In an era where the number of pet owners is said to have reached ten million, more and more people are living with various animals as companions. Holidays and vacation periods are peak seasons when the demand for pet sitters skyrockets, as people often need someone to care for their pets when they leave home for extended periods to visit their hometown or travel. Some people prioritize hiring pet sitters over using pet hotels due to the cost, but what exactly does a pet sitter do, and can anyone become one?
What is a Pet Sitter?
A pet sitter is a compound word for pet, meaning a companion animal and a sitter refers to a person who takes care of something. They visit either their own home or the client’s home to take care of and manage the pet not only during holidays or trips but also when important guests visit the house. If the guests have allergies, there are often cases where there is no place to leave the pet, so they hire a pet sitter. The demand for pet sitters is steadily increasing, with positions often filling within a day of posting.
What exactly do they do?
There are two types of pet sitters: visiting pet sitters who visit and take care of the pet directly, and general pet sitters who live with and take care of the pet. The former visits the pet’s home now and takes care of it professionally. After sufficient consultation with the pet’s owner, the pet sitter completes the desired schedule at the expected time and then leaves. In the latter case, when the pet comes to the pet sitter’s house, they live together like in a hotel and take care of the pet, and they also inform the pet’s condition and situation through SNS or text messages.
Pet Sitter Matching Platforms Have Emerged
In the past, pet sitters were introduced through acquaintances, but as the number of people raising pets increased, the demand for pet sitters surged, and even matching platforms emerged. Pet sitters post introductions about their experience and other details on the platform, and customers select and reserve a pet sitter.
Local Governments Also Provide Care
During holidays, when the demand for care increases, local governments also provide support. For example, Seocho District operated a pet caring shelter during the Lunar New Year holiday to alleviate the burden of pet owners who leave their homes to visit their hometowns. Nowon District has also been operating a caring shelter since 2018. These places are trendy among pet owners as they help reduce the cost burden of pet hotels and other facilities during homecoming periods.
Do you need a Pet Sitter Certification?
The job of a pet sitter, unfamiliar in the past, is now emerging as a promising new profession. As many people are looking for this service, they are challenging themselves in this profession. However, you don’t necessarily need a certification to become a pet sitter. But since it involves caring for living creatures and you need to react professionally in unexpected situations, it is better to acquire knowledge and get a certification.
Pet Caretaker
One of the representative certifications for pet sitters is the Pet Caretaker. In many pet-related professions, such as dog cafes and dog training centers, the Pet Caretaker certification is often required, highlighting its importance. It is one of the private certifications, and many people acquire it through self-study as the exam is frequently held. The exam comprises fundamental problems about pets, making it a certification that one can challenge without burden.
Pet Behavior Corrector
A Pet Behavior Corrector, as the name suggests, studies to understand the behavior of animals to some extent and correct it. The exam is not difficult, but it is a professional certification. From the perspective of customers who entrust their pets, it can provide a little more trust.
Dog Walkers: Already Common in Developed Countries
Dog walkers, already receiving the spotlight as ‘honey part-time jobs’ abroad, refer to people who walk or take care of pets on behalf of their owners. For pet dogs, if they don’t get frequent outdoor walks, they can experience stress, and walks are essential for socialization through the external environment. However, busy modern people, like single-person households, can’t often walk their pets, so the demand for dog walkers who take care of pets on behalf of the owners is steadily increasing.
One of the Rising Promising Jobs of the Future
As a pet sitter is a freelancer, they can earn a high income compared to the time spent, and they have the advantage of being able to work from home. If you love pets, it’s great to see various animals, and you can also accumulate multiple experiences and knowledge about breeds – two birds with one stone! However, since it involves dealing with life, you must always be careful to prevent safety accidents.
Popular as a Side Job for Workers
Pet sitters and dog walkers, common service professions in developed countries, earn an average hourly wage of over 15,000 won ($13) in the United States, and beginners make more than 30 million won ($26,000) in two years. If you walk or take care of several dogs at once, you can earn a higher income than the average worker. In Korea, if you use a pet sitter service company, you pay about 25,000 won ($22) per hour, and dog walkers earn an hourly wage of around 18,000 won ($16). If you work two to three hours a day, you can make a steady income of about a million won ($870), so it is famous not only as a side job for workers but also as a job for seniors.
By. Jeon Shin Young
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