If you’re part of what people are calling The Great Resignation, then pet sitting might be just the perfect for you. I bet you’ve at least daydreamt of a career where you can care for animals, enjoy the great outdoors, and control your own schedule but you’ve never thought it was possible to make a living at it.

Right now, the pet care industry is booming! People have in many cases been locked down or travel has been restricted for over a year and judging from the calls into pet sitting offices all over the U.S. you’re all ready to spread your wings and hit the road. Many adopted furry companions over the past year and have come to realize they need care while their pet parents travel.

What is “The Great Resignation”

Recently, an interesting idea has emerged called the "Great Resignation." This is a phenomenon that Professor Anthony Klotz of Texas A&M University has predicted will happen when people are asked, or told, to return to their offices. Klotz argues that, when we're all forced back into the old reality of the commute, a nine-to-five job, and cubicle life, there will be a "Great Resignation" among the workforce.

The argument is that in times of uncertainty and insecurity — like during a global pandemic — people behave conservatively. They'll stay put. But once things "normalize" again, we ought to expect employees to head for the exits. Perhaps this is you now or in the next few months?

Work in a growing industry

As in many service industries, pet sitting companies are finding it near impossible to hire pet sitters. Whether this is a result of enhanced unemployment benefits, or something as simple as applicants not understanding the industry nonetheless owners are finding themselves having to limit clients due to a shortage of caring individuals applying to become sitters and walkers. Many who come to apply to my business have been in corporate careers prior and now feel its time to be happy in their chosen profession. I have many who worked as servers prior to joining our team, they understand how to please pet parents and service is in their nature. I have a couple nurses, nursing students, and vet techs, again these people gravitate to the caring aspect of our industry. There are stay at home moms who apply and empty nesters, I have younger people, older people, and retired people. Seeing a pattern here? No? I think not other than we employ people with a wide range of backgrounds and skills.

Understanding the industry

One thing you need to understand about the pet sitting industry, it’s a legitimate way to make a living. You do need to understand we work when most people are off, think holidays and weekends, we’re reliable and responsible, able to think on our feet, caring, personable, motivated, and ethical. We’re hard workers, we face the elements, we care for pets in happy times, and sad times, we’re the most empathetic people you’ll ever meet. Do any of these traits ring true in you? Many pet sitting businesses pay by the hour or by the job, there’s usually the opportunity for a wide range of hours to be worked so if you’re into flexibility of schedule it’s great work. Unless you work for a very large company there are probably few benefits. We work hard but we have the most amazing job in the world, I’m greeted every day by the happiest of wagging tails and that can’t be replaced by any amount of money or benefits. If you’re looking for something new now that we’re past the worst of the pandemic and want to explore a growing industry I urge you to do some more research, talk to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or seek out a local professional pet sitting business owner and find out if you might be a good fit for our burgeoning industry.