Category Archives: Pets

Pets, Property, Property News, Travel

Why hiring a Homesitters means all your pets’ needs are met while you are away

A stunning Egyptian Arab horse, a Shetland pony, plus a Havenese dog, cat and Koi carp are amongst the pets that Homesitters look after when their owner goes away.

Aflie the horse, Rupert the pony, dog Theo, cat Noddy and the Koi carp belong to a family that live in a large Tudor style house in Warwickshire and have used homesitters for 15 assignments as they wanted someone to stay in their home and care for all their different pets.

Homesitters provides responsible and vetted home and pet sitters to clients across the UK looking for someone to take care of their home and pets.

Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters Ltd said; “Our homesitters are experienced with all types of pets, from different dog and cat breeds to more unusual pets. The benefit for our clients which have a menagerie of pets is they employ one person or couple to live-in their home to look after all their different pets which is cost-effective and means their animals can all stay in their home environment.

“For dogs and cats especially this is preferable to a kennel or cattery, plus there is someone living there for the horses rather than just popping in to the feed them. The home and pet sitter can also keep an eye on the koi carp pond, as well as ensure the home is occupied which can help prevent opportunistic burglaries.”

 

Paula and Gavin Rose from Dorset have done over 90 assignments since they joined Homesitters in 2012, with four booking planned for this year already. The couple are both in their 50s and decided to become homesitters when they no longer needed to work full time and wanted to try something new.

While sitting for their client in Warwickshire, Paula and Gavin give daily walks to Theo, feed all the animals per the client’s instructions and give them all lots of love and attention. For Alfie and Rupert, the Roses provide two feeds a day, along with topping up their water, checking the enclosure is all intact, and they are in good form.

Paula explains, “We wanted a lifestyle change – we were keen to live in different parts of the country and meet new people and researched ways to do this. Then we discovered homesitting and it sounded ideal. We love animals and are keen walkers, and the role incorporated the travel and new experiences we were looking for.”

The Roses tend to go on about 12 assignments a year which can vary in length from three or four days to a month at a time. They usually look after dogs and cats although they have also looked after horses, chickens and a tortoise, and once memorably homesat at a hedgehog sanctuary.

They were once asked to help out at the hedgehog sanctuary while they were staying in the owners home looking after her two dogs and a cat. They helped another volunteer at the sanctuary to feed sick and injured hedgehogs that had been rescued – they eat kitten food and mealworms – and weigh them to check they were progressing well. Once the hedgehogs were recovered, they were reintroduced to their natural habitat.

“That was a really interesting homesit” says Paula, “we enjoyed learning to handle and care for the hedgehogs, it’s not often you get to see these little creatures close up and we took great pleasure in being able to help with their recovery.”

 

Paula and Gavin prefer to be in the countryside rather than the town as they enjoy walking. While the couple’s own home is a small bungalow, often the homes they stay in are grander. They sometimes have swimming pools, table football or pool tables too so there is always something to do regardless of the weather.

Paula recalls one of her favourite homes, “It was like staying in a National Trust property, the gardens were very well kept and beautifully laid out, there were ponds and statues. It was such a pleasure to be able to step out of the house straight into that beautiful setting.”

 

Homesitters Ltd are different to many other pet sitting agencies in that all their homesitters are employed by them, are fully vetted and insured, plus they provide 24/7 back up support for homesitters on assignment. Homesitters also meet clients and their pets beforehand to be briefed on the home and the pets’ routine to ensure the assignment goes smoothly.

For more information on Homesitters Ltd and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

Animals, News, Pets

Agria Pet Insurance Spearheads Animal Welfare Proposition for 2023

Following a year that saw the world’s oldest pet insurer launch the UK’s only lifetime insurance for horses, Agria Pet Insurance has announced its focus on animal welfare for 2023 and beyond. With the cost of living crisis continuing to put pressure on pet owners, Agria’s focus will be to educate animal owners so that they can maintain protecting and prioritising their pet’s welfare.

