18 April, 2024
Variety is the spice of life – the range of homesitting assignments
Posted on 26 December, 2016
Keeping busy, meeting new people and taking a break from your usual routine are all said to contribute to a person’s wellbeing and happiness. For those looking to do just that in the New Year, becoming a homesitter could be just the job.
Variety is the spice of life and the life of a homesitter is never dull. One week they could be looking after dogs and cats in a country manor in Wales, the next staying in a glamourous home in Kensington to take care of family heirlooms whilst the owner is on holiday.
One of the main benefits of being a homesitter is the chance to travel throughout the UK and stay in a variety of homes and locations looking after a wide selection of animals. From dogs, cats and rabbits to the more usual pot-bellied pigs, llamas and sheep – our homesitters have looked after almost every pet imaginable over the past 35 years.
One homesitter with over 60 homesits under her belt is Ellen Hart, a sixty five year old former orthopaedic nurse from Ascot in Berkshire. Ellen has been working for us since she retired three years ago and has looked after many different types of pets.
Indeed she was thrown in the deep end so to speak when her first assignment involved looking after a labradoodle puppy, a dog, a cat, five bantam hens, a cockerel and a rabbit – but she loved the experience and hasn’t looked back!
She has since taken on many varied assignments – sometimes there are animals to look after and in other cases, the owners just want her to look after their home while they’re away for security reasons and to let in the cleaners and gardeners.
And because Ellen loves driving she has taken on assignments in many different locations including Kent, Hampshire and London.
Ellen explained why she loves the roles so much, “I wanted to do something useful and interesting when I retired.Since joining Homesitters I have stayed in gorgeous properties ranging from beautiful townhouses to characterful thatched cottages and met some lovely people.Looking after cats is my favourite thing.I love making sure they are happy and we have great fun together.”
Another of our homesitters who enjoys the variety involved in homesitting is Londoner, Peter Green who is in his early 70s and has been homesitting for almost 10 years. Having the opportunity to visit new places is a real highlight of the job for him, as well as looking after pets, especially dogs.
Peter has looked after cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, tropical fish, a hedgehog and even a parrot but he is particularly fond of the large dogs he looks after including Labradors, Retrievers, a Rhodesian Ridgeback – and even a Tibetan mountain dog.
Peter says, “There is never a dull moment and I enjoy every minute. This job takes you everywhere. I often get to visit somewhere new. I am interested in historical places and find all sorts of interesting places to visit - particularly through my National Trust membership.
“Even after 10 years, I still get surprised by some of the grand places I stay in. I home sit regularly at a palatial property with grounds and its own lake right next door to one of King Henry VIII’s hunting lodges,” adds Peter.
If, like Ellen and Peter you want to spice up your life next year, why not join our extensive network of homesitters and start enjoying a whole range of new experiences? Please click here to find out more.
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