The Pet Sitting business is booming internationally. In the
United States alone there are upwards of 63.2 million individuals who own a pet, or two. Reports tell us that in America there are roughly 64 million dogs and 76 million cats in households. These numbers support why the Pet Sitting Business is on an upward swing. It is fast becoming one of the best small business ventures that an individual can undertake. The Pet Sitting business has been ear marked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor as a small business industry that will thrive with the coming years, with Pet Sitting services located throughout the states.

Pet owners world wide are breathing a sigh of relief that they
have this option for their pet when they travel. In the past
when an individual would travel for business, or a family would
vacation, they would rely on grandparents or relatives to see to the needs of their pets. This is no longer an option for many people. Family’s don’t always remain in the same community. Statistics show that it is common for parents and siblings to live hundreds of miles apart. Once the family option for pet sitting evaporated, people turned to their neighbors. This was soon found to be a bad option for both the neighbor and pet owner. Neighbors felt used, and the traveller felt as if they were putting the neighbor out by asking the favor.

Some individuals tried to travel with their pets. They assumed
that it would be best for their pet to not be separated from
them. These good intentioned pet owners soon realized the folly of their ideals when they discovered that drinking water in some areas weren’t up to par, leash laws were different in each area, and the chances of finding a lost pet in a strange area were minimal. Extended car travel is not good for a pet, either. Animals can quickly become dehydrated and agitated when left in a locked car while the family is inside a restaurant, or mall. The chances that a pet could possibly get hit by an automobile rise every time a pet is taken into a public area, such as parking lots or the city. Pets do not like being kept in a crate in a hotel. They do not like being muzzled for barking or for snipping at strangers. Pets just generally do not like being away from home.

Air travel is not pleasant for a pet, either. The cargo holds on airplanes have erratic temperatures. There is no heat, and there is no air conditioning. The sounds in these cargo areas also frighten animals and make them skittish and nervous. Some pets even require medication prior to flight. Taking your pet on a plane should only be considered under extreme circumstances.

Pet owners soon realized that while they were comforted by the
presence of their pet on a trip, the pet was out of its comfort
zone and did not behave like its usual self. The route of kenneling a pet was soon taken and though it saved the day in a
tight pinch, pet owners tended to know from the start that this
was not a good option for their pet. Their pets were kept in
small quarters. They were only allowed out a couple of times a
day for a few minutes to do their business. Being crowded in an
area with other barking and whining animals would leave a pet out of sorts for days after their owner came home.

Options were limited for a traveling pet owner. Some people gave up and simply refused to have an animal if they were going to have to be away all the time. That was until the Pet Sitting business made its arrival into the small business industry.

True animal lovers were the first to recognize the need for the
Petting Sitting business. They were the ones who took it the
hardest when they were forced to see what their pets went through when they were forced to travel with their owners, or how they behaved after being picked up from a kennel after a week or more away from home. Truthfully, these individuals could not enjoy their trips for worry. These were individuals who hung a stocking for their pet at Christmas, and made them a birthday cake on the pets special day each year. These people saw the need and they stepped out on a limb. They started a Pet Sitting service. Word spread like wildfire and pet owners world wide started seeking these services in their own area.

The rapid growth and success of a Pet Sitting business come when the business owner realizes that it is a business. A love for animals is the foundation, but smart business sense is what will keep you operating. There is only a minimal amount of cost in starting up a Pet Sitting service. That is a major plus for anyone thinking seriously about going into this animal care
business. A budget should be laid out to meet the costs of the
outgoing business. Do not ever under estimate these expenses.
It is better to over estimate than to cut yourself short. Set
goals for six months, one year, three years and five years.
Try to stick to your plan to achieve these goals.

You should research other Pet Sitting services in your area.
Find out what their strengths and their weaknesses may be.
Learn what the going rate for Pet Sitting is in your area. Be
competitive in your rates. Just because you may be doing what
you love is no reason to do it for pennies. On the other hand,
no one is going to pay your Pet Sitting business a small fortune, either.

