A New
Road to Revenue
By Ruth Ann Krisa,
Owner of OC Pet Companions
The housing industry can offer a flexible schedule, es-
pecially with real estate. With the ability to control your own schedule, you can maximize your flexibility while making extra money in the process. But how? Pet sitting is the easy answer. It can provide a great source of revenue in addition to being enjoyable. I am a professional pet sitter and get asked many questions from professional woman about my career. A common question is, “If you are doing what you love, is it really considered work?” When I started 10 years ago, there were only a few professional pet sitters in Orange County, CA. But boy, has the pet sitting business come a long way.
American Pet Products Association (APPA) reports that pet ownership is at an “all-time high.” With 68 percent of U.S. households owning a pet (82.5 million homes), the need for professional pet sitters and dog walkers is also at an all-time high!
“The APPA reports that a total of $55.72 billion was spent on U.S. pets in 2013...” According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, “employment of animal care and service workers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations.” Did you catch that? Growing faster than the average for all occupations.
What I have experienced over the last decade is really phenomenal. The pet industry has seen a steady growth The APPA reports that a total of “$55.72 billion was over the years. Here are some of the latest figures com- spent on U.S. pets” in 2013— up from $53.33 billion piled: In its 2013-2014 National Pet Owners Survey, the in 2012—and an estimated $58.51 billion was spent in
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