Adventures in Petsitting

Snowshoeing on Mount Rainer.

Watching the sun rise over the water from a Bay Area houseboat.

Spectating at an ice sculpture competition in Vermont.

Walking next to prehistoric cliff dwellings in Arizona.

Night kayaking in the Charleston Harbor.

These are some of the adventures I’ve staked a claim to in the last three years, born out of a “make lemonade when life throws you lemons” attitude toward a life upheaval and semi mid-life crisis. Such a journey is usually only made possible by expendable income, but I unwittingly stumbled upon a way to afford it AND get to love on some furry companions along the way, via the world of travel pet-sitting.

It’s an interesting concept. By joining TrustedHousesitters.com members pay an annual fee, and are connected with other members who are looking for someone to care for their homes and animals, or homes and animals to take care of. Everyone must pass a background check, and everyone is subject to reviews and ratings. No money is exchanged between homeowner and sitter - the sitter provides their services in exchange for free lodging, and everyone wins.

In the summer of 2023 I was living in a friends basement following the end of a long relationship and subsequent loss of my home. It was a time to reflect and figure out my next moves. I was grateful to have a place to lay low while I processed some heavy emotions but there was a huge hurdle: I worked remotely, and that basement was COLD. For the upstairs to be a comfortable temperature for the permanent occupants the basement thermostat typically read around ten degrees lower than the main house, and it was that kind of manufactured icy refrigeration-level cold that hurt my bones. I had to both sleep in it and work in it, donned in layers and mittens, typing away at a laptop from a kitchen table. I was miserable in spirit, mind, AND body.

A new friend recognized an opportunity- she was heading to Europe for two weeks, and needed someone to watch her four cats. In lieu of paying a local pet sitting service, would I be willing to housesit and have a whole house to myself (with thermostat control)? It was a no-brainer. I’d lost my own cat six months before to Feline Leukemia and had missed the soft warmth of a cat on my lap.

The day the sit began, I was leaving a retreat at a yoga ashram where I’d spent three days camping and working on an organic farm. I’d done retreats at this ashram before, but rarely as the cost can be steep. This particular program was within my financial reach because working on the farm provided a work-service discount. It was a healing three days, with communication and advice from sage women who’d navigated divorce and grief before me. One learned I was housesitting for a friend, and asked if I’d heard of Trusted Housesitters. She thought it would be good for me to travel. Having just benefited from the value of a work service trade at the Ashram, I was primed to optimize my will-work-for-healing outlook. And I longed for opportunities to escape that cold lonely basement. And so, I signed up.

Enrolling means a $150 annual membership fee for sitters, barely more than a single night in a decent hotel room. THS has recently added an additional $10 booking fee per sit, which raised a lot of fuss among members, but ultimately is still a good value. For members who are looking for sitters, the cost is $350 a year (certainly a fare rate compared to the going rate of $100 a day for an in-home overnight pet sitter or boarding costs.) Members are asked to include two reviews from people they’ve have housesat for before prior to joining, so having some experience is necessary.

Once you’re in, you have access to hundreds of listings worldwide. I chose to limit myself to the U.S. as my remote job restricts us to the 48 continental states for conducting business, and I benefited from not having to use much vacation time if I could work from the housesit. But a casual browse of international listings could easily have one dreaming of cottages in rural England or a seaside villa in France. You can search by location and filter by pet type- if you’re not one for cats, filtering to dogs-only is an option, as are unusual animals such as birds and horses. For a homeowner who isn’t new to THS there will be reviews to indicate the sitter experience, with a one to five star rating system.

After deciding on a sit that seems like a good fit you can apply for it. Homeowners can accept up to 5 applications, and choose who they want to be in their home and look after their animals. They may ask to interview you over a video call. Housesits in sought after locations can get competitive, so it’s good to have a high rating. Many start with local housesits to get their foot in the door with THS reviews.

There’s a great deal of trust required from all parties, hence the group name. To leave your animals and home in the care of a complete stranger can be a risky bet, and no sitter wants to spend money on gas or a plane ticket before discovering a sit was not as described. The THS online forum does occasionally contain a story from a dissatisfied sitter or homeowner, with concerns ranging from unreliable sitters and neglected pets, to sketchy or unkempt home environments. Thankfully these experiences seem to be rare, and all of my personal experiences have been wholly positive. For those hesitant, more guarantees are available through more expensive membership options- the higher tiers include insurance toward unexpected expenses in worse case scenarios like having to hire a paid local sitter or securing alternate lodging.

I’m always a bit anxious to make sure I do a good job, and want to make sure the homeowner feels that their pets and home are in good hands. Sitters who prioritize pet care, communicate daily with pet updates (photos are always appreciated), and leave the home as clean (if not cleaner) as they found it tend to always get a five star review.

Sitters are responsible for their transportation to and from the destination sit and associated costs, so even while saving money on lodging, it’s not exactly a cheap vacation. There may be other costs, such as renting a vehicle if you have arrived by plane and want to go where walking and public transportation cannot. Even public transportation can get pricey, so choosing your location is important - In Charleston I wanted to avoid renting a car, but I was outside the city limits and ended up spending almost as much in Uber fares as I would have for a car rental. In the Bay Area I took the bus or walked nearly everywhere, so it was much cheaper to get around, but I had to walk a long way to grocery stores (and spent more on the groceries.) I also usually pay for one or two nights in a hotel on either side of a trip so that I can plan to arrive to the area a day early and not risk being late due to flight delays, and that can add up fast. The most value I’ve found is using THS for short trips to destinations within a few hours of my home, where I can drive my own car. I’m less than two hours from Washington DC, so whenever I want to spend the weekend in the city for a planned event I’ll check to see if THS has any DC listings before I plan for other accommodations.

But even when I consider all of the costs for further destinations, the value is considerable over what lodging would otherwise cost. I’ve been able to stay longer and - as the THS ads like to say- “live like a local.” There’s just something about taking in a slice of life from a neighborhood versus a touristy hotel- saying hello to neighbors, noticing the local culture, walking down to the corner bodega, or watching the sun set from a city rooftop. And you might even be inclined to check out local attractions or festivals you wouldn’t otherwise, simply due to their proximity.

Your sit might come with extra novelties you can borrow too- like a plunge pool, a bike, or a kayak. I’ve even enjoyed taking in the homeowner’s record and book collections, like a little library for my stay. And it sure is nice to have access to a refrigerator and pantry for condiments and spices while cooking away from home, in a full scale kitchen. A hotel mini fridge and microwave sure can’t offer that!

Finally- the pets. I’ve cared for a range of animals - from spunky chihuahuas in Flagstaff, to grumpy cats in Burlington, to a three-legged miniature poodle in DC. I’ve chased after a dog that squirmed his way out the door in the rural countryside outside of Harper’s Ferry, and been cornered by a hissing menace of a cat I thought might kill me in the mountains near Charlottesville. It’s not always easy, but the pets do keep things interesting. When I’m traveling solo, the friendly meow or bark of a furry face when I return home makes me feel welcome and less alone.

For anyone who loves the company of animals, local culture, and unique experiences, travel housesitting is truly a game changer. It’s a great opportunity to explore a bit more of the world without spending a lot of money. I’d happily scoop a thousand litterboxes or pick up a thousand poop bags for the memories I’ve created as a member of TrustedHousesitters, and I’m grateful for the furry friends I’ve met along the way. Where will your adventures take you?

***Author’s Note: This is not a paid advertisement, but it is an example of one as I look to build a potential writing portfolio to showcase travel writing. I have not been compensated in any way by TrustedHousesitters, but I have been a happy customer and I do freely and gladly endorse them.