You have to be a people person. The reason you get into the Pet
Sitting business may stem from being an animal lover, but if you are not warm and friendly with people you can forget about your Pet Sitting business getting off the ground. Pet owners are particular about whom they let care for their pets. If they sense that you are uncomfortable around them, they will be wary of you. Try to develop your people skills if you lack self-confidence in that area. You don’t want your shyness to keep you from doing what you love. You don’t want to come off as a phoney, but maintaining eye contact and being able to carry a conversation with the pet owner without looking at your shoes will go a long way.

You should go out to the home and get acquainted with each pet
and design a list of duties that the client is wanting you to
perform while they are gone. The pet owner will familiarize you as to the habits, character and personality of each pet. You should know what they like to play with and what special
nicknames they have. You should also ask the pet owner for clues about their pet, or signs you should watch for in case of
illness. Some dogs may lay around and sleep all day. Others may not settle for a moment. You should know what to expect from each pet in the home. If they are not doing their usual
activities that should throw up a red flag to you. You should
make sure that the client gives you all the information on the
pets in the home. You will need history of illnesses,
vaccination records, veterinary information, as well as a place
to contact the pet owner if needed. It is important that you are given a key by the client and that you are not expected to
retrieve it from a hiding place. A possible thief could be
watching the home and may see you getting it and replacing it.
That is a disaster waiting to happen.

Besides walking the dog, feeding the bird, tending to the cat,
and playing with the pets, a client sometimes will want a Pet
Sitting service to do other things. The Pet Sitting business can offer many services for the traveler, besides pet care. The first one being home security. You can pick up the mail,
newspaper, water the potted plants, and do a thorough walk
through of the home to make sure that everything is as it should be for your client. Simply opening the curtains on one visit and closing them on the next will give the home a lived in look. These services are in addition to pet sitting. The possibilities are endless as to what a Pet Sitting service can offer the
client.

The Pet Sitting business is booming. Everyone is happy. The
small business owner gets to do what he loves for a living . . . being around animals. The traveler can enjoy their trip knowing that all is well on the home front. The pets get to stay in their own home, around their own things, eating their own food, and they get to go out and play like they usually would on their regular routine.

Copyright 2005, Ian White

Author: Ian White
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera News

If you adore pets and have always had a “fido thumb”, you could own your pet-sitting business! If you’re thinking of establishing one, know what you’re getting into. It’s a major responsibility caring for other people’s pets so it’s not a business that you do on a whim.

Put on your thinking cap and let’s start a pet sitting business!

Pet Sitting Business: Basic Guidelines

Consider the following before opening a pet sitting business.

1. Training – just because you’ve taken care of a friend’s Chihuahua or Bichon Fris as a teen, it doesn’t make you a dog care expert. With the numerous dog breeds out there, you may want to familiarize yourself with the different personalities of dogs; some are friendlier than others; some require more exercise than others. Be a voracious reader; keep a collection of books or encyclopedias that you can consult when the need arises.

2. Decide if you want your pet sitting business to be full time or part time. Pets need tender, loving care round the clock. If you can invest the time and effort and make it a labor of love, success comes more easily. Don’t run a pet sitting business for the purpose of making extra money on the side. There is no price tag for commitment and care.

3. If you’re planning on taking more than one pet at a time, check with your municipality if you’re allowed to do this. You may have a large piece of land but your city’s zoning laws prohibit a pet sitting business in your particular area. Your neighbours could complain and you might be endangering the health of others.

4. Do your homework. There must be other pet sitting business owners in your area. Find out discreetly how much they charge and what their fee structure is. You don’t want to price yourself out of the competition. Speak to pet sitters about problems they’ve encountered and how they solved those problems.

5. Because certain dogs need regular exercise, visit the dog parks in your community and take note of their opening hours.

