Is pet-sitting now a lucrative side hustle?

Here’s another profession that COVID has made popular, but before you jump into it headlong, get a grasp of what it’s going to be like | A good source of income, love and compassion for animals: Why many people are pet-sitting

- Devika Menon

Part time pet-sitter Ashka James believes that all you need to have is love, and the pet usually welcomes you with open paws

Here’s a dream side hustle for pet lovers: pet-sitting. Ideal for students looking to earn a bit of pocket money, it can also be a refreshing change for those who want to step out of their work-from-home schedules for a bit.

“I started pet-sitting because I knew it was something I could do well and it was also a good source of side income,” says Siddharth Nair, a student. Ashka James, a working professional, got into the field after she began walking dogs in the neighbourhood. She now takes it up whenever she has the time.

Siddharth Nair has been pet-sitting for over two years and says that he can manage up to three pets at a time

THE FIRST STEPS

Pet-sitting cannot – and shouldn’t – be a sudden decision, unless the pet-sitter is known. “I request for a meet-and-greet with the pet parents around. To see how comfortable the pet is with me,” says Ashka. Siddharth adds he went through an informal training with an ex-commando. He also has five dogs and is familiar with their needs and behavioural traits. “The ex-commando taught me a lot about the pack and single-dog behaviour; how to walk any dog no matter how aggressive,” he shares.