When I found myself with an unexpected extended stay in New Zealand, I saw it as more than just a chance for personal adventure. As someone deeply immersed in the world of petsitting education, I recognised a golden opportunity to gain fresh insights and experiences that could benefit the entire petsitting community.
My journey began in the rolling hills of the North Island, where I was entrusted with Max, an enthusiastic Border Collie, and Kea, a parrot with a colourful vocabulary. On day two, during what I thought would be a routine walk, Max decided to give me a practical lesson in sheep herding – without my consent. As I found myself in the middle of a woolly stampede, I was reminded that no matter how much experience you have, animals always have something new to teach us.
This theme continued at my next sit on a South Island lifestyle block, home to an eclectic mix of animals including alpacas, chickens, and a three-legged goat named Hopscotch. The morning Hopscotch orchestrated a mass chicken escape, I realised that adaptability isn’t just a nice-to-have skill for pet sitters – it’s essential. As I corralled chickens and soothed ruffled feathers (both literally and figuratively), I mentally drafted notes on problem-solving and expecting the unexpected – insights I knew would resonate with pet sitters everywhere.
But it wasn’t all chaos. There were moments of pure magic – stargazing under crystal-clear skies, watching the sun set behind snow-capped mountains, and taking the dogs for swims in pristine lakes. These experiences reminded me of the unique joys that come with pet sitting, the kind that can’t be captured in a simple job description.
As my journey continued, I found myself in increasingly diverse situations – from a cottage in a remote rural town in Hawke’s Bay, to a trendy Auckland apartment. Each sit brought its own challenges and rewards, expanding my understanding of the varied forms petsitting can take. I learned about the specific restrictions of isolated living, the quirks of urban pets, and the special care required for rescue animals.
Throughout it all, I was constantly jotting down notes and insights. Not because I had all the answers, but because I recognised how valuable these real-world experiences could be for other petsitters. Every challenge I faced, every solution I discovered, felt like a piece of knowledge that could help someone else navigate their own pet sitting journey.
As I wrapped up my final sit, overlooking the Bay of Islands, I reflected on how this unexpected adventure had deepened my appreciation for the complexities of pet sitting. I realised that while my experience might give me a certain perspective, every pet sitter – from novice to veteran – has valuable insights to share.
The true essence of pet sitting, I’ve come to believe, lies not in following a strict set of rules, but in being adaptable, empathetic, and maintaining a sense of humour. It’s about learning from every situation, every animal, and every unexpected situation.
As I boarded my flight home in the deep south, my mind was buzzing with ideas on how to channel these experiences into resources that could support and inspire other petsitters. Not as an all-knowing expert, but as a fellow traveller on this pet sitting journey, eager to share what I’ve learned and equally eager to learn from others.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what the pet sitting community is all about – sharing our experiences, supporting each other, and continually growing in our ability to provide the best possible care for the animals entrusted to us. And if my New Zealand adventure taught me anything, it’s that there’s always something new to learn in this wonderful, unpredictable world of pet sitting.