I was looking forward to finishing my last appointment of the day and heading home. It was supposed to be a straightforward 30-minute dog walk. Instead, I opened the door to find water flooding the living room and kitchen. What followed was an unexpected emergency involving a leaking water filtration system, frantic mopping, and a FaceTime call to the client. Ever tried mopping the sea? Welcome to the unpredictable side of pet sitting!

Pet sitting might look like cuddles, walks and happy pets, but there’s another part of the job that happens long before I reach the front door: the journey. Between motorways, roundabouts, holiday traffic and drivers who seem to think they’re starring in Fast & Furious, getting to an appointment can sometimes feel like an adventure of its own. I often find myself wishing for one simple piece of technology - a teleport button. Because as lovely as virtual work can be, dogs still need someone to physically show up.

After a period of uncertainty and unpredictable income, one unexpected phone call brought my first regular dog walking arrangement. It gave me more than a steady stream of bookings - it gave me a routine, confidence, new experiences and a glimpse of what consistent work could look like. But, as I would learn, not every client relationship is meant to last.