Are you a responsible, reliable, and animal-loving individual who thrives in the sunshine and the great outdoors? If you appreciate a flexible schedule and enjoy working independently, you might be the perfect fit! We are looking for dedicated pet sitters who are excited to work with Sunshine Pet Care for a year or more, providing thoughtful, consistent care for our amazing furry clients. However, if you are an experienced pet sitter with a strong background in professional pet care, we may consider you for a minimum six-month commitment.

Sunshine Pet Care is a professional dog walking and vacation pet-sitting service dedicated to providing exceptional in-home care for pets throughout Norfolk and much of Virginia Beach. We are looking for part-time pet sitters to assist with dog walks, drop-in visits, vacation pet sitting, overnight care, and pet taxi services in our service area. You can choose which services you'd like to provide; overnight care and pet taxi services are optional. Currently, we are seeking sitters who reside in or within a 10 minute drive of Old Dominion University, Ocean View, Bay View or Willoughby neighborhoods of Norfolk as well as the Hilltop, Oceanfront and North End areas of Virginia Beach.

Reasons to work with Sunshine Pet Care:

• Build meaningful connections with clients and their furry family members.
• Enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle.
• Make a positive impact on your community through quality pet care.
• Flexible hours with potential earnings of $100 to $400 weekly.

Potential drawbacks to working with Sunshine Pet Care:

• No guaranteed hours; weekly schedule may vary with little notice.
• Outdoor work in all types of weather.
• Must use your own vehicle to visit clients' homes.

About the role:

• Provide high quality loving care for dogs, cats, and other pets in our clients' homes.
• Walk dogs: on the beach, park and around the neighborhood.
• Administer medication: and follow specific, sometimes detailed pet care instructions.
• Ensure pets are safe, comfortable, and happy.
• Flexible schedule: with opportunities for both weekday and weekend visits.
• Availability needed for daily dog walking: regular availability Monday - Friday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday & Thursday. Occasional weekends may also be needed.
• Availability needed for vacation pet sitting: all hours of the day, every day of the week. Sunshine Pet Care visits animals from 7 AM to 10 PM, depending on that particular household's schedule. However, you do not need to be available every day during all time periods, as reservations can be shared among sitters. Some weekend availability is required.

Pet Sitter Requirements

• A genuine love for animals, along with patience and compassion.
• A positive, upbeat, and professional attitude.
• Reliable, punctual, dependable, and flexible.
• Experience caring for animals, particularly dogs.
• Confidence handling dogs of various sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
• Be at least 21 years of age with a professional mindset.
• Reside in Norfolk or Virginia Beach (within the service areas outlined in the introduction).
• Possess a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (customer service experience is a plus).
• Own a smartphone and be able to check email, voicemail, and text messages daily.
• Strong self-management, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Successfully pass a background check.
• Commit to a minimum of 12 months with Sunshine Pet Care.
• Be available to work some weekends and holidays, including the week of Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

Benefits:

• Competitive Pay
• Flexible schedule
• Paid training
• Supportive environment
• New client referral bonus
• Employee discount
• Love and admiration from a variety of adorable animals

Compensation:

• 1099 contract
• Paid per project
• 100% of additional holiday fees
• 100% of client tips

HOW TO APPLY:

Click the “Apply Now” button at the top or bottom of this page, fill out the short form, and verify your email address. Once that is complete, we will email you our online pet sitter questionnaire! After we review your responses, we will reach out to schedule a phone interview. We look forward to connecting with you!