At Burnell Pets, we believe in raising the standard of pet care for owners, for pets, and yes, for pet sitters too. This blog isn’t a warm-and-fuzzy intro to the joys of walking dogs and cuddling cats. It’s a wake-up call. Because if you think pet sitting is easy money or a side hustle that takes no more effort than topping off a food bowl and snapping a few cute pics, you need to take a hard look in the mirror.
Pet sitting is fulfilling. It can be joyful.
But simple? No.
Easy? Absolutely not.
You’re Literally Taking Lives into Your Hands
When you take on the responsibility of caring for someone else’s pet, you’re stepping into a role that is often underestimated and dangerously oversimplified. You’re not just a visitor. You’re the lifeline for that pet in their owner’s absence. If something goes wrong, you may be the only one standing between that animal and a life-or-death outcome.
Let that sink in: You are the one making judgment calls. You’re deciding if that limp is something to monitor or something to rush to the vet for. You’re the one who has to act fast if there’s vomiting, seizures, signs of bloat, poisoning, or behavioral changes. And you’re the one who will face the consequences logistically, emotionally, and potentially legally if something goes wrong.
This is not just about feeding schedules and pee breaks. It’s about accountability.
The Emotional Toll No One Talks About
Here’s the hardest truth: If you do this job long enough, a pet will possibly die in your care. Whether it’s old age, a medical emergency, or a sudden accident—it’s not an “if,” it’s a “when.”
Three days ago, that “when” came for us.
It wasn’t negligence. It wasn’t carelessness. The dog was already fighting an internal battle, and we didn’t know it. The family had just left, and we were stepping in, as we’ve done many times over the years. We noticed signs shortly after beginning care, then acted fast. Implementation of our Emergency Action Plan was immediate. We made the calls, then got the dog to the vet. We stayed in communication with the family every step of the way. And they luckily made it back just in time to say goodbye.
We’re not sharing this for sympathy. All sympathy belongs with the grieving family. We’re sharing it because you need to think about this now, before you ever put yourself in the shoes of a professional pet sitter. Are you ready to make those decisions under pressure? Are you ready to have that conversation with a family, and their children, that their beloved companion passed away on your watch?
Because that conversation? It stays with you.
The Job Doesn’t End When the Pet Dies
The pet is gone, but the ripple effects remain. The family is grieving. Your own emotions may hit you like a freight train; shock, guilt, sadness, even self-doubt. On top of that, you have to review everything that happened. Did you respond appropriately? Could anything have been done differently? Did your system work?
This is where the real work of pet sitting shows up: You review, you revise, and you steel yourself to do it again better and stronger next time, because the next pet needs you just as much.
Why We’re Still Doing This
After what happened recently, we had to ask ourselves: Can we keep doing this?
The answer was yes, but not because we felt proud. Pride isn’t the word that fits after something like this. What we felt was heavy. We felt grief and the weight of the responsibility, and the reality that even when you do everything right, it still might not be enough to change the outcome.
We didn’t feel pride; we felt duty. A solemn kind of clarity that what we did mattered, not just to the pet, but to the family who got to be there in their dog’s final moments.
It hurt. It still hurts. But if we had to do it again, we would because no pet should have to face that kind of moment alone, and no family should be denied the chance to say goodbye if it can be helped.
Think Hard Before You Step Into This Role
Before you jump into pet sitting thinking it’s easy money, think again.
- Can you handle the weight of responsibility when things go sideways?
- Do you have a plan in place for emergencies—real plans, not just vague ideas?
- Are you trained in CPR and first aid?
- Do you carry liability insurance and understand what it covers?
- Have you thought through the emotional and legal consequences if a pet in your care is injured, lost, or dies?
And perhaps most importantly:
Can you look a family in the eye and tell them you did everything you could?
Raising the Standard, Together
Pet sitting is not about doing the bare minimum. It’s about doing the hard work behind the scenes to make sure you’re ready when the unexpected hits. That’s why we’ve written so many blogs and shared so many resources—on bite prevention, emergency plans, pet insurance, microchipping, toxic foods, food recalls, and more.
This work is not simple, and it’s not for everyone.
But for those who choose to take it seriously, it can be one of the most meaningful callings out there.
If you’re ready to carry that responsibility, and everything that comes with it, then welcome.
Let’s raise the standard of pet care together.