Pet-sitting is a furry fine job

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Jim Amen retired two years ago from his career as a claims supervisor for State Farm Insurance, he looked for a way to stay busy.

He found it in his Leawood, Kan., home. His wife, Ruthie, had been pet-sitting on a small scale since retiring as a recreational therapist and teacher, and was trying to make it into a business. Jim agreed to help, and the couple now operates Angel Watchers Pet Sitting Service, visiting other people's pets at their homes and giving owners some peace of mind.

"We help people feel like we would want to feel when we leave our pets, secure that everything will be all right," Ruthie Amen said. "And we get to play with animals all day."

The Amens are part of a rapidly growing home-based industry. Membership in the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, based in Mount Laurel, N.J., has increased from 850 four years ago to 1,500. Pet Sitters International, based in King, N.C., has seen its membership grow from 1,000 in 1995 to about 6,800 now, said John Long, public relations coordinator for the group.

Pet sitters generally spend about half an hour on each visit, feeding and watering animals, walking dogs, cleaning up messes and playing with the pets. Besides dogs and cats, they usually care for birds, rabbits, fish and reptiles.

When clients are on vacation, sitters provide some security by bringing in mail, watering flowers and turning lights on and off. Most pet sitters also will take animals to vets or groomers, bathe them and dispense medicine, although those services usually cost more. While it is not required, most professional pet sitters are bonded and carry liability insurance.

The industry's recent growth has been fueled in part by the country's struggling economy.

"The economy has withdrawn a wee bit over the last five, six years," Long said. "There have been lots of folks laid off, or who are just disillusioned with the corporate world in general. Some of them turn to pet-sitting because animals are something they are passionate about."

Donna Monpemore is one corporate refugee who has found happiness and a career as a pet sitter. Her job in the insurance industry was fine and paid well, but "it was just a job. I had to drag myself out of bed a lot of mornings." And she felt guilty leaving her dog alone all day.

She left voluntarily to become a pet sitter for Critter Sitters of Kansas City Inc. Four years ago, she bought the business, which employs 50 to 60 pet sitters and serves about 2,000 clients in a year. But Monpemore still visits pets.