Based upon the five needs of the Animal Welfare Act: Behaviour, Diet, Health, Environment and Companionship will be at the heart of all Agria does. Each of these five needs ensures that an animal is cared for both physically and mentally. While the Act is there to protect animals from harm and mistreatment, Agria is also seeking to investigate what typical animal owners can do to make their animals lives as good as they can possibly be.

Providing pets with healthcare since 1890, the foundation of Agria’s ethos is to allow animals to thrive, whilst providing peace of mind for their owners. This is a passion shared with customers as well as the many partners, vets, breeders and rehoming organisations Agria works closely with – ultimately its whole community. Supporting the insurer in promoting the importance of animal welfare is long-standing partner, Lord Trees.

Lord Trees, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and crossbench member of the House of Lords, said: “Animal welfare is crucial to me, as a crossbench peer and former vet. The Animal Welfare Act of 2006, which I was involved in, updated all previous legislation and provides clear guidance on animal care through the five welfare needs: Behaviour, Diet, Health, Environment, and Companionship. These needs ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of animals by allowing them to express their natural behaviours; have a suitable diet; live in an environment with companionship and shelter. I fully support Agria’s 2023 campaign to raise awareness about the importance of fulfilling our duty to care for animals.”

Another supporter of the insurer in advancing the significance of animal welfare is partner, Marisa Heath.

Marisa Heath from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, said: “The 2006 Animal Welfare Act redefined animal welfare by recognising the physical and mental needs of animals. The five freedoms are a crucial starting point for understanding pet needs beyond basic care. To achieve the highest standards of animal welfare, it’s important to consider what normal behaviour is for our pet, what causes fear or distress, and what they enjoy doing. I’m delighted Agria Pet Insurance prioritises animal welfare by working with owners to deliver the five freedoms and more for their pets.”
Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director at Agria Pet Insurance, said: “In 2022, Agria proudly became carbon positive and now diligently focuses on protecting pet welfare. Animal companions enrich our lives and Agria aims to return that generosity by giving them the best possible life. We have supported animal welfare through funding research and supporting rescues for many years. Now, in 2023, Agria plans to explore more ways to illuminate pet welfare through specialist interviews, research and case studies, helping owners to treat animals well and in a way that fully enriches their lives.”

To learn more about Agria’s commitment to animal welfare, please visit https://www.agriapet.co.uk/welfare-hub-pet/

News, Pets, South East

Ghost Fishing Nets – The Portsmouth-based brand making a real difference

British sustainable pet brand, Tangle, launched in 2022 with a mission to stop ghost fishing nets (fishing nets which have been discarded, lost, abandoned or dumped) from entering the precious marine environment. It’s estimated that 640,000 tonnes of ghost fishing nets end up in our oceans every year, accounting for nearly 50% of all plastics in the ocean. Born of the founders’ desire to make a real difference, Tangle’s range of premium dog products made from recycled fishing nets is expanding in 2023 and helps to prevent discarded fishing nets from entering the marine ecosystem and killing millions of turtles, dolphins, whales and other ocean life.

The Tangle Dog Lead – A strong, lightweight 4 ft dog lead made from discarded fishing nets featuring a padded brown cork handle and label, chrome plated clip and O-ring that allows for clipping the lead over your shoulder when your dog’s running free. The Tangle Dog Lead is durable, waterproof, chew proof and rinseable under the tap, available in two sizes 10mm for small and medium dogs and 12mm for larger dogs in Ocean Green online at www.tanglemission.com, RRP £39 including P&P.
Coming soon in 2023:
Tangle Dog Bowl, green marble-effect bowl made from recycled fishing nets, RRP £35
Tangle Throw Toy, strong, durable, lightweight and buoyant, RRP £14
Every Tangle product sold also supports Ghost Fishing UK, a charity dedicated to removing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear from UK waters.

Tangle Co-founder Sam Cartwright explains: “For 2023, we’re aiming to stop 526 tennis courts (137,800 sqm) worth of fishing nets becoming ghost nets. We’re all already aware of the impact of plastic bottles and straws, but in reality ghost nets make up nearly half of all ocean plastics and they’re far more deadly. By creating our beautifully-made dog products from recycled nets, we’re helping animal lovers save the oceans without compromising on quality, function or design.”

