Anybody doing pet sitting?

[heritagefarmer]

Started off thinking about taking a break, then thought of all our cows, ponies, sheep, dog,cats, chickens, and who would look after them?

There are NO pet/farm sitting services around here.
Thinking it might an earner on extra $$ for some of us animal lovers.

[Lynne]

I started that about 15 years ago and after 5-6 years decided that I did not like having to fit several farms into my schedule on weekends and holidays. The holidays are what real killed me; guess I really didn’t think it out well. $15 per hour – half hour minimum within a ten mile radius; mileage charged after that. The ones I didn’t like I charged them even more. I slowly started referring them elsewhere and most are still friends.

[heritagefarmer]

Holidays and weekends don't worry me (no kids!- only the big 'un- DH!)
DH is on the farm too, though, so we could spread the workload.

You're right, it would take some serious thought, as to rates and distances.

I'm not really interested in walking people's dogs, more going over to feed their chickens pigs, goats, etc so its very hard to set a fixed rate.

We've done the occasional night for a neighbors horses, but it was summer and we really only had to check on them.

[Chixarecute]

My son dog sits for friends "in town". One dog, walked 4x daily (about 20-30 minutes) fresh water, top off the food, closes the blinds in the evening & turns on the front light. He gets $5.00 per walking. I told him it is the easiest money he'll ever make!

[TwoAcresAndAGoat]

I've been petsitting for 7 years, holidays are definatelly work days.

I charge $13 per half hour visit within a 5 mile radius of my home. I use to do 10 miles but when gas went up to over $3 gal I cut back and started charging for milage over 5 miles.

For me it has always been Part Time. I live in a small town 2000 people. I use to work nites and pet sitting during the days. Now I work days and have to fit petsetting in before and after work and on my lunch hour. I have had people reschedule their vacations just to make sure I can sit for them.

You also have to go even if you are sick or the weather is bad. Or have a very trustworth and reliable backup.

[BasicLiving]

I also had a petsitting business about 15 years ago - I did it for 5 and gave it up. BUT - I was working full time at a job 60 miles away at the time. So I had to get up super early to get some of the work done before my full time job, then came home and did others until just about bedtime. Also had to work every weekend at it, and every holiday. It was too much. I hired 2 gals to help out, but they really weren't as reliable as I would have liked. And yes - I had to go petsit when I had the flu and could barely get out of bed.

I think it would have been much different if I didn't have another job at the time. But I couldn't make enough at it to give up my full time job. Eventually something had to give - it was just too much. So I gave up the petsitting.

If you decide to do it, check with your local veterinarians and see if they will allow you to advertise there. All of ours in this area do - they are constantly asked if they know anyone to watch after home and farm animals while they are away. They LOVED referring me. And they handed out my business cards all the time. Make sure you have brochures or business cards of some type made up to hand out.

Good luck!
Penny

[farmmaid]

We sold our big boarding kennel 2 years ago and some of our customers had older dogs and got worried about them. We are now in our retirement home, up in the woods. I do dog sitting in my house (cement floors), get $12/day, owners bring their own food. My GREAT Aussie loves the company, dogs go out with me to do chores, walks, people know me..win, win for all. I just started this servive in August as our home was done enough then. Have made @ $900 since then...I also, for years, have taken care of horses for 2 friends. They live side by side @ 5 miles away. I get $7 per trip (x2) and I go twice a day. So $28 per day x however many days they are gone...Joan

[NCGirl]

I have used pet sitters alot. The girl we often used worked as a vet tech for years before starting the petsitting. She charged $15 for the first dog and then $2/each additional dog. She also did farm animals but she said they were few and far between. She had half a dozen M-F clients that she went mid-day and let out their dogs. She said that was her bread and butter. She hardly ever had a weekend off and forget holidays. She is still around some 10 years after she started though many other petsitters have come and gone she she started.