6. Have the right equipment! If you’re taking in dogs only, you’ll need to give some thought as to dog collars and leashes, food bowls, toys and treats. You may need a dog cage if you plan on taking them to the country.

7. When you advertise your pet sitting business, you may want to specify what pets you’ll take, which breeds, and your price for each. You could charge an hourly fee or a fixed fee for the day. This is important because you wouldn’t like to take on a pet of which you know nothing about. How many would take in say, a boa constrictor?

8. Learn how to spot a sick pet. This is for safety, health and personal liability issues. You may not want the pet owner to accuse you of neglect. This is why you may want to screen both pet and owner. Ask owners about the eccentricities of their pets and what you need to watch out for.

9. Some pet owners would rather have you come to their homes instead of dropping their pets off at your place. Decide if this is something you might consider doing during certain days of the week. Going to the pet owner’s house might save you the trouble of fitting out your place. The only downside is it limits you as to the number of pets you’d like to care for in any given day.

10. Don’t stop marketing your business. Even if you have enough pets on your hands, pet owners can be fickle or economic conditions may force them to forego pet sitting. Ask your customers to refer you to other customers. Leave your business cards in vets’ offices.

Author: Lisa Paredes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news

Almost everyone sooner or later dreams of starting a home based business to make some extra money, or to be able to work part time. The one thing that stops most folks from acheiving this goal, is money. They just don’t have the financial stability to either borrow the money needed or are not sure they can pay it back. There is one business that anyone can start with no upfront money needed, all that is required is patience and kindness, this is the business of Pet Sitting.

In the U.S. over 70% of all homes contain at least one pet, there are over 65 million dogs and 77 million cats, and in 2005 American’s spent over $14 billion on their pets. All of these pets need care and treatment, and at many times throughout the year each pet has to be left unattended a large amount of the time. During these times, a pet’s owner often needs the services of a ‘Pet Sitter’.

There are two ways you can operate your own pet sitting business, if you own your own residence, you can watch pets inside your home, having the pet owners drop off their pets at your residence. This puts you more at ease, and you have more time to devote directly to your home duties as well as the pet sitting business, since you don’t have to spend time traveling to the pet owners residence. Just make sure you have proper areas sit up for the pets that will be arriving, they must not interact with your own pets, as this can cause fights, unwanted breeding and the spreading of fleas and diseases. Plus pets dropped off at your residence will be scared because they will be in unfamiliar surroundings.

You may wish to stay at the owners residence and watch the pets while they are not home, like a babysitter. This has benefits and disadvantages as well. For one thing you will be traveling and will have to spend a great deal of time away from your own residence and money on gasoline. You may also break or damage something in the pet owners home, causing trouble for you. Or you may find yourself in a hostile environment, due to fighting between the pet’s owners, or other household members. Staying in someone elses residence could also get you accused of stealing something, even though you didn’t, but a babysitter faces these same obsticles also. The benefits of watching the pets in the owners home is you will have a lot less chance of exposing your own pets to diseases and unwanted breeding and fights, and the pets you are sitting will be calm and relaxed since they are being left in their familiar environment.

Either method of pet sitting you choose has its advantages and disadvantage, so you must carefully choose which is better for you. Just make sure that whatever type of service you choose, that you think of the job as carefuly as a babysitter would. Think of the pet as a small child, because a lot of pet owners love their pets as if they are children.

Make sure you have some knowledge of the pets you will be sitting, for instance read and learn about them all you can, dogs and cats are pretty easy, birds are harder, but snakes and lizards or turtles may be totaly unique and could even pose a danger to you, if your not familiar with them. Pets need sleep and rest time, they need activity or exercise, they need food, water and warmth, some even require medication at certain times of the day, but all pets need patience and love. Make sure you have emergency telephone numbers, so you can call the owners veterinarian or pet clinic in case you have too, and you may also need to get in contact with the pets owner, so don’t forget the telehone number where they can be reached at.

