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Professional pet-sitting and dog-walking companies are offering a range of services to meet pet owners’ needs during this global pandemic.

KING, N.C. (March 17, 2020) — With the new coronavirus forcing many to adjust their schedules to work from home and others to limit public contact, professional pet-sitting and dog-walking businesses are stepping up to offer much-needed services. Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, shares that while many professional pet sitters have seen a drastic decline in business due to travel cancellations, these pet-care professionals are making themselves available to offer daily dog walking, pet transportation to veterinary and grooming appointments and, in some cases, even pet food delivery to assist impacted pet owners.

“As small business owners, professional pet sitters and dog walkers have been particularly hard-hit by COVID-19, with pet owners canceling their business and vacation travel plans for the foreseeable future,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “But, professional pet-sitting businesses offer a variety of other pet-care services that pet owners may need at this critical time.”

Although many pet owners may typically only think of using pet-sitting services when they vacation or travel for work, services such as daily dog walking or pet transportation have always been a part of many pet-sitting businesses’ regular offerings.

In light of the pandemic, pet sitters are working to promote these services even more in their local communities and also assuring current clients that they are still available to provide service.

Cheyenne Williams, owner of Shiney Day Specialized Pet Care in Sarasota, Florida, said her pet-sitting company offers pet supply delivery services and pet transportation to veterinary or grooming appointments, so she is highlighting that option for pet parents.

“I have gotten a lot of good feedback from current pet-sitting clients,” said Williams, “and I have had a couple of new clients who have reached out and said they think that’s amazing.”

Michelle Pietras, owner of Creature Connections Pet Sitting, LLC, in Thornton, Colorado, said she sent a letter to clients reassuring them that her business is still there “to provide quality care for their pets.”

“We asked regular midday dog walk clients who are working from home to consider keeping us on so their pups can keep their routines and they can get their work done,” Pietras said.

Multiple PSI member businesses have reported sending similar communications to their clients, with many sharing that clients requested to keep their regularly scheduled walks so that their dogs could maintain a consistent schedule.  Others even offered to pay for scheduled walks that were no longer needed as they worked from home to help reduce the financial impact on the pet sitter.

“During this time of global uncertainty, professional pet sitters and dog walkers continue offering vital services in their local communities, providing pet owners with peace of mind that their pets are receiving the best care,” Stultz-Hairston said. “We encourage pet owners to continue supporting and using the services of their local professional pet sitters and dog walkers. People’s livelihoods—and pet owners’ continued access to reliable pet care—are depending on it.”

To search for a professional pet sitter in your area and to download PSI’s free Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist, visit www.petsit.com/locate. For more information about PSI, visit www.petsit.com.

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