Pet Sitter Resume examples & templates
Copyable Pet Sitter Resume examples
Ever wondered what it's like to get paid for playing with puppies and cuddling cats? As a professional Pet Sitter, your office becomes a rotating cast of furry, feathered, and sometimes scaly clients who depend on you for their care and companionship. It's a career built on trust—both from pets who need consistent care and from owners who entrust their beloved companions to your hands. And it's growing fast! The pet services industry saw a remarkable 47% increase in spending between 2019 and 2022, with no signs of slowing down as pet ownership continues to climb post-pandemic.
What many don't realize about modern pet sitting is how tech-savvy the profession has become. Gone are the days of simple key exchanges and written notes. Today's pet sitters use specialized apps to send real-time updates, GPS-tracked walking routes, and digital health monitoring. Some even offer live video check-ins for anxious pet parents! With approximately 70% of U.S. households now including at least one pet (that's 90.5 million homes!), the demand for reliable, professional pet care continues to expand—creating flexible opportunities for animal lovers looking to turn their passion into a sustainable career path.
Junior Pet Sitter Resume Example
Jamie Rodriguez
Seattle, WA | (206) 555-8721 | j.rodriguez@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jamierodriguez
Reliable and attentive pet sitter with experience caring for dogs, cats, birds, and small mammals in home settings. Skilled in medication administration, exercise routines, and maintaining feeding schedules. Committed to creating a stress-free environment for pets while their owners are away. Currently building my client base while pursuing animal behavior certification.
Experience
Independent Pet Sitter – Seattle, WA
May 2022 – Present
- Provide in-home pet sitting services for 13 regular clients, including overnight stays, daily visits, and dog walking
- Administer medications to senior pets and those with chronic conditions, following detailed owner instructions
- Document pet behavior, appetite, and activities through daily text updates with photos for pet parents
- Maintain a 97% client retention rate through reliable service and personalized care
Pet Care Assistant – Happy Tails Pet Boarding, Seattle, WA
September 2021 – June 2022
- Assisted with feeding, walking, and playtime for up to 15 dogs and 8 cats per shift
- Cleaned kennels, refreshed bedding, and sanitized food/water dishes according to facility standards
- Monitored pets for signs of stress or illness and reported concerns to supervisor
- Helped implement a new check-in process that reduced morning drop-off time by 6 minutes per client
Volunteer Dog Walker – Seattle Animal Shelter
March 2021 – August 2021
- Walked shelter dogs 2-3 times weekly, providing exercise and socialization
- Documented walking behavior and social interactions to help with adoption matching
- Participated in basic training reinforcement for dogs awaiting adoption
Education
Associate’s Degree in Animal Science
Seattle Community College – Graduated May 2021
Certifications
- Pet First Aid & CPR Certification – Red Cross, 2021
- Fear Free Pet Professional Certification (Level 1) – 2022
- Currently enrolled: Animal Behavior Course – Pet Sitters International (completion expected November 2023)
Skills
- Medication administration (pills, liquids, injections)
- Pet nutrition knowledge
- Basic grooming & hygiene
- Behavior monitoring
- House security protocols
- Special needs pet care
- Client communication
- Time management
- Key handling & security
- Basic training reinforcement
References
Professional references available upon request from pet owners and previous employers
Mid-level Pet Sitter Resume Example
Bailey Morgan
(612) 555-8213 • bailey.morgan@email.com • Minneapolis, MN 55404
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/baileymorgan • Professional Pet Sitting Services
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Reliable pet sitter with 5+ years caring for dogs, cats, and exotic pets in clients’ homes. Known for building trust with anxious pets and maintaining detailed care logs. Experienced in administering medications and managing emergencies. Looking to leverage my client base of 40+ recurring families to join a premium pet care service where I can apply my animal behavior knowledge.