There is computer software that is made just for someone who is starting or owns a Pet Sitting business. The software is available for download at this website address:
http://www.rb59.com/pet-sitting-software

By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Author: Robert Benjamin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Latest trends in mobile phone

In these tough economic times many jobs are uncertain. People are cutting back on spending and being more concerned with where their money is going. Some people are reluctant to start a new business. But one you shouldn’t be afraid to start is a pet sitting business. The pet sitting business has been steadily growing as more and more people have pets. These pets need someone to take them on a walk or feed them when their owners are away, and that’s where you come in. Simply put, pet sitting is a recession-proof business.

In a 2009 survey done by the APPM, 63 percent of households in the U.S.A. own pets, while 45% own multiple pets. There are 75 million dogs and 89 million cats. And let’s not forget all the other animals, such as birds, reptiles, and fish. So what does that mean? A lot of work for you as a pet sitter. The United States Bureau of Labor expects pet care jobs to grow by 22 percent a year.

Pet sitters make between $12 and $22 a visit, a national average of $16. Best of all, most pet sitting jobs take half an hour or less. It’s common to visit the same home twice in a day. You often will need to feed the pet, take it outside for a bathroom break and perhaps a walk, and then play with it for a little while. Just give it the love and attention you give your own pets. If you’re a pet owner yourself, you’ll find this work to be just like the care and attention you give your own pets everyday. But there’s a catch. This time you’ll get paid to do that work!

It’s very possible to do 10 visits a day in five or six hours. At $16 an hour that means you’d make $160 a day or $4,880 a month! There are expenses, but they are very modest, such as transportation, cell phone, and insurance.

One of the best perks of owning your own pet sitting business, besides enjoying time spent with a wonderful variety of animals, is that you’re the boss. You take the jobs you want, you set your prices. Simply put, you’re in charge. And did you know there are no certifications or classes required to become a pet sitter? Not at all. Start up expenses, usually less than $500.

Pets are all around you. Your friends have them. Your neighbors do too. And when those friends and neighbors are at work or will be out of town, they need someone to look after their pets, recession or not. That’s where you come in. Before long, you could be the pet sitter everyone calls on. To learn more about pet sitting, read Profitable Pet Sitting, available at: http://extraincomebulletin.com

Author: Craig Wallin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news

Pet sitting is a great and easy way to make money. You don’t need any special or required skills other than the ability to control the pet and supply it with as much love and care as needed.

How To Start

It is important to have some experience with handling the pet your interested in looking after. While it is important to maximize your offerings, their is no sense in offering to petsit an iguana if you have never seen one up close before. By only caring for animals that you are familiar with, you can simplify your job and not have to worry about being held responsible for any mishaps that may occur from inexperience.

Once you have decided which pets you would like to look after, take into consideration some of the more practical problems that may stand in your way of offering your services to your community. Transportation is a key necessity when it comes to offering any type of service, and transportation that is reliable can be hard to find. While your best friend who lives across town may be leaving for vacation in a week and you would like to make some cash by pet sitting their dog, if you can’t make it to their house everyday then their is no sense in offering at all. One simple way to combat this problem is to simply offer your service to nearby residences within walking/biking distance. It saves cash as well because you won’t have to worry about gas expenses. Other problem areas may be your time schedule as far as when you will be available and sticking to your promises to take care of the pet. Pet sitting is often a job that is best during the Summer when you do not have to worry about the stresses of school.

Now that you have cleared out any practical problems that may be standing in your way, its time to market your services. The best way is through communication. For instance, a visit to your local park can give substantial amount of contacts for dog sitting, while a trip to a veterinary clinic may give you greater opportunities as far as what kind of pet your looking take care of. The goal is to talk to people and explain your services.

In addition, flyers and print advertising may work as well depending on where you live and how crowded the market is for pet sitting. Putting in ad in the local newspaper detailing your interests in pet sitting may work if there is not much competition, but don’t just wait for people to come to you. Passing out flyers from house to house is a great and quick way to get your business out their.

