Could we get attached to pets we were entrusted to sit? That’s a question we didn’t think to ask ourselves. Is it possible to bond so quickly? “One would think not”. How wrong could we be? In fact, seven days on, after a plethora of pats, hugs and snuggles, BAM! we are attached heart and soul to somebody’s fur babies. Waking up to excited dogs, wagging tails and cries of pat me quickly became the norm. Consequently, feelings towards these animals deepened rapidly. As a matter of fact, this has happened with both pet sits we have done. This is something we will need to prepare ourselves for after each sit.

We have just completed our second house sit, of seven days, in the beautiful Tweed Shire of Northern NSW. This consisted of 2 dogs, 9 chickens, 5 guinea fowl and 10 or so cockatiels. Generally speaking we have slotted into our roles quite nicely and I believe, we are made for this lifestyle.

Idyllic Location….

The Tweed Shire is located at the Northern borders of NSW and Queensland and connects to the southern end of the Gold Coast Queensland. It has a population of approximately 90,000 which is growing steady. Given that many new residents are migrating from the southern states to the warmer climate, the shire is growing quickly and is forecast to reach more than 128,000 by 2031. Surrounded by spectacular beaches and pristine forest it is well worth a visit all year round.

Our house sit was situated on a hill that overlooked the suburb of Kirra and the Gold Coast Airport. It has amazing views and is surrounded by rolling hills. It’s an idyllic location and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. We were blessed to have a 3 bedroom unit, which made it feel like we were at home. We are very thankful to Jane and Glenn for selecting us to care for their home and pets.

Attached… Was It Possible?

Jess is a very playful puppy and mischievous to boot. She is very energetic, loved playing ball and enjoyed some rough-house play. When she tired, sleep was her main focus, curling up on the couch with us or out in the sun. Being a Kelpie cross she is extremely intelligent and her natural instinct shone through when we were out with the chooks and guinea fowl as she instinctively rounded them up.

Puppies are very affectionate and Jess is no different. She reminded me of my German Shepherd, Emma. So, it didn’t take long to become attached and very tough to say goodbye. Having a puppy open up to you is quite special and very touching and a surprising side effect of house and pet sitting.

Matilda is a gentle soul and elegant to boot. She is very attached to her owners and pinned for them for several days. Slowly she began to open up and her sweet nature shone out. As the days passed she became comfortable enough to curl up on the couch with us. She now greeted us every morning with enthusiasm and eagerness. I now had 2 shadows that followed me where ever I went, even when I was off to the bathroom. Being followed by 2 dogs was certainly very touching.

Attached… We Had Become!!!

We had become very attached to these two dogs. Sitting on the couch at night having both dogs snuggling into you is wonderful. Once you have their confidence you gain their affection, as with Matilda, who had to overcome some anxieties at first but eventually became very affectionate. To see a video of the dogs greeting us arriving home from shopping is very touching.

In conclusion, after 2 completed house sits, it seems inevitable that we will become very attached to any resident pets. However, the unconditional love and affection gained far out ways the separation that ultimately comes. This will unavoidably occur many times over in our house sitting life.

So the answer to the original question is an unequivocal YES!!!

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If you have any comments or questions we would love you to leave them below or email us.

Take care

Andrew & Carolyn

Travel is Sweet (Dream It, Experience It, Treasure It)

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