Furry Friends & More, In Home Pet Sitting and Care

Article published Sep 20, 2009
Pet sitter cares for people and their pets

Marlena Ballard started Furry Friends & More, In Home Pet Sitting and Care six years ago and believes it's the most challenging career she's ever had. Though most people believe pet sitting is an easy job, Ballard says, that couldn't be further from the truth. With seldom a day off and long hours that see her work 365 days per year and at all hours, she cares for pets "when they're fun and healthy" and "when they're sick and dying."

It's not a job for everyone, but she says she wouldn't change it for anything. Ballard recently chatted with Tribune correspondent Jennifer Ochstein about her career as a pet sitter.


How did you become interested in being a pet sitter?

I grew up with a variety of pets. Therefore my love, care and knowledge of pets is in-grown. Before I started doing this, I was working at a mortgage company and business was starting to slow down. I went to the library to find jobs you do from home to supplement my income and came across pet sitting. Pet sitting was relatively unknown about here (and still is) but was very big out east and in the west.

Luckily, my husband worked with someone whose family member was one of the first pet sitters locally and she gave me the basics to get started. We also had a bad sitter once that was not bonded and insured. When we returned from our trip, I bawled my eyes out at the care my cats received. This prompted me even more to want to pursue this career and try to insure other people's pets didn't go through what mine did.

What kind of education and experience is necessary?

There are no regulations to monitor Pet Sitters or any required education, which really should change. A typical sitter, though, basically gets their experience from their own pets and family members' pets. A deep love of not just pets, but of their humans, as well, is really all that is needed. You HAVE to take care of them like they were your own children. That is how most people see their pets and that is how you need to care for them. I personally am constantly reading a variety of books and magazines to try to keep up to date on the newer information on advances in medicines, diseases and animal behavior. I am also a member of Pet Sitters International which gives us constant insight into new things going on in the pet care industry and they give us safety tips in caring for pets and clients homes. We are also bonded and insured.

What kind of skills are necessary to do what you do?

Patience, patience and more patience. Of course, a deep love of animals and definitely attention to detail. Everyone has their own way of doing things regarding their pets and their homes, so you really need to get detailed information about what the owners wants and needs are. In addition, you need the patience to sit and get all this information down correctly. Then you need the patience to work with animals who are afraid of new people or the ones who are overly happy to see you and jump all over the place.I am also certified in Pet First Aid through the American Red Cross which has helped out in several cases.


What exactly do you do as a pet sitter?

The quick basics of pet sitting are we do daily dog walks or playtime for people who cannot leave work to let their pets out. If they go on vacation, we do several sits a day for dogs and it varies for other pets. If on vacation, we are also watching their home, bringing in mail, watering plants and things of that sort. Again, it depends on what the client's needs are. The benefits of having a pet sitter as opposed to kenneling are wonderful in the respect that your pet is already stressed and missing you, so why take them out of their environment and stress them more? They can be comfortable at home and get more personalized attention. We also offer pet transport to vets or groomers or will even take dogs for rides.

We also specialize in pet elder care and pet hospice (also known as Pawspice). Many times I have even accompanied a client to have to put their pet to rest. I don't charge a fee for that. I do that because I love the pets and their humans and want them to know that no matter what, I am here for them. I personally like to think of a pet sitter as an extended part of the family, not just a hired hand.

What do you like best about what you do?

It is nice to know so many people out there care. I also have many clients who will help place pets who are losing their homes or help by donating things to Pet Refuge or Hope Rescue Mission. Pet lovers are very giving and caring not only to their own pets but homeless pets and people, as well. I can't imagine not knowing the wonderful people and their pets I have met over the years.


What's most challenging?

The most challenging thing is that some clients tend to be overly high maintenance. As stated earlier, we try to treat each pet as you would a child, therefore most times if a pet has bad habits it is because the owner has allowed it and not taken the proper time to find out why the behavior exists and what they can do to make it better. If you wouldn't let a child do it why would you let your pet? I often refer people to a certified trainer, Kasey LaPlace, who is excellent with positive reinforcement training. While we do offer training ourselves, Kasey is good with the severe cases that are beyond our realm or expertise. The people who have taken my advice whether it be calling Kasey or trying out our suggestions typically see a positive change in their pets if they do it consistently.