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There’s great truth to the statement, “There’s strength in numbers.” Pet sitting can be lonely. And whether you are just starting your pet-sitting business or are a pet-care veteran, you have questions—and there’s no one better to help answer your questions and share in your daily challenges and joys than a fellow pet sitter. 

PSI members have a network of nearly 7,000 fellow PSI members and pet-sitting business owners, and PSI is always looking for ways to help our members connect with one another. From PSI’s annual conference to the private Facebook chat group, PSI is always seeking out new avenues to allow our members to find support, advice and new ideas from fellow pet sitters. 

PSI’s Pet Sitter Spotlight series has that same goal. Each month, we’ll feature a different PSI member and share his or her answers to our pet-sitting survey. The responses will help you get to “know” this pet sitter and provide you with some tips and advice for your own pet-sitting business. You can view past Pet Sitter Spotlights here.

PSI members, if you are interested in being considered for a PSI Pet Sitter Spotlight, complete this questionnaire.

Meet Heather Brown, co-owner of Bull City Pet Sitting, Durham, N.C.:

Heather co-owns Bull City Pet Sitting with her business partner Jennifer Thornburg.

Your Name: Heather Brown

Business Name: Bull City Pet Sitting

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Year you started your pet-sitting business: 2010.

What was your previous job/profession? Volunteer coordinator/development director for local animal shelters.

What is your current business structure? (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.) Partnership.

Number of current clients: 550.

How many visits do you typically do per day? 30-40 company-wide, 0-10 personally.

Is your service area urban, suburban or rural?  Suburban, with some urban.

Is your pet-sitting business insured? Yes.

Is your pet-sitting business bonded? Yes.

How long did it take you to build up your clientele? One to three years, but it is ongoing.

Do you use staff sitters? Yes, independent contrators (ICs).

Do you offer any services besides basic in the client's home pet sitting and dog walking? (pet taxi, etc.) Yes:

• occasional pet taxi
• planning to add training

What educational opportunities have you taken advantage of since becoming a pet sitter?

I've completed the American Red Cross & Pet First Aid Certification and attended two PSI conferences. Additionally, local trainers have led personal seminars for our staff.

Which advertising methods worked best when you were a new business? 

• Word of mouth
• Networking with local veterinarians
• Involvement with local animal-welfare groups

Do you still use the same advertising methods? Word of mouth remains our best form of advertisement.

What's one mistake you've made as a professional pet sitter (when you were just starting out or at any time during your career)? What did you learn/what do you do differently now?

Our first staff sitter was hungry for work and we were so very tired. We let her take on a very heavy workload and burned her out very quickly. We take very good care of our sitters now and do not overload them even when they ask for it.

What advice would you give to new pet sitters? 

Start small, grow slowly. Set reasonable coverage areas. Take care of yourself so that you can continue to enjoy the work. Don't ignore foot pain.

Are there any must-have business tools your business could not do without?

Our scheduling system!

 Do you schedule vacation time and/or days off? If so, how often? 

YES! One large and multiple smaller vacations per year. Days off often.

Are there any tips you would share for establishing a healthy work/life balance? 

Days off are mandatory. Learn how to say NO.

Is there any other information about your business and/or what has helped you create a successful pet-sitting business that you'd like to share? 

If you really love what you do and you're mindful, the business will follow.