EXPERIENCE
Lead Pet Care Specialist | Pawsome Pet Services | Minneapolis, MN | Jan 2021 – Present
- Manage a client portfolio of 28 recurring pet owners, with 94% retention rate over 2 years
- Train and mentor 3 junior pet sitters, creating standardized care protocols that reduced client complaints by 31%
- Administer oral medications, subcutaneous fluids, and insulin injections for senior and special needs pets
- Coordinate emergency vet visits and maintain detailed digital records for 75+ animals
- Generate $4,200 monthly revenue through referrals and excellent service (up from $2,800 when started)
Independent Pet Sitter | Self-employed | St. Paul, MN | Mar 2018 – Dec 2020
- Built a client base from 3 to 22 regular customers through word-of-mouth and neighborhood marketing
- Provided overnight stays, daily visits, and dog walking services based on pet owner needs
- Created personalized care plans, including feeding schedules, exercise routines, and enrichment activities
- Maintained homes during owner absences (watering plants, bringing in mail, rotating lights)
Pet Care Assistant | Happy Tails Boarding Facility | St. Paul, MN | Aug 2017 – Mar 2018
- Supervised playgroups of 5-8 dogs, matching temperaments for safe interactions
- Cleaned kennels and prepared meals according to dietary requirements for up to 25 pets daily
- Documented pet behavior, appetite, and elimination patterns for owner reports
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Associate Degree in Animal Science | Minneapolis Community & Technical College | 2017
Pet First Aid & CPR Certification | Red Cross | Renewed annually (current)
Fear Free Certified Professional | Level 1 | 2020
Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) | Pet Sitters International | 2019
SKILLS
- Medication administration (oral, topical, injections)
- Animal behavior assessment & management
- Special needs pet care
- Pet dietary management
- Secure home entry protocols
- Basic grooming & hygiene maintenance
- Pet first aid & emergency response
- Time & schedule management
- Client communication & retention
- Time Tracker Pro & PetSitter Plus software
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Available for overnight stays, holiday coverage, and last-minute bookings. Comfortable with reptiles and small mammals. Clean
driving record and reliable transportation. Background check available upon request.
Senior / Experienced Pet Sitter Resume Example
MELISSA TANNER
Portland, OR 97211 | (503) 555-8712 | mtanner.petsitter@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/melissa-tanner
Dedicated Pet Care Professional with over 10 years of experience providing personalized care for pets of all kinds. Known for building lasting relationships with both pets and their owners through reliable, compassionate service. Skilled in managing complex schedules, administering medications, and adapting to unique pet personalities and needs. CPR and first aid certified with an unblemished safety record across thousands of pet visits.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Owner and Lead Pet Care Provider | Tanner’s Trusted Tails | Portland, OR | 2018-Present
- Established and grew independent pet sitting business to 42 regular clients and 25+ occasional clients, managing all aspects of operations including scheduling, billing, and marketing
- Provide comprehensive in-home pet care services including feeding, walking, administering medications, overnight stays, and property security checks
- Implemented client management software that reduced scheduling conflicts by 94% and improved client communication
- Maintain detailed care logs and provide regular photo updates to clients, resulting in 87% referral-based business growth
- Handle special needs pets including diabetic cats requiring insulin injections, elderly dogs with mobility issues, and exotic pets with specific environmental requirements
Lead Pet Sitter | Happy Paws Pet Services | Portland, OR | 2015-2018
- Promoted from Pet Sitter to Lead after 14 months due to exceptional client feedback and reliability
- Managed a team of 3 part-time sitters, handling scheduling, training, and quality control
- Specialized in overnight pet sitting for anxious pets and those requiring overnight medication
- Reduced client cancellations by 31% by implementing a more flexible scheduling system
- Developed emergency protocols that were adopted company-wide after successfully handling a pet medical emergency
Pet Care Specialist | Pampered Pets of Portland | Portland, OR | 2013-2015
- Provided daily dog walking services, pet sitting visits, and overnight care for a client base of 20+ households
- Maintained detailed records of pet behavior, food intake, medication schedules, and any unusual occurrences
- Earned “Sitter of the Month” recognition 4 times for perfect attendance and exceptional client feedback
- Assisted in training 6 new hires on company procedures and best practices for pet care
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Associate’s Degree in Animal Science | Portland Community College | 2012
Pet CPR and First Aid Certification | Pet Tech | Renewed 2022
Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) | Pet Sitters International | 2016
Fear Free Animal Handling Certification | Fear Free Pets | 2019
SKILLS
- Medication administration (oral, topical, injections)
- Pet behavior assessment and management
- Special needs pet care
- Pet first aid and emergency response
- Client management software (Time To Pet, Pet Sitter Plus)
- Small business operations
- Secure home access management
- Detailed record keeping
- Basic pet grooming
- Dog training fundamentals
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Volunteer dog walker at Oregon Humane Society (2014-Present)
Insured and bonded for pet sitting services up to $2 million in coverage
Member of National Association of Professional Pet Sitters since 2015
How to Write a Pet Sitter Resume
Introduction
Landing that perfect pet sitting job means showcasing your experience with furry, feathered, and scaly friends in a way that makes pet owners feel confident leaving their beloved companions in your care. Your resume isn't just a list of past jobs—it's your chance to demonstrate reliability, animal handling skills, and genuine passion for pet care. I've helped hundreds of pet care professionals craft resumes that get noticed, and the difference between a so-so application and one that lands interviews often comes down to surprisingly small details.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your pet sitter resume clean and scannable—just like you'd keep a client's home after a pet sitting assignment! Aim for 1-2 pages maximum, with clear section headers and consistent formatting throughout.