Co-founder Xavier Warburton adds: “We’re extremely proud of the products that we’re creating at Tangle, by creating a process where fishers are incentivised to donate their old nets, we’ve been able to stop ghost nets at their source and recycle them into something useful and beautiful. We want to continue to actively remove ghost net material from the oceans, recycling these into products, as well as educating communities about the ghost net problem and how they can help.”

News, Pets, Property

Why home and pet sitting can be the ideal way to spend Christmas

Christmas and New Year is a busy time for home and pet sitters. People want to travel to visit family, take holidays, go skiing, or take advantage of the long public holidays to have an extended break. All this makes for leaving pets and homes unattended a challenge.

Ben Irvine, Director of Operations at Homesitters Ltd comments: “No-one wants to feel guilty leaving their pets at boarding facilities, and especially not at Christmas. Homesitting is the perfect solution, and our cat and dog sitters are in high demand. We are also on a major recruitment drive to find new homesitters for 2023!”

 

Paula and Gavin Rose from Broadstone in Dorset have been home sitting for ten years and have really enjoy doing assignments over Christmas and New Year.

Paula says, “We have our family Christmas a few days before we leave for our homesitting adventure and then really enjoy spending Christmas away from home as it is a lovely break and the opportunity to spend time with pets.

“We’ve enjoyed Christmas assignments in different towns and homes. New Year is also a great time to home and pet sit, and we always make sure we, and the pets get plenty of exercise over the festive period! We can also make some savings on our own electricity costs as we don’t have to have the heating on for as many hours.”

There are several benefits for both home and pet owners and the house sitters:

1. Reassurance and peace of mind

The Christmas holiday season has a level of stress which can be greater than at other times of the year. There’s the additional worry of frozen pipes in bad weather, power cuts, snow and other extreme weather. Leaving a home and pets is hard enough, but knowing that your most valued possessions and pets are being looked after by people who truly care, is reassuring. Homesitters also get satisfaction from helping home and pet owners enjoy their time away without any stress.

2. Pets maintain their routines in their familiar environment

Caring for pets is the primary reason for using house sitters over Christmas. Boarding is disruptive and stressful for owners and pets, hiring a house sitter keeps dogs, cats and other animals happy at home.

3. Home security and protection against theft

During the Christmas period, theft often increases. A key benefit of having homesiters is they provide a higher level of security, keep the alarm systems in check, and give the house a “lived in” feel acting as a natural deterrent to opportunist burglaries.

4. A saving for everyone!

The Christmas and holiday period is the most expensive time of the year. Apart from the festive food and drink temptations, the gifts and the decorations, travel increases in price over the holiday season, and that includes the price of kennels, catteries and boarding.

Home and pet sitters employed by Homesitters Ltd typically earn around £170 as a couple for a two-week homesit, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile and get a daily food allowance while on assignment. If Homesitters do an assignment over the festive bank holiday days, they will also receive additional pay for each of the 3 bank holiday days.

At this expensive time of year, people welcome the money they make, often saving it up for treats such lunches out or holidays. When everyone is feeling the pinch, it’s an enjoyable role that retired people can easily do to boost their finances whilst feeling like having a break.

Homesitters Ltd is different to many other pet sitting agencies in that all their homesitters are employed by them, are fully vetted and insured, plus they provide 24/7 back up support for homesitters on assignment. Homesitters also meet clients and their pets beforehand to be briefed on the home and the pets’ routine to ensure the assignment goes smoothly.

 

For more information on Homesitters Ltd and to apply to become a homesitter visit: www.homesitters.co.uk

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Pets, Retirement, Travel

Why becoming a homesitter is good for your wallet…. and your patience!

People wanting to avoid the travel chaos that has hit UK airports and ports this year, and enjoy a stress free UK break with petrol and pay covered then homesitting could be for you!

Homesitting involves staying in people’s homes when they go away to take care of the home and any pets. It offers a fantastic way to explore the UK, staying for free and having petrol costs covered. Duties are minimal. And whilst home and pet sitting is a serious responsibility it is meant to be enjoyable.