Also, while were on the subject of fellow competition in your community, why not contact other pet sitters in your area? By getting in touch with fellow pet sitters and offering yourself as a backup in case they are available for their clients, you may build long lasting partnerships.

Pricing?

There really is no surefire price when it comes pet sitting. However, with a little research on your part, you can get an idea on how much you would like to charge for your services. As mentioned above, contacting fellow dog sitters can give you an idea as to how much they are charging, but be sneaky about it! The key to pricing is to be negotiable. While you may charge X dollars for five or six clients, you may charge Y and Z dollars for a couple of your other clients. Having your clients to pay you cash is ideal in this type of field in addition to having them pay you something up front, however this can be left up to you to decide.

Okay, you’ve got your first client! Preparation is key. Grab a duffel bag and load it with anything you think you may need or might come in handy with whatever animal your caring for. Do not rely on the client to supply you with everything you will need. Besides, coming prepared gives a better indication to your client that you’re the real deal. In addition to your preparing, keep a record of phone numbers of your clients and veterinarians in the area. Also, alert your family or close friends where you will be during your pet sitting in case of emergency. Having possible immediate transport available to you from a relative in case of an emergency concerning the pet is ideal.

You did it. Keep building contacts and keep records of your money and you will be making cash in no time!

Author: Evan Sherlock
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty tariff

As home business owners we are often looking for ways to cut down our operating costs and business expenses. Here are a few to consider:

1) Freebies- Those of you who know me a little would know that I’m a “Free-ak”. There are a lot of free, high quality resources available on the Internet; try looking for those before buying and you’ll be amazed of what you can find online for free.

2) Bartering- Another great way of cutting down costs. Try trading your products or services with other home business owners before you buy. You can usually barter for little or no money.

3) Borrowing/Renting- Yes, it feels great to show off that In-focus projector, but do you really need to buy it for your one time presentation?

4) Networking- This is one of my favorites; browse through your book of contacts, talk to other home-based business owners, to your neighbors, to your children’s friends moms, you never know who knows somebody, who knows somebody…that has what you need and you can get it cheaper!

5) Auctions- Try bidding on items before paying retail for them. You can find auctions offline and online (eBay).

6) Plan ahead and buy in bulk- Make a list of those items you use most and how often you need to refill them, wait for a bargain and buy in bulk!

7) Search for high quality used items- there are things that you just don’t have to buy new, check out flea markets and yard sales and if you can, negotiate!

So, there you have it, a few ways to cut down your costs, now you can put your money where you really need it.

Mariangie Gonzalez has a major in Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary and runs the day-to-day operations of her home-based business and website in which you can find out how homeopathic remedies could prolong and improve your pet’s life. She can also help you start your own home-based 100% natural pet supplies business, you can visit online at: http://www.MindBodyAndPaw.com

Marketing your pet sitting business doesn’t have to be confined to online and offline advertising and directory listings. You can also use coupons, giveaways, competitions and gift certificates to make sure that your pet sitting business comes out on top.

I. Coupons

Hardly anyone can resist a deal and that’s exactly what you should bet on when using coupons. Coupons can mean more pet sitting business and higher ad conversions even if it seems like you’re losing money on the surface. To run a successful coupon campaign, consider offering between a 20-25% discount on the initial pet sitting visits that are booked by your customers. Any lower than that percentage, and responses will likely be lackluster. Any higher and potential pet sitting customers may perceive that your pet sitting service has little value or that you don’t offer a reliable quality service.

Offer coupons after the finalization of a sale or in advertisements or marketing materials. You may also get a little creative by offering them on the back of your pet sitting business card, on your website or in your customer newsletters.

