How to host animals at home and earn extra income.

Extra money is always welcome, isn't it? That's why today we're going to talk about how to host animals at home and earn some extra income. 

For pet lovers, this is a great way to spend more time with their animals. Furthermore, this is an increasingly common need for cat and dog owners, who see their pets as family members. 

So, when a "pet parent" needs to travel or be away for any reason, they choose to board their pet with someone they know will take care of it and keep it healthy in their absence. 

Do you have space at home and want to know how to earn extra income by hosting animals?

In this post, you will find:

• How does pet sitting work in a home?
• What do I need to host animals at home?
• How to start hosting animals at home?

How does pet sitting work in a home?

This service works as follows: you make yourself available to host animals for a specific period, like a pet hotel. You set the prices, and pet owners leave their dogs or cats at your home for as long as they need them. 

Interestingly, many people prefer to leave their pets in homes that offer this service rather than in dog hotels, which tend to be more expensive and don't always offer such personalized service. 

It's a satisfying initiative for those with children, who will have many activities throughout the day, and for those who want to adopt a pet and "test" it out first with a real-life experience. 

Generally speaking, there are only advantages, both for those leaving their four-legged children and for those who are the host. 

What do I need to host animals at home?

To begin this process, it's essential to be patient and understand that animals get used to their home and may find this sudden change strange, even if it's temporary. 

Other important things are:

Backyard with space

The animal needs to be free to play, run, and expend energy. This is one of the requirements that pet owners highly value when choosing where to leave their pets. 

Furthermore, it is helpful to prepare the environment in advance so that, in case the pets experience stress due to the change of scenery, adaptation will be easier. 

Love for animals

You can't host animals at home without loving them. That's the most important prerequisite! A pet owner who knows their pet, a member of the family, will be in a loved place can handle their business calmly and then request the service again. 

Patience with pet mess

It's also worth remembering that dogs and cats aren't stuffed animals: they poop in inappropriate places, pee, like to chew on things, and run around a lot. 

Having some separate toys for these animals can be very useful.

Free time to dedicate to yourself

During the time you dedicate to this task, you will need to spend time feeding the animals that are with you, cleaning up messes, and playing with them. Dogs, in particular, really enjoy interacting with humans, and offering them this will make them feel at home. 

How to start hosting animals at home?

Now, let's talk about the profitable part: turning this hobby into a business! Having a basic understanding of sales and marketing can be very helpful in this area, but when it comes to pets, everything tends to be easy and flows very smoothly. 

Spread the word

Don't be shy! Tell everyone about the work you're doing and your availability. 

However, here's an important tip: before you start advertising, try to list the possible questions you might be asked about this work and define some rules. For example:

1. What size pet will I accept as a guest in my home? Small, medium, large, or any size?
2. I will pick up and drop off the pet, or will I not have this service?
3. For how many days can the animal stay at my house?
4. What are the prerequisites? For example: being sociable, getting along well with other animals, getting along well with children…

Then, let everyone know that starting on a certain day, you will become a pet host. 

Start with your friends' pets.

You surely have friends and family who have pets, and they could be your first customers. 

Start by offering your services to them and ask them to recommend you to other people, and in this way, your network of contacts will multiply and you will be able to keep your schedule always full. 

Participate in animal groups on Facebook and online platforms.

This work has become so common and necessary that today there are Facebook groups dedicated exclusively to this purpose: hosts offering to receive pets and pet owners looking for this service. 

Besides Facebook, several online platforms with free registration are also exclusively for this exchange. Some of them are:

DogSafe

CONTINUE

CONTINUE

Establish a value.

Perhaps the most difficult part of all the work is pricing. On all these platforms and in the Facebook groups themselves, you can check the prices being charged in the market. 

But don't forget to analyze its cost. Consider the following points:

• Will the price include the animal's food or will it be charged separately?
• Include the cost of cleaning the premises.
• Put a value on your labor – outings, playtime, time spent.

Then, decide how much you will charge. 

Did you enjoy the content?

This is a job that, above all, involves a lot of love! Don't rule out this option. You'll have happier, more dynamic days and you'll even be able to earn extra income. 
If you found this content helpful, feel free to read more. "Online private lessons: earn money from home."

Nathalia Silva

Journalist, writer, and lover of words.

September 14, 2021