 

Normally the average working time does not exceed 1.75 hours per day. When homesitters are not carrying out duties, they are free to remain on the client’s premises or to explore the local area.

Any period away from the property must not exceed three consecutive hours during daylight or one hour after dark, but homesitters can leave the premises on more than one occasion each day.

Our homesitters tell us that they enjoy their trips out visiting local towns they may never have been to, exploring local beauty spots and National Trust properties or taking country walks with the dogs they look after.

Shops, museums and galleries are among the varied attractions of city home sits, and for rural sits visiting country pubs and enjoying peaceful time away from the hustle and bustle of life are big draws.

 

Most of our homesitters are retirees in their 50s, 60s and 70s and many rely on their pension incomes. The cost of living crisis has meant that rising prices for petrol, food and energy are hard to avoid, but becoming a homesitter can be a way to limit the impact and boost pension income.

Home and pet sitters employed by Homesitters Ltd typically earn around £170 as a couple for a two-week homesit, which includes a daily food allowance, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile.  People can also make savings on their energy bills as they are staying in someone else’s home, especially if they do lots of assignments.

 

Former hotelier, John Charlick (pictured above) has been home and pet sitting for four years since retiring from the hospitality industry.  Keen to stay active in retirement, John looked for a flexible part time role. He has friends who dog sit who suggested he might try something similar. He found Homesitters online, applied and was offered the job.

 

John’s favourite part of the role is the travel across the UK to different homes and meeting different people. John says, “I’m still working in the hospitality industry in a way. I’m a real people person and love the social side of the job but my favourite thing is staying in gorgeous homes and visiting places I haven’t been to before.

 

“It can be like going on a mini break. I often stay in great locations and very glamorous homes, with swimming pools and tennis courts. I took up playing the piano again a few years ago so if there’s a piano I enjoy playing in the evenings.

“I also enjoy spending time with the animals, particularly dogs. I’ve owned dogs in the past, but now that I live in a flat it isn’t practical to have one and they are rather a tie. Homesitting gives me the opportunity to look after dogs and take them for walks, but I can then hand them back to their owners – rather like having grandchildren!”

 

One of John’s most memorable home sits was an assignment in Guernsey. He explains, “I’d never been to the island before, so it was interesting to visit for a week. I stayed in a charming house looking after a cat; it was almost like a holiday with free travel and accommodation.

“I also enjoy taking on assignments in London. I lived there for a time and still have lots of friends I can meet for lunch. My favourite assignment is for a regular client who has a Whippet. I stay there four times a year and usually arrive the night before the client goes away so that we can all have supper together – I almost feel like one of the family.”

 

If this role sounds great, why not apply to become a homesitter? We are currently recruiting throughout the UK and would love to hear from people interested in becoming homesitters. To find out more and to apply, click here.

 

Animals, News, Pets, Retirement

Could becoming a home and pet sitter boost your retirement income?

The cost of living is going up with energy, fuel and food prices all rising leading to many people being concerned about their finances. With inflation expected to hit 7% by spring[i] the crisis may get worse, before it gets better.

For retired people on a fixed pension income this can be worrying as there are limited to opportunities for retired people to add to their income.

One solution however is for them to become home and pet sitters who are employed to look after people’s homes and pets when they are away.

Most of our homesitters are retired people in their 50s,60s and 70s who want to remain active and fill their retirement with new experiences.

Our homesitters can boost their pension income because they can make savings on their own household utility bills when they are on assignments, and they receive a modest remuneration.

One retired couple who have been home and pet sitting through us since they retired are Peter and Julie Barnes from Gloucestershire who are both in their 60s. They typically earn around £180 as a couple for a two-week homesit, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile when they travel to and from the assignment and they get a daily food allowance.

The fees vary depending on how many pets are involved and the length of the assignment, however this extra income comes in handy with the Barnes’ saying they tend to save it up for holidays.