- Use a clean, professional font (Arial, Calibri, or Georgia work well)
- Include plenty of white space to make information easy to find
- Consider adding a splash of color in headers to stand out (but nothing too wild!)
- Format consistently—if one job title is bold, all should be bold
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting (unless specifically asked for a different format)
Profile/Summary Section
Your summary should quickly capture who you are as a pet sitter in 3-4 compelling sentences. This is where you mention your experience level, specialties with certain animals, and standout qualities.
Pet parents want reassurance their furry family members will be in good hands. Lead with traits like "reliable," "attentive," or "experienced"—these qualities matter even more than technical skills in this field.
Example: "Dependable pet sitter with 4+ years caring for dogs, cats, and small mammals. Comfortable administering medications and following detailed care instructions. Former vet assistant with CPR certification and a spotless record of client satisfaction. Known for sending detailed updates and photos to worried pet parents."
Professional Experience
This section carries the most weight! List your experience in reverse chronological order, including:
- Company/client name (you can use "Private Clients" for individual households)
- Dates of employment (month/year)
- Your responsibilities and—this is crucial—specific achievements
Instead of just saying "Walked dogs," try something like: "Provided daily care for 7 regular canine clients, including a senior dog requiring medication and a reactive rescue needing specialized handling techniques."
Include numbers whenever possible! Maybe you've cared for 50+ different species, maintained a 98% rebooking rate, or managed 12 concurrent pet sitting assignments during peak holiday season.
Education and Certifications
Formal education matters less in pet sitting than relevant certifications and training. Highlight:
- Pet First Aid/CPR certification (Red Cross or Pet Tech)
- Any animal behavior or training courses
- Professional memberships (Pet Sitters International, National Association of Professional Pet Sitters)
- Specialized training (administering medications, caring for senior pets, etc.)
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many pet sitting agencies use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes. Include these key terms naturally throughout your resume:
- Pet care, animal handling, overnight stays
- Medication administration, special needs pets
- Daily updates, secure home protocols
- Exercise routines, feeding schedules
- Client communication, emergency procedures
Industry-specific Terms
Sprinkle in terminology that shows you know the business:
- In-home boarding vs. drop-in visits
- Enrichment activities
- Force-free handling
- Positive reinforcement
- Separation anxiety management
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too generic ("I love animals") instead of specific about your skills
- Forgetting to mention reliability, punctuality, and trustworthiness
- Omitting experience with specific animals (some clients need cat-only sitters!)
- Neglecting to highlight experience with home security, key handling, etc.
- Using cute graphics or unprofessional email addresses (fluffylovr@email.com)
Before/After Example
Before: "Walked dogs and fed cats for neighbors."
After: "Provided reliable pet care services for 5 neighborhood families, including daily dog walking, medication administration for a diabetic cat, and home security checks. Maintained detailed logs of pet behavior, food intake, and exercise, sending daily photo updates to traveling owners."
Remember—your resume should show not just that you can care for pets, but that you'll treat them with the same love and attention their owners would provide. Good luck with your pet sitting career!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Pet Sitter resume
- Multi-pet juggling (managing different animals with competing needs)
- Client reassurance – calming anxious pet parents who might text 15 times during a weekend away
- Crisis management when pets get into something they shouldn’t have
- Adaptability to different home environments and pet personalities
- Non-verbal communication with animals showing stress or discomfort
- Self-direction and time management across multiple client homes
Hard skills for your Pet Sitter resume
- Pet First Aid & CPR Certification
- Pet medication administration (oral, topical, injections)
- Pet Manager Pro scheduling software
- Basic grooming techniques for dogs and cats
- GPS tracking app proficiency (Scout for Pets, Whistle)
- Secure home entry protocols and alarm system management
- Pet dietary management including special needs feeding
- Basic behavioral training reinforcement
- Accurate digital record-keeping and visit documentation