08/29/2026
Pet sitting is about so much more than feeding pets and letting dogs outside.
I learned just how important that is almost immediately after landing in China.
Shortly after I arrived, a water pipe busted at my home. 💦🏠 I was literally on the other side of the world, and the situation needed to be handled quickly.
Thankfully, I had a trusted adult caring for my home and pets who could communicate with me, coordinate with service providers, make decisions, and help get the situation under control.
It really made me think about how differently this could have gone if I had left a teenager in charge. In situations like this, a minor may not be able to authorize access, make certain decisions, or handle the responsibilities that come with an unexpected home emergency.
When you hire someone to pet sit, you aren’t only trusting them with your animals. You’re handing them responsibility for your home, your pets, and whatever unexpected situation decides to show up while you’re hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
Sometimes the cheapest or easiest option works perfectly… until something goes wrong.
Hiring a responsible adult professional means having someone there who is prepared to handle more than the food bowl. 🐾🏡
And after this trip, I can tell you firsthand just how valuable that peace of mind really is.
‼️I encourage everyone to leave a note with directions to finding your water main shut-off and electrical panel. My sitter would have had to wait two+ hours or until a plumber arrived to shut off the water if I had not left that info for them. I will be asking the Walkies platform to add a section in profiles for this info as I have now learned firsthand how important it is.