As pandemic restrictions ease and humans return to work, furry family members added to households over the past two years are sending demand for pet sitting and doggy day care services soaring.
Animal Care Australia president Michael Donnelly said pet sitting was a more attractive option for owners than traditional kennels and catteries.
"There are a couple of factors attributing to the rise in demand for pet care and one of those is there are more of us with pets on a whole," he said.
"Kennels and catteries are still functioning and the price is comparable to pet sitting services — so if you're owner looking at dog sitting in a kennel or do sitting at home, when it comes to prices you're going to prefer to keep your pet at home.
"While it might appear great for your animal to be at home, [you need to seek] out references and find out how much experience they have and whether they have knowledge of local laws in the areas and can comply with the appropriate animal welfare acts."
Mr Donnelly said the boom in pet sitting businesses, many of which were advertised on social media, "was relatively new space".
He said his organisation was reviewing the national animal welfare act and would "keep an eye on pet sitting businesses".
'Little hidden monster'
First Class Pet Sitting Services owner Kylie Moore said in the past few weeks her business had "gone crazy".
"We're under the pump and need more pet sitters," she said.
"We've seen an increase in doggy day care and care during work hours.
"People have spent a lot of time at home during COVID and either dog's never been left alone before or got so used [to the company] … they've developed separation anxiety.
"Everyone had the time and the money because they weren't going anywhere, but unfortunately, long term, it's created a little hidden monster.
"If you haven't had a dog before, you wouldn't be aware of what's needed, and there are some certain breeds that are more prone to anxiety."
Ms Moore said many sitters signed up because they wanted work flexibility, while for veterinary nurses or others in the animal industry it was "extra pocket money".
"Rather than going back to a nine-to-five job, they can do as much work as they can in an area they like," she said.
Customised care
Mad Paws co-founder and chief executive Justus Hammer says many people feel "much more comfortable leaving their animal with another pet-loving sitter than a kennel they don't know".
"During COVID individuals became accustomed to having more freedom and flexibility over their workday," he said.
"We've seen a lot of people become pet sitters because they have more time at home and more control over their schedule.
"Our platform has a unique rating system that allows pet owners to select a pet sitter based on their specific needs — for example, if you have an anxious dog, we have sitters that specialise in this."
Albany Creek teacher aide Zsuzsi Varga has run pet sitting services in the past and saw an opportunity to earn some extra money so she could visit family overseas later this year.
The Easter break booked out within days in late March and her business, Suzie's Pet Care, already has bookings for the June and September school holidays.
Ms Varga said it was important to meet the animal she would care for numerous times before the owners left.
"I decide what owners to work with by asking questions and seeing how well they know their animals," she said.
"I was always taught animals know and feel you.
Owners should do checks
RSPCA Queensland spokeswoman Emma Lagoon said the organisation had not charted a big rise in pet sitting services, but stressed that the onus was "very much on people to research and read reviews and use word-of-mouth referrals".
The RSPCA has partnered with online pet sitting business PetCloud, but Ms Lagoon said most sitters were "pretty good".
"Make sure you have that trust with the person," she said.
Ms Lagoon said the RSPCA also offered a service where owners could leave their details and those of their pet sitters so they could be contacted if the animal ran away or got lost.
Ms Moore recommended owners only choose sitters or care providers with insurance, had experience in the animal industry and held qualifications or an animal first aid certificate.
"Then I'd be looking for references, whether that's Google or Facebook reviews, or from previous clients," she said.
"If your pet is going to stay at someone's home, definitely do a meet-and-greet at a pet sitter's home so the animal can sniff around and you can get a gauge on where they'll be living."
The ACA was particularly interested in backing doggy day care businesses, especially for pets living in apartments or townhouses, Mr Donnelly said.
"It is a personal choice, how much you're willing to leave your fur child in the care of someone you don't know," he said.
"But where there are multiple states who are making workers go back to the office, we are considering pets in strata which need someone to look after them while mum and dad are at work.
