From “Kid’s Job” to Calling: My Life as a 38‑Year‑Old Dog Sitter

If you had told 12‑year‑old me that one day I’d grow up and make dog sitting my career, I probably would’ve shrugged, grabbed a leash, and said, “Yeah… that tracks.” What I didn’t know back then was that the world would try very hard to convince me that pet sitting is a “starter job,” something you do for pocket money before you get a real career.

Well, here I am at 38, thriving, booked, and proudly proving that the “kid’s job” is actually my passion, my profession, and honestly one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done.

Because let’s be real: not everyone gets to wake up and spend their day with clients who greet them with full‑body wiggles, zero judgment, and an enthusiasm level that should honestly be studied by scientists.

My path wasn’t a straight line.

I’ve spent over 20 years in customer service, the kind that requires empathy, adaptability, and the ability to stay calm while someone insists their coupon should work even though it expired during the Bush administration.

Those years taught me how to read people, how to communicate clearly, and how to show up with professionalism even when the situation is… let’s call it “character‑building.”

So, when I stepped fully into dog sitting, I brought all of that with me. And suddenly, everything clicked.

I realized: This isn’t a side gig. This is a service. A responsibility. A relationship. A career.

People trust me with their furry family members, their babies, their shadows, their emotional support systems, their chaos goblins. That’s not something I take lightly.

I approach every client with the same level of care and respect you’d expect from any professional:

• I communicate clearly and consistently

• I prioritize safety and wellbeing

• I pay attention to routines, quirks, and comfort

• I treat every dog like they’re the center of the universe (because in their homes, they are)

And unlike doctors or lawyers, my clients don’t argue, interrupt, or demand to speak to a manager. They just look at me with big eyes and say, “You’re here? For me? Incredible.”

Honestly, it’s refreshing.

The Best Part? The Gratitude Is Real

Dogs don’t fake appreciation. They don’t pretend to like you because they feel socially obligated. They don’t send passive‑aggressive emails.

They show gratitude in:

• Tail wags

• Happy spins

• Leaning their whole body weight on you

• Bringing you their favorite toy (even if it’s soggy)

• Falling asleep on your foot like you’re the chosen one

It’s pure, uncomplicated joy, and it’s the reason I love what I do.

Being a dog sitter at 38 isn’t a fallback. It’s not a placeholder. It’s not something I’m doing “until I figure things out.”

This is the thing.

It’s my career, my passion, and the work that makes me feel the most like myself. I get to support families, care for animals, and create a little more comfort and peace in people’s lives, all while being greeted like a celebrity every time I walk through a door.

Not bad for a “kid’s job,” right?

To My Clients (Human and Furry): Thank You

Thank you for trusting me.Thank you for letting me be part of your routines.Thank you for letting me love your pets like they’re my own. And thank you for proving that meaningful work doesn’t have to look traditional to be real, valuable, or deeply fulfilling.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a golden retriever who thinks I’m the Beyoncé of dog sitters.