Owners turn to sitters for beloved pets

June 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Erie Times-News

millcreek twp., Pa.

Wembley the basset hound scrambles out of the foliage in his yard and proudly presents a tennis ball to Gay Boutwell. Chester, Wembley’s brother, lazes happily nearby as the pet sitter tosses the ball again.

It’s a simple game of toss-and-fetch.

But the personal attention and play time Boutwell provides for a busy pet owner on this spring evening is a burgeoning business, muscling its way into the marketplace, despite a bad economy.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor has identified in-home pet care as one of the fastest-growing home-based businesses in the country.

Boutwell, who calls her business Paws ’n Affection, is one of a growing number of pet sitters — in addition to traditional boarding kennels — who offer pets more-personal attention, and pet owners, such as Marsha Burleigh, peace of mind while they are at work or on vacation.

“I am more comfortable knowing that Chester and Wembley are here at the house, safe and happy,” Burleigh said. “I don’t want to take them out of the environment they are used to, not to mention they eat better while they are at home.”

Boutwell started her business because she has been an animal lover her entire life. She takes care of several pets.

“I have noticed a definite increase in sitters in the past few years,” especially private pet sitters, said Dr. Christine Nestor, an Erie veterinarian at Animal Ark and Animal Kingdom pet hospitals.

“Despite the economy ... people still want to do right by their pets. People are still going the extra mile to keep their pets healthy and safe.”

Molly Dougan, co-owner of Pet Nannies, LLC, experienced an increase in business over the past couple of months.

“About a month ago, we got seven new clients in the span of a week,” Dougan said.

Boutwell has watched the Burleigh family’s pets for years, originally taking care of Bags, their first basset hound, who died in 2004. Chester and Wembley have grown up around Boutwell, Burleigh said.

“As we’ve added dogs, she just continued down the line, taking care of them,” she said.

Lorraine Keeler, 63, of West Springfield, had similar comfort concerns when looking into care for her Great Dane-Labrador retriever mix, Major. Keeler hired a sitter so Major could stay in familiar surroundings.

“My primary concern when I am away is my dog’s safety and that he is happy while I am gone,” she said.

According to Nestor, pet owners worry about their animals, just as they would a family member. “In some cases, the pet is even like a child,” she said.

Much like a baby sitter or other caregiver, pet sitters offer services tailored to an everyday routine. The sitter will feed the pet, refresh the animal’s water, then engage the pet in play.

“The dogs just love it when Gay comes over because she brushes them,” Burleigh said. “Wembley really loves play time because she just throws him the ball continuously.”

Pet-sitting visits last about 30 minutes, and the average cost for that in the Erie region is about $15. Additional services can be arranged, such as walking and transportation to appointments, for an added fee.