Money
Pet sitting started as a fun idea, now it’s paying for Rebecca's renovation
For Rebecca Saunders what began as a fun idea has quietly grown into something far more meaningful. Pet sitting now helps fund home renovations, while filling the house with joy.
As told to Elli Jacobs
My husband Alex and I live in beautiful Mudgee, NSW, and since May 2025, we’ve been actively pet sitting to help cover the rising costs of renovating our home.
When interest rates climbed, the reality of maintaining our heritage house, with its generous yard and extra space, began to weigh on us. We looked around and thought, “we’ve got this big house and a big yard, what can we do with it?” Pet sitting turned out to be the answer, transforming unused space into both practical income and unexpected joy.
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We’ve also got two Miniature Australian Shepherds, Bailey and Marmite, who absolutely love having extra dogs come to play and stay. They’re incredibly social, and with such a big garden it’s a pleasure to watch them all run around together.
How we got started pet sitting
Mad Paws, the pet sitter online marketplace, had been on my radar for a long time, as we’d used it about five years ago, when I was running a film studio in Sydney. My team was keen to have dogs in the office, so it felt like a natural solution, and we used the money for drinks at the end of the week. When we thought about it again more recently, we figured, “Why not? Let’s sign up and see what happens.”
We even went to the effort of getting our police checks, so we could add that extra layer of protection and we’re covered by Mad Paws insurance, which adds a lot of peace of mind.
I run the local magazine in town, Mid-Western Living Magazine, so I’m known by quite a few people. To get the word out I posted on my social media and in the local community group. We also let the local tourist information centre know we were available. So mostly, it’s been through word of mouth that’s spread quite a lot.
There’s huge demand, especially since so many families have dogs. Most of the pets we care for are small to medium-sized. Local families usually drop their dogs off when they’re away for a night or two, while tourists often leave theirs for the day if they’re visiting places that aren’t pet-friendly or can’t accommodate their pets. With our town being so tourist-heavy, the demand just keeps growing.
Towards the end of 2025, we also started offering our pet-sitting service as an add-on for our Airbnb guests and we even collaborate with local wedding vendors, helping couples include their furry friends in their big day.
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Finding the right pet sitting fit
Over time, we’ve learned that one to two nights per dog is our sweet spot for pet sitting. Anything longer starts to disrupt our work and daily routines, tipping from manageable into too much organised chaos.
We select which dogs to care for through essential meet-and-greets. Most of the dogs we host are well-trained, much-loved indoor companions and, frankly, utterly adorable.
When a new dog arrives, we introduce them to our dogs on a lead first, allowing everyone time to settle before letting them run freely together. It usually becomes clear quite quickly whether a match will work, not only through the dogs’ interactions, but also through conversation with their owners. How people speak about their dogs, and the guidance they offer, reveals a great deal. Many of the dogs we care for belong to people without children, for whom their dog truly is their whole world.
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To date, there has been only one dog who wasn’t the right fit; from the outset, he simply didn’t get along with our own.
We mostly care for small dogs, though we occasionally make exceptions. Once, we looked after a Groodle - a giant, fluffy, puppy-like bundle and more recently, a rescue Kelpie cross. I hesitated at first, as my husband was away and I’m not usually a medium-dog person, but the owner was lovely and the meet-and-greet went beautifully. That Groodle turned out to be one of the calmest dogs we’ve ever cared for, and we’ve had him back twice.
Our dogs are exceptionally well socialised and genuinely enjoy having canine company. That said, after hosting a few dogs in a row, you can see it on their faces - the unmistakable look that says, “Enough already. Can we have the house back now?”
So far, we’ve looked after around 20 dogs and the bookings continue to roll in.
How pet sitting funds our renovations
We’ve already renovated our kitchen, and the bathroom is next, a project that will cost around $40,000 in total. So far, pet sitting has contributed approximately $6,000 toward that goal, with our Airbnb income helping to comfortably bridge the gap.
Watching the tally rise in the Mad Paws app is honestly rewarding. Each booking feels like a small win, adding up to something meaningful that we can see and touch in our home.
We began modestly, imagining a quick $5,000 kitchen refresh. But as the earnings grew, so did our vision. What started as a cosmetic update evolved into a proper renovation, proof that small, steady income streams can create real momentum and open up possibilities you might never have imagined. Setting a goal, tracking progress, and seeing it translate directly into practical, beautiful improvements in our home has been both motivating and fun.
For me, earning money through pet sitting or Airbnb doesn’t feel any different from traditional work. It’s still work, it’s just done in creative, flexible ways that fit seamlessly into our lives, while also bringing fun and purpose.
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Happy dogs, happy pet sitters
Pet sitting has also brought unexpected friendships. We regularly look after a couple of dogs whose owners enjoy a drink on the porch when they come to pick them up. Recently, I looked after a dog for someone new to town and invited them to catch up afterward. We ended up having dinner together, and that friendship has continued to grow.
Every visit brings a fresh burst of energy into our house. Even the neighbourhood kids get involved, helping with walks, joining in the play, or just giggling alongside the chaos. On one memorable afternoon, my husband Alex somehow ended up supervising two visiting dogs and two local kids while I was out. It was chaotic, yes, but the kind of chaos that leaves everyone laughing and smiling long afterward.
This small venture has done more than simply care for dogs; it has quietly created a sense of community. Our street has become a hub of shared laughter and wagging tails.
For me, pet sitting has to be two things: easy and fun. When those are in place, everything else seems to fall naturally into line, almost effortlessly.
If someone were to ask me, “Could this work for us?” my answer would be simple: why not give it a try? If you have the room, even just for daytime care, it’s worth exploring.
There’s no lifelong contract; you can pause, adjust, or stop altogether if it doesn’t feel right.
Sometimes the most meaningful chapters start as small experiments. You truly don’t know what might unfold. For us that’s been extra money and joy in the house, unexpected friendships and a renewed sense of purpose that gently weaves its way into our everyday life.
Feature image: Rebecca Saunders
This article contains general information only. It is not financial advice and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about any financial products or investments. Readers’ personal circumstances have not been taken into account and they should always seek their own professional financial and taxation advice that takes into account their financial circumstances, objectives and needs.
Tell us in the comments: Have you ever tried pet sitting? Have you used a pet sitter?
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