However, money wasn’t their main motivation for becoming homesitters it was the benefits of the role that appealed.  Prior to retirement Peter spent many years in the Armed Forces, before leaving to work in the printing industry. Julie was a swimming coach and a manager at a large leisure centre in Gloucester.

The couple wanted to do something adventurous in their retirement. Peter was keen to get a dog, but the couple also wanted to travel, which would be difficult with a pet.  Peter remembered seeing an advert for Homesitters Ltd in a magazine and realised the role could offer the perfect solution.

One of their favourite parts of the job is to travel and exploring new places. The couple especially love to spend time in the countryside because they enjoy walking and wildlife spotting.

Julie says, “We do a lot of homesits around the Cotswolds near where we live and really enjoy going to different places. Even if we’re only going thirty miles or so from our home, it is often to somewhere we haven’t heard of before! There’s a limited amount of exploring you can do while you’re working and we’re really enjoying discovering new places.”

The couple love to spend time with pets and both enjoy combining a long dog walk in the country with a pub lunch.

Peter says, “We can’t help but fall in love with the pets – they all have different characters. We looked after two black Labradors who loved to play in the snow and a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback who would sit and watch us read. We even looked after a parrot who would mimic Julie’s voice so I would think she was in the room talking to me!”

“We keep a travel journal to remind us of all the wonderful places we’ve been, the pets we’ve looked after and the people we’ve met.”

If you are looking for an interesting and fulfilling way to spend your retirement, as well as boost your pension income, we are currently on a recruitment drive.

We have assignments across the UK and offer flexible employment which can fit around other commitments.

One of the best things about working through us is all our homesitters are employed by us (rather than being self-employed) which means they benefit from support from our team when on assignment.

We also organise all the assignments, including arranging the preliminary meeting with clients prior to a homesitters agreeing to take a job. All homesitters are fully insured through our company too. If this sounds appealing, please get in touch, here.

 

 

 

[i] https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/03/cost-of-living-2022-energy-petrol-interest-rates-and-food-prices-16041718/

News, Pets

Woofz: all your dog’s needs in one money-saving app

Whether you are a seasoned dog owner, or a new paw-rent, both owners and their dogs will benefit from Woofz, the dog app created by experts, which helps owners unlock the secrets to what makes their pet tick – and consolidate their daily needs into one, easy-to-use online space.

From dog training activities, including tips and tricks, to daily walk reminders, Woofz offers advice and friendly audio or video lessons. Say goodbye to problem behaviours such as barking or chewing,  or use the “as the dog handler” integrated feature if your pup has a specific training need.

Track your dog’s daily progress and set reminders via the Doggy calendar, and save precious moments in the image gallery. You’ll want to show off the progress certificates your dog will earn for completing each level. The app even has a  built-in clicker.

In a recent survey of 100 global users in March 2022, Woofz found that the main areas that dog owners were concerned about werem as follows:

22.5% – Pulling on the leash

16.7% – Biting

14.3% – Separation Anxiety

9.1% – Barking

8.8% – Destructive Chewing

6.6% – Aggression

6.4% – Whining for Attention

 

The Woofz app has tutorials to help with each of these key  problem areas. Woofz’ dog socialisation expert  says “, We understand the problems and reasons for these issues and have taken into consideration the behaviours of dogs from all sorts of backgrounds, from breeders and from shelters. As a tried and tested training app, we know that Woofz can not only result in a more harmonious dog/owner relationship, but also save on costly dog training lessons (not to mention the cost of chewed slippers!)”

The free version of the Woofz app includes access to two lessons and two commands –  or level up to the paid-for version, which offers unlimited training and support, and costs £8.49 a week, or a 12 week plan is £26.99. With UK puppy training lessons costing an average of £30 per session, that’s something else to wag your tail about.

Find the Woofz app in the App Store or  on Google Play.

 

News, Pets

Co-op Insurance’s New Pet Insurance is now available at Quotezone.co.uk

Co-op Insurance’s new pet insurance is now available to purchase at Quotezone.co.uk.

To help make adoption more affordable, Co-op Insurance includes an introductory discount on policies for those insuring a pet from a recognised animal charity or rescue centre – 7.5% for Co-op members and 2.5% for non-Co-op members.