II. Giveaways

A great way to increase pet sitting business is to simply give your service away for free. Although it may sound backwards, the reality is that giveaways can give your pet sitting business a lot of exposure and good publicity. You may decide to randomly offer free services to someone who you’ve identified as a fence-sitter, or someone who hasn’t yet decided whether or not they want to try your services. If your customer is satisfied, it’s likely that they’ll spread the word about your pet sitting business. At the very least, the possibility of getting more free services may increase interest in your business. Your giveaways don’t have to be full services, either. You may just offer to walk a dog or check in on an animal during an owner’s lunch break to prove that your services are valuable and worth the investment.

III. Competitions

People like competing for items that they perceive to be valuable. Starting a competition for one of your “deluxe” services or packages may generate interest in people who would otherwise not be interested in your “general” pet sitting services. Requiring entrants to provide personal information to participate in the contest can also result in invaluable target market information that can help you deliver newsletters and marketing materials to people who have already shown interest in your pet sitting business.

III. Gift certificates

Making gift certificates available on your pet sitting website is a sure way to increase your chances of winning new clients. Gift certificates allow satisfied customers to share their positive experience of the service with their friends, family or associates by purchasing a voucher that can be redeemed for the same experience. While blank gift certificates can be purchased at office supply stores, it’s best to splurge on custom gift certificates, since they reduce the risk of forgery and give potential clients the impression that your business is professional. Make sure to make gift certificates visible during the holidays when customers are already searching for gifts to purchase.

Author: Danielle Chonody
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

Pet sitting is an easy way to make a good income without investing a lot of money. This is a great time to start a pet sitting business, as people are spending more and more each year on their pets, and want only the best for their four legged family members. Because all that’s needed is reliable transportation and insurance, you can become a pet sitter on a shoestring.

According to the latest national pet owner’s survey, 63 percent of U.S. households have pets. There are 75 million dogs and 89 million cats in the United States. That’s a lot of potential pet sitting work! In the past, pet owners had to send their pets to a kennel or find a willing friend or relative to care for their pets. Today, with the help of a professional pet sitter, pets can stay in the familiar surroundings of their own home. No more stressful visits to the kennel. Pet sitting has grown from an unknown career two decades ago to a popular business today.

It doesn’t cost a lot to start a pet sitting business. If you have basic reliable transportation and a cell phone, you’re almost there. An insurance policy is essential, and most pet sitters are also bonded. A simple index card system is all you’ll need to keep track of your customers, although many pet sitters prefer to use a computer. Business cards are also a must, both to hand out to prospects and to post on bulletin boards and leave with pet care professionals, such as groomers and vets. Setting up an emergency bag, with essentials like a spare leash and collar, flashlight, doggie bags, treats and cleaning supplies costs under $100.

How much can you earn? According to a recent poll of professional pet sitters, the average full time pet sitter makes around $175 a day. The average national charge for a pet sitting visit is $16 – more in big cities and less in small towns and rural areas. Most dogs require two visits per day, while cats may only need one. Most pet sitters are happy to work solo, although some choose to hire employees and expand their business.

In addition to the low start up costs, you want to start your own pet sitting business because you can be your own boss and keep your schedule flexible. And of course, because you’re a pet lover. If you don’t love pets – especially dogs – choose another business! A pet sitter’s life is all about animals, and pet sitters that thrive do so because they love being around animals. As one pet sitter said, “I can’t believe people actually pay me to play with their pets. What a way to make a living.”

Author: Craig Wallin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty tariff

There are over 6 million households in Canada who own a pet or two. Dogs and cats are the most popular pets, while dogs are the most favoured dogs among pet owners primarly because dogs are most affectionate.

It used to be that when pet owners go away on holiday, they would leave their pets with a neighbour, relative or friend, or with a kennel service. However, many families do not live close to each other and kennels can be quite expensive while not necessarily providing a happy atmosphere for pets. Thus, a new service business of pet sitting and pet walking is born.

