She can walk with the liveliest of dogs and charm the shyest cats. A resident of Carnegie, VIC, Kylie is an expert at putting both pets and Owners at their ease. As our August Pet Sitter of the Month, Kylie discusses her Pet Sitting habits, and offers advice to other Sitters.
Why do you love being a Mad Paws Pet Sitter?
As I’m an extrovert, I love being social and getting out and about. I live in a small apartment, so I can’t really have pets as there is no room. I get my fix from looking after others. Being with animals can be very social and when you are out walking dogs, you end up chatting to other Owners about their pets.
When at the dog park, there is a real sense of community. Most people are happy to stop for a chat. I also find you can get extra Pet Sitting jobs! People are confident in you looking after their pets as they have seen you around the neighbourhood.
Being a Mad Paws Pet Sitter, you get to meet all different types of pets with their own personalities and quirks. It’s amazing how all different animals have their own way of doing things. Some will only drink from a bowl that’s full to the brim, and others will only sleep in the bed with you under the blankets.
What’s your favourite thing to do with your furry clients?
With dogs, I enjoy walking as this is my favourite type of exercise. It’s great exploring suburbs, parks, or streets that you wouldn’t usually visit. With cats, I like playing with them and their toys to see how they jump around. It can be very entertaining!
What was the first pet you ever owned? Do you own pets now?
I have seen photos of me as a toddler with a black dog that I can vaguely remember, but growing up I had an array of animals. My man pet was a Rough Collie dog that was rescued from owners that weren’t treating them very well. We had that dog for about 10 years. Now I just have fish as they are low maintenance and allow me to focus on Pet Sitting.
Do you have any particularly memorable furry guests?
They are all memorable in their own way. I’m very impressed with a cat named Miffy, who was very timid and scared and wouldn’t come near anyone for a long time. She would hide, and you wouldn’t see her for days – sometimes not at all when I would come to feed her. Over the time I have been doing house visits for Miffy, she has slowly allowed me to pat her and now she is fond me. I’m happy with the progress we have made.
What’s your one top tip for new Pet Sitters?
I have several tips! What works for me and hopefully this will with others, is that you need to have sense of professionalism. Remember, the Owners don’t know you and you are looking after one of their most loved family members. You are entering their home with all their belongings. A high level of trust is needed, so I always deal in a professional manner. To this end, I always do the Meet and Greet; keep my police checks and qualifications up to date; and send photos, videos and voicemail messages several times a day.
At the Meet and Greet, best to get as much information on the pet as possible. More is always better, to make the pet feel comfortable. Also, always leave the home a little cleaner than you found it. For short stays I’ll clean bowls, trays, toilet, benches etc. For longer stays, I will vacuum, mop etc.
Most times, I’ll bring treats and/or a little present. However, I’ll always check with the Owner first if the pet is allowed treats.
My final tip is that it’s ok to say “No Thanks” to Pet Sitting bookings that you think will not be suitable.
Are you looking for an ace Pet Sitter to work their magic on your furry friend? Check out Kylie’s profile!