Over the past year, recurring lockdowns and the subsequent change in lifestyle, has seen a surge in pet ownership, with 3.2 million* UK households acquiring a pet.

Although YouGov** research shows that 91 per cent of Brits looking for a pet would consider adopting from a rescue centre, 29 per cent are deterred as they believe they would be expensive to insure and care for.

 

Carl Sharples, Head of Sales and Marketing at Co-op Insurance, said: “Deciding to adopt a pet from a rescue centre is so rewarding. Since the pandemic, we’ve all seen how important rescue homes can be for animals, so we want to do what we can to make it easier for an animal to find a loving home.’’

 

People’s lifestyles have changed dramatically throughout the course of the pandemic and are still changing, so it’s important that potential pet owners take their time and do their homework on this important decision – each breed has a very different set of requirements and characteristics which need to fit well with the household.

YouGov figures also reveal that 12 percent of consumers regret their pets and would consider leaving an unwanted pet at a rescue centre, with 160,000 of these already having been given up***. Not only that, but rescue centres are bracing themselves for another 77 percent of ‘pandemic pups’ to be given up this year.

The RSPCA shared data with Quotezone.co.uk which shows that the number of French bulldogs being abandoned or relinquished is up a staggering 1,567%.

 

Greg Wilson, Founder of pet insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “This is the first time we’ve featured Co-op Insurance pet insurance and we’re proud of its support for rescue animals and value for our customers.

“With the cost of living reaching a ten year high and rising, it’s never been more important to have a quality pet insurance product to safeguard finances and make sure that animals get the best care.

“This product from Co-op Insurance, aims to support those who choose to rescue their animals with discounted premiums, which hopefully entices more owners to consider adoption.”

 

There are lots of rescue charities, like the RSPCA, who take in all sorts of animals including purebreds, as well as rescue organisations that specialise in specific breeds, so there is plenty of choice available.

Co-op Insurance’s new pet insurance provides cover for pets over 8 weeks old, as well as access to unlimited video consultations with fully qualified veterinary surgeons 24/7, 365 days a year as standard, as well as dental and farewell cover (subject to terms and conditions).

Quotezone.co.uk is one of the leading insurance comparison websites in the UK, helping over 3 million users find a more competitive deal on their insurance – including specialist pet insurance products such as puppy insurance, older dog insurance, kitten insurance and cat insurance.

The new pet insurance product will be delivered with partner, Markerstudy Broking, a division of the Markerstudy Group, which will provide end-to-end administration for the Co-op Insurance pet brand.

News, Pets

Lily’s Kitchen Enhances Customer Experience With Ordergroove Subscriptions

Ordergroove, the leader in Relationship Commerce, announced today that Lily’s Kitchen, the U.K.’s No. 1 brand in premium natural pet food1, has successfully implemented an Ordergroove subscription experience. Seeking to provide a seamless shopping experience for consumers, Lily’s Kitchen partnered with Ordergroove to deliver an innovative subscription offering that prioritises convenience.

Since launching the Ordergroove subscription experience in April 2020, Lily’s Kitchen has achieved rapid success. By June of the same year, the brand attributed more than 10% of its total sales to its subscription experience. At the end of 2021, this figure had doubled and now accounts for 20% of monthly sales.

The bespoke subscription offering, implemented by certified B Corp Lily’s Kitchen, ensures customers receive a regular supply of their pets’ favorite recipes while also offering incentives such as cost savings and delivery. What’s more, subscribers have full control over their recurring orders, including the ability to edit, pause or cancel at any time. Subscribers can also change order frequency or switch between similar products with ease – ensuring customers receive enough wet and dry recipes and treats each month to keep their four-legged friends happy and healthy.

 “We celebrate the pet-parent relationship in all its forms,” said Michelle Corp, eCommerce Director, Lily’s Kitchen. “By adding a subscription experience, we were able to make it much more convenient for pet parents to stock up on their pets’ favorite recipes – and free them up to spend more quality time with their cats and dogs. We knew subscriptions were going to be popular, but their rapid growth was greater than we anticipated. It’s a mutual success story for our valued pet parents, Lily’s Kitchen, and Ordergroove.”

