#MiddleburyCT #PetSitter #PetSitting
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I was recently laid off from my job as a programmer, and have been thinking about taking a new career direction. I’m tired of being stuck in an office all day. And I love being around pets. But is it really possible to make a good living working as a dog walker or a pet sitter? – Barry J., Cambridge, Massachusetts
DEAR BARRY: I know more than a few people who are full-time pet sitters and dog walkers. Most have their own business, while a few are employees of pet care companies. As you can imagine, the pay rates vary widely from person to person. ZipRecruiter reports that the average hourly wage, nationally, for pet sitters is about $19.23.
I think it’s great that you’re considering a career change. But I recommend testing out the world of pet sitting first. Consider working part time for a pet-sitting company. Even better, if you know someone who does dog walking, ask to accompany them for one day to see what their job entails. Find out what the pitfalls of this business may be, and what makes it fun to do. Finally, offer to pet sit for a friend who’s going out of town for a day or two to get direct experience and really see if it’s something that you’d like to do full time.
Next, visit the Small Business Administration’s website (www.sba.gov) and check out its Learning Center section, which has several micro-courses that teach how to start up and run a small business. Being able to combine core business skills with a love for and dedication to pets is a great platform to start on. Best of luck.
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