Today, the pet sitting service has become a mature business. NAPPS, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters provide publications, training videos, insurance information, and other business resources for its members. Canadian equivalent of such an association is the All Canadian Pet Service Network. Typical pet sitting fees are $15 for a one-to-one 15 minute pee break, $20 for a 20 minute pee break. Group walks are also available at lower rates. Clients are not limited to pet owners on vacations. Some stay-at-home pet owners book 2 to 3 services a week for extra relief from walking their pets. Typically, the owner would leave house keys to the pet sitting service, and the sitters would come to the house and take the pets out for a walk. Reputable pet sitting services run a criminal check on their pet sitter employees and provide insurance bonding. Some pet sitting service also offer dog obedience training and puppy potty training as well.

My husband and I had the unfortunate experience of having to care for a pet while her owners went away for a holiday. The first night, we both forgot that we had the dog, and left our front door open. It was not until four hours later than we remembered we were caring for the dog, and had to have a search party. Luckily, we found the dog. She had wandered away to the neighbour’s yard, and was crying. The dog felt so lonely while staying with us, and wouldn’t eat for the first two days. After our valiant efforts in entertaining her and giving her a lot of pats and talk, she finally warmed up and felt comfortable.

After this episode, I have learned not to take care of somebody’s dog and will gladly refer them to a pet sitting service. I am sure many non-pet owners felt the same way. In fact, many pet sitting services sell gift certificates which make ideal presents for all occasions.

Dogs are social animals, and love company. They also need daily walks and exercises at least once, and preferably twice a day. Without proper attention, dogs can be destructive and manifest behavioral problems. Older arthritic dogs who are not so agile, may not adjust well to new surroundings. If you are travelling and will be away from your pet, consider giving your pets quality care by using a pet sitting service.

If you love pets and want to start your own business, consider a pet sitting service. It can be run from home, and has low startup costs. Several add-on products such as dog accessories, and dog food can also bring in additional income. Here’s another plus! This type of jobs cannot be outsourced to a third world country.

Author: Trenna Young
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rate

There are many people who do not like the services they get from professionals they do not know and who do not know your pets. Pet sitting businesses tend to be expensive and predictably anonymous just by the way they are organized..to make money. If you are like me I am sure you would prefer to have friends who know your pets come over and pet sit or take your pets to their homes when your away.

The pet sitting exchange concept is new and very simple. If you love animals and can pet sit for others then you can find pet sitters who will sit for you and your pets in exchange. I am using the internet to create an online forum in a database that simply connects everyone who needs services and are also willing to provide those services in exchange. Its like a Yahoo group with the added ability to see who is in an area by searching users profiles. If you search by your area codes and find new people with pets like yours who are willing to pet sit for you while you are away, you just found a compatible set of people who can pet sit for each other. They can sit for you and your pets and you can do the same for them when they are away. There are thousand of people doing this so its catching on and becoming much easier to find that select group of people you need to help you when you have to leave your pets at home.

This new FREE community concept is not a business but it is saving people lots of money and lots of worry. One of the first examples of searchable databases is a pet community project developed and hosted by Petstouch.com. The goal of this service is to help people find pet sitters for their pets even in areas where there are no commercial services available. If you take a look you may be surprised who is already there. Talk to other members that are also looking for exchange services in your area. Your email is kept hidden when your messages are forwarded. It is Free Private and Secure ,and it REALLY works!

One of the problems encountered by pet lovers on the internet is also a problem with this kind of service. The problem is the fear of animal abuse that has lead to self appointed regulators who make it impossible to use places like Craigslist to find pets and pet services. Advertise on Craigslist for a bunny and experience the wrath of the pet police who even use their own website to immediately flag you ads and make sure you cant find what you want. The same happens with pet services. Service providers flag anything that looks like competition and this one really gets them going…..so we need another way to get the word out and that is through word of mouth and articles and anything you can do that make people aware. Our work in this area is not exclusive but we have one of the largest memberships as we started about a year ago.

If you like this concept let us know how to improve it and join our club.

Author: Mike Jane
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Netbook, Tablets and Mobile Computing