When selecting a subscription solution, Lily’s Kitchen prioritised ease of use and flexibility for its customers. The brand also desired a subscription technology that would seamlessly integrate with its existing eCommerce platform and that had a high level of automation.

“The decision by Lily’s Kitchen to launch a subscription offering aligns perfectly with the brand’s mission to deliver wholesome pet recipes and be a force for good,” said Greg Alvo, CEO, Ordergroove.

“The results Lily’s Kitchen has achieved with subscriptions are phenomenal and are a testament to the importance of fostering relationships, rewarding loyalty and listening to consumers’ call for convenient shopping experiences.”

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, Pets

New Year, New Career? Homesitters is recruiting new homesitters who love to travel and look after pets

If you are looking for a new career in the New Year, Homesitters Ltd, a leading UK home and pet sitting company, is seeking new homesitters to take care of people’s homes and pets when they go on holiday.

Homesitters expects a big increase in bookings this year. Since the testing rules for international travel were relaxed, holiday demand has surged[i], with EasyJet reporting last week that bookings rose almost 200% compared to the week before.

Pet ownership has also soared. According to The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, meaning the country now has 17 million pet-owning homes[ii].

Homesitters says the ideal home and pet sitters are active retired people who love pets, as well those with a portfolio career who can fit in home and pet sitting around other work commitments.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to stay for free in gorgeous homes across the UK, spend time with pets and meet new people. They can also boost their income or savings, as homesitters are paid a modest remuneration, including a food allowance and make savings on their own energy bills when they are on assignments.

Benjamin Irvine, Director of Business Operations at Homesitters Ltd says, “We are looking for new homesitters to join our friendly team as we’re already seeing many new enquiries as people start booking their holidays. It’s a fantastic role that suits retired people in their 50s, 60s and 70s or those not working.

“One of the main benefits of working through us is that all our homesitters are employees, and it’s a flexible job that can fit around other commitments. It’s a fun way to visit new places and the chance for animal lovers to look after all, kinds of different pets.”

Homesitters offer a high level of customer service and following a rigorous interview, homesitters are carefully matched with clients, considering their preferences, personalities, skills and experiences. Homesitters can pick and choose their assignments and will almost always visit their client’s home and pets before starting.

Retired couple Peter and Julie Barnes from Gloucestershire have been home and pet sitting since they retired. During his career, Peter spent many years in the Armed Forces, including the Royal Marines, before working in the printing industry. Julie was a swimming coach and a manager at a large leisure centre.

When they retired, they wanted new to experience some new adventures. Peter was keen to get a dog, but the couple also wanted to travel, and thought it would be too difficult with a pet. Homesitting was the perfect solution. One of their favourite parts of the job is travelling, exploring new places and spending time in the countryside.

Julie says, “We do a lot of homesits around the Cotswolds near where we live. Even if we’re only going thirty miles or so from home, it is often to somewhere we haven’t heard of before! There’s a limited amount of exploring you can do while you’re working and we’re really enjoying discovering new places.”

The couple also love to spend time with pets. Peter is a dog lover, while Julie likes spending time with cats and looking after chickens. They both enjoy walking the dogs together, combining a long dog walk in the country with a pub lunch.

Peter says, “We can’t help but fall in love with the pets who all have different characters. We looked after two black Labradors who loved to play in the snow and a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback who would sit and watch us read. We even looked after a parrot who would mimic Julie’s voice so I would think she was talking to me when it was the parrot!

The couple earn a modest salary from homesitting which they put towards spending money for their holidays, but Peter says money was the last thing on their agenda – it was the benefits of the role that appealed most.

“We’ve had several customers contact us after a homesit to tell us how relaxed their pets are after their time with us and to thank us for looking after them – that’s reward in itself.”

Anyone interested in becoming a homesitter can apply by clicking here.

For more information about Homesitters Ltd please visit www.homesitters.co.uk

References

[i] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59905680

[ii] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56362987