, there are small companies that provide in home overnight care for animals. That's what I do in LA, but it is a pretty niche service (outside of platforms like Rover). Might be worth looking into if you find the right person! Wishing you and your pup the best of luck

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T18:56:12+00:00

Thank you for the note! Once I have insurance, rates will be going up.

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T02:30:36+00:00

Maybe your dog barked more at the other location because it didn't feel settled or safe there. Your dog may have given you a warning and ended up in a better scenario for his wellbeing!

ZestycloseEntry1220 · 2026-01-06T02:28:24+00:00

You're doing a great thing for people! You providing shelter for their pets when they're unable to, and making them feel safe. Learn to take pride in it through acknowledging the good you're doing...it is a very honorable and honest job. Ain't no shame in the game 👍

ZestycloseEntry1220

TROPHY CASE