For many Australians, pets are part of the family. So when it’s time to travel or take a holiday, finding proper pet care can be a top concern. Traditional kennel boarding facilities are often overpriced, with some owners quoted $100 or more per day.

Enter pet-sitting.

Online marketplaces like Airtasker have seen a boom in pet owners connecting with animal lovers willing to watch their furry friends in exchange for reasonable fees. And for many sitters, it's providing a fun and easy side income.

'I do all sorts of pets—dogs, cats, chickens, horses,' says Violet Wang, a pet sitter in Sydney. 'I'm really interested in animals. It's my passion.'

Violet takes on pet-sitting jobs as a side gig in between her job at a stable and call centre work. Over the past year’s Christmas holiday period, she was completely booked up with pet-sitting requests.

Aussies are looking after pets to make extra money. Credit: Unsplash.

'I love it. I love spending time with a lot of different breeds and different animals. A lot of families are going away, and they can't take their pets. So it's a really high volume period,' she explained.

'Airtasker is so much cheaper.'

And Violet's not alone. According to Airtasker, pet-sitting jobs on their site increased 52 per cent over the past six months. January tends to be the busiest time of year, with families travelling during the holidays.

For pet owners, the biggest draw is the convenience and affordability compared to kennels. Kennels require dropping off your pet, sticking to strict pickup times, and paying upwards of $100 per night.

Compare that to pet sitters who will watch your pet in their home or yours for a fraction of the price.

Sydney pet owner Amy Indrawan was shocked when she was quoted over $3,000 for a 3-week kennel stay for her French bulldog and beagle. Instead, she found a pet sitter on Airtasker for just $700.

'I've used Airtasker on three different occasions, and all three times, I have found someone reliable and trustworthy to look after my fur babies. What I love most is I can determine how much I am willing to pay for pet minding.'

Many pet sitters get started as a way to earn extra income doing something they love. Nadiana Albistur of Sydney began pet sitting during the COVID-19 pandemic when she had more free time.

'I wanted to make some extra money, and I enjoy playing with pets. I have had pets myself, but I don't currently have a dog of my own,' she explained.

Now, she pet sits for owners who need their pets to have company during work hours.

Nadiana sends owners photo updates so they know their pet is doing okay. 'Pet parents are grateful their pets are in good hands,' she said.

Key Takeaways

• Australians are earning additional income by providing pet-sitting services, which are often more affordable than traditional pet kennel boarding.
• Violet Wang uses the side gig to fuel her passion for animals and earn extra money.
• Nadiana Albistur started pet-sitting for extra cash during the COVID-19 pandemic, noticing a surge in demand as people return to work and study after the holiday period.
• The online marketplace, Airtasker, has seen a 52 per cent increase in the use of pet-sitting services in the past six months, with the busiest month being January.

If you're searching for an extra source of income, one attractive option to consider is pet sitting for others. Not only does it provide you with the opportunity to earn some extra cash, but it also allows pet owners to have their beloved animals cared for in a comfortable environment.

On the flip side, if you're planning to travel and need someone to look after your pets, you can also explore the idea of having someone else pet-sit for you. It's a win-win situation for both parties involved!

Do you have any other side hustles in mind that are relatively easy to get into? Feel free to share your recommendations in the comments section below!

 

[Gsr]

When my daughter was a teenager, boy that seems like forever ago, no wonder I feel old, she did a lot of pet sitting, walking, feeding for people. One couple had 3 big dogs, different breeds, that she helped look after and walked for several years. They were both paramedics and would get her to walk and feed the dogs whenever they were both working. She loved it. I used to help her when I could. She was well paid for it.

 

[BJM]

For many Australians, pets are part of the family. So when it’s time to travel or take a holiday, finding proper pet care can be a top concern. Traditional kennel boarding facilities are often overpriced, with some owners quoted $100 or more per day.

Enter pet-sitting.

Online marketplaces like Airtasker have seen a boom in pet owners connecting with animal lovers willing to watch their furry friends in exchange for reasonable fees. And for many sitters, it's providing a fun and easy side income.

'I do all sorts of pets—dogs, cats, chickens, horses,' says Violet Wang, a pet sitter in Sydney. 'I'm really interested in animals. It's my passion.'

