06/29/2026
One of the hardest parts of being a pet sitter is the sudden goodbyes. No one really tells you how to cope with them or how to separate your work from the overwhelming sadness that follows.
One day you're playing with and cuddling one of your longtime pups, ending the visit with, "See you next week. Be good. Love you. Bye."
Then, before you know it, you receive the text every pet sitter dreads: "Fido passed away. You don't need to come back."
To me, this is more than just a job. It's more than a way to make a living. It's my passion.
With every pet I care for, I build a bond. I love them as if they were my own, and I give them the best care I possibly can. I become a part of their lives - the person who is there when you can't be. Someone they can trust to comfort, guide, and care for them until you return.
So when a pet I see every day, every week, or every holiday passes away, it breaks my heart. I never get the chance to say goodbye, and those last words I spoke- "See you next time" - linger in the air, leaving me wondering what to do with the grief.
As I sit here remembering all the happy walks, belly rubs, muddy paws, and quiet cuddles, I hope you know this:
I loved your pet as if they were my own. And I will always be grateful that I had the privilege of being part of their life, no matter how short or long that time was.