Online service matches homeowners with globetrotting pet sitters

By Kenan Beaumont Aussie home and pet owners are turning to a global matchmaking website to find suitable sitters while on vacation. The website Trustedhousesitters.com is a worldwide company that allows animal lovers and house sitters to experience living in different parts of the world with no concerns for accommodation costs. The company’s motto is ‘The win/win for pet lovers that travel’ and their aim is to provide homeowners with someone to care for their home and animals while the house sitters get free accommodation and a chance to travel. Two house sitters from the website, Kirsten Beckwith and Alice Pond are first time users from England who are loving the experience. The pair are vacationing away from the UK and are using the website to do it on a minimal budget. “It seemed like a great way to travel around Australia, have a place to stay, and get to care for animals,” says Kirsten. The two friends say that having a bed and lots of dog cuddles with Missy have been the best part of their experience. The couple who founded the company, Andy Peck and Rachel Martin, are animal and house sitting enthusiasts. Andy claims on the website that he discovered the need for such a service in 2010 when house/dog sitting in Spain and talking with other sitters. Since then the company has gone on to win several awards, partner up with RSPCA and have members spread across 130 countries. Kirsten and Alice recommend the whole experience. “It’s such a great tool for travelling so much because accommodation tends to be the most difficult bit, the most expensive bit, and this way you can do it cheap while you’re making friends and meeting people,” says Kirsten.   Here you can meet Kirsten and Alice and learn about their experience. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-60yO0qdj0]