Violet takes on pet-sitting jobs as a side gig in between her job at a stable and call centre work. Over the past year’s Christmas holiday period, she was completely booked up with pet-sitting requests.

View attachment 33224

Aussies are looking after pets to make extra money. Credit: Unsplash.

'I love it. I love spending time with a lot of different breeds and different animals. A lot of families are going away, and they can't take their pets. So it's a really high volume period,' she explained.

'Airtasker is so much cheaper.'

And Violet's not alone. According to Airtasker, pet-sitting jobs on their site increased 52 per cent over the past six months. January tends to be the busiest time of year, with families travelling during the holidays.

For pet owners, the biggest draw is the convenience and affordability compared to kennels. Kennels require dropping off your pet, sticking to strict pickup times, and paying upwards of $100 per night.

Compare that to pet sitters who will watch your pet in their home or yours for a fraction of the price.

Sydney pet owner Amy Indrawan was shocked when she was quoted over $3,000 for a 3-week kennel stay for her French bulldog and beagle. Instead, she found a pet sitter on Airtasker for just $700.

'I've used Airtasker on three different occasions, and all three times, I have found someone reliable and trustworthy to look after my fur babies. What I love most is I can determine how much I am willing to pay for pet minding.'

Many pet sitters get started as a way to earn extra income doing something they love. Nadiana Albistur of Sydney began pet sitting during the COVID-19 pandemic when she had more free time.

'I wanted to make some extra money, and I enjoy playing with pets. I have had pets myself, but I don't currently have a dog of my own,' she explained.

Now, she pet sits for owners who need their pets to have company during work hours.

Nadiana sends owners photo updates so they know their pet is doing okay. 'Pet parents are grateful their pets are in good hands,' she said.

Key Takeaways

• Australians are earning additional income by providing pet-sitting services, which are often more affordable than traditional pet kennel boarding.
• Violet Wang uses the side gig to fuel her passion for animals and earn extra money.
• Nadiana Albistur started pet-sitting for extra cash during the COVID-19 pandemic, noticing a surge in demand as people return to work and study after the holiday period.
• The online marketplace, Airtasker, has seen a 52 per cent increase in the use of pet-sitting services in the past six months, with the busiest month being January.

If you're searching for an extra source of income, one attractive option to consider is pet sitting for others. Not only does it provide you with the opportunity to earn some extra cash, but it also allows pet owners to have their beloved animals cared for in a comfortable environment.

On the flip side, if you're planning to travel and need someone to look after your pets, you can also explore the idea of having someone else pet-sit for you. It's a win-win situation for both parties involved!

Do you have any other side hustles in mind that are relatively easy to get into? Feel free to share your recommendations in the comments section below!

I once organized someone from a pet sitting company. She was very nice but explained she would have to stay at my house (she only lived a short distance away- about 5 mins drive). Call me silly but I have downsized to a 1 bdr place and have one bed and I wasn’t happy with her sleeping in my bed at all (no lounge either) AND she had a dog who had to stay inside and the dog didn’t like other dogs or cats (I had 1 dog and 4 cats and some pet birds) and chased chooks (of which I had 3)You guessed it, I didn’t go ahead with the pet sitting

 

[mylittletibbies]

I once organized someone from a pet sitting company. She was very nice but explained she would have to stay at my house (she only lived a short distance away- about 5 mins drive). Call me silly but I have downsized to a 1 bdr place and have one bed and I wasn’t happy with her sleeping in my bed at all (no lounge either) AND she had a dog who had to stay inside and the dog didn’t like other dogs or cats (I had 1 dog and 4 cats and some pet birds) and chased chooks (of which I had 3)You guessed it, I didn’t go ahead with the pet sitting

How on earth did you have all those animals in such a small place.
I really don't think a pet sitter coming to your home should be bringing their own pet with them
I had a retired lady once who did pet sitting. We went away for ten days,she stayed at our place, only charged $20/say and even had a casserole in the oven for us on our return.
Very yummy, beef stroganoff.
Talk about good service.
She had recently stayed at a place with three aviaries of birds, 4 cats, 2 dogs, 2 alpacas, 6 sheep and a donkey, still only charged them $20/day.
Unfortunately we don't live anywhere near her anymore.