Walkies House Sitting / Live-in Pet Sitting
24/7 care for your home and your pets when you're away for family, business or vacation.
Your home is more than your greatest financial asset. Your home is your sanctuary, your fortress and an extension of yourself. It’s filled with memories and keepsakes, not to mention sensitive personal information and valuables. Leaving your home unattended, whether for a vacation, business trip, or family emergency, comes with significant risks. At Walkies Pet Sitting, we understand the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is secure and well-maintained. Here’s why our house and pet sitting services are the perfect solution for homeowners in Winnipeg.
The Risks of Leaving Your Home Unattended
Property Theft and Burglary
Recent trends indicate a rise in property theft and burglary, particularly in unattended homes. A vacant house is a prime target for burglars looking for an easy opportunity. Things like having the same lights on day after day, uncollected mail and packages, uncleared steps and walkways and unmowed lawns are all indicators that a house is vacant and a target for a break and enter. Alarms are no longer a sure deterrent. Criminals know that police don’t prioritize private home alarms and that response times give them ample opportunity to remove high value items and be gone before any intervention. Having a house sitter significantly reduces the risk of theft, deters opportunists and helps protect your valuable possessions.
Vandalism
Unoccupied homes are also more susceptible to vandalism. Whether it’s graffiti, broken windows, or other forms of damage, vandals are less likely to strike when they see signs of occupancy. A house sitter can deter such criminal activities by maintaining a visible presence.
Maintenance Issues
Small maintenance issues can turn into significant problems if left unchecked. From plumbing leaks to electrical faults, burst pipes and failed furnaces can cause extensive damage and put your pets at significant risk if not identified and addressed promptly. A house sitter is your eyes and ears, able to identify and report these problems immediately, ensuring they are fixed before they escalate.
Safety Hazards
An empty house can be a safety hazard. Space heaters, coffee makers, toasters and ovens…even extension cords can trigger electrical faults and unexpected fires. Avoid the panic of those “did I turn off the stove” moments. A house sitter ensures that your home remains in top condition, both inside and out, and can easily address any of your concerns or overlooked last minute things to check.
Benefits of Hiring a Professional House Sitter
Enhanced Security
With a professional house sitter from Walkies Pet Sitting, your home will be occupied and monitored, reducing the chances of break-ins and vandalism. Our trained sitters are experienced in handling security systems and can provide regular updates on your home’s status.
Peace of Mind
Knowing that a reliable house sitter is looking after your property allows you to relax and enjoy your time away. Whether you’re on a short trip or an extended vacation, our house sitting services provide the peace of mind you deserve.
Regular Maintenance
Our house sitters handle routine tasks such as watering plants, collecting mail, and maintaining the lawn. This keeps your home looking lived-in and cared for, further deterring potential criminals.
Personalized Service
Every home is unique, and we tailor our services to meet your specific needs. From detailed care instructions to special requests, our house sitters are dedicated to providing personalized and attentive service.
Pet Care Services Included
As the name suggests, Walkies Pet Sitting is all about the fur babies. For nearly 25 years, we have provided Winnipeg with affordable, reliable and comprehensive pet care services. It just so happens those same values apply to households without pets. But if you have pets, our house sitters will ensure your fur family members are well-cared for, keeping them comfortable and happy in their familiar environment with no disruption to their usual routines.
Why Choose a Live-In Pet Sitter vs a Doggy Daycare, Kennel, or Boarding Facility?
At Walkies Pet Sitting, we understand that your pets are family. When you’re away, you want the best care for them without the stress and risks associated with traditional dog daycares, kennels, or boarding facilities. Our pet sitting services in Winnipeg offer a superior alternative, ensuring your pets remain happy, healthy, and stress-free in the comfort of their own home.
Comfort & Familiarity
Pets are creatures of habit and thrive in their own environment. Our professional pet sitters come to your home, providing care and companionship in a familiar setting. This reduces anxiety and stress for your pet, which is often heightened in strange environments like dog daycares or kennels and can lead to you returning to a animal with anxiety, aggression or other stress-related behaviors such as excessive barking, pacing, and chewing.
Personal Attention
Unlike boarding facilities where staff have to divide their attention among many animals, our pet sitters focus solely on your pets. This means more playtime, cuddles, and customized care to meet your pet’s specific needs and preferences. Plus you have direct and immediate 24/7 access to the person caring for your fur babies.
Reduced Health Risks
Boarding facilities can expose your pet to various health risks such as kennel cough, fleas, and other contagious diseases. By staying at home, your pet avoids these risks, ensuring they remain healthy and safe. Pets with existing health conditions may find these environments particularly challenging.
Maintained Routines
Pets thrive on routine. Our pet sitters adhere to your pet’s regular schedule for feeding, exercise, and potty breaks, which helps maintain their well-being and reduces the chances of behavioral issues arising from disruption.
Why Choose Walkies Pet Sitting?
Experienced
We’ve been doing this for a long time. Nearly 25 years. Every member of our team is a passionate pet lover and/or someone with professional experience in caring for animals (veterinary practice, pet rescue, daycare). We pride ourselves in providing top-notch care for your home and your critters and treat both as if they were our own, ensuring they receive all the love and attention they are used to and deserve.
Local
Walkies Pet Sitting is based in Winnipeg. We are a local, small business, who provides these services as a livelihood vs a platform enterprise providing a vehicle for people who want to make a few bucks as a side gig. We also understand that this isn’t a transactional relationship. This is a business built on genuine care for animals and trust and we’re here for you and your pets over the long term. Having been in the business of providing loving care when you’re not there for nearly a quarter century, we also know the local area and have built relationships with related businesses including veterinary practices and pet care suppliers.
Trusted
Leaving your pet at home under the care of a trusted pet sitter means you can enjoy your time away with peace of mind, knowing your pet is getting love and attention, and in safe hands should any health concerns arise due to chronic conditions or emergent situations. Our house sitters are thoroughly vetted, having provided criminal records checks, and are 100% insured and trained to handle various situations. You can trust us to take care of your home and your pets as if they were our own.
Customizable
We tailor our services to meet the unique needs of your home and your pet. Maybe your dog needs daily or multiple times daily walks, playtime or park romps, or has specific dietary requirements. Perhaps your kitties have specialized diets or medication routines. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
Flexible
Our pet sitting services are designed to fit your schedule. We offer flexible booking options to accommodate your needs, whether you’re away for a half-day, day, a weekend or a month. We also recognize that delays can happen. Flights can be cancelled or missed, and itineraries change. Having a team of pet care professionals ensures you and your pets will always have access to caregivers when plans change unexpectedly.
Competitive
We believe our services are priced competitively for the high standard of care we provide. But we can customize a pet sitting or house sitting package to fit your needs and your budget, ensuring you get top-quality service without breaking the bank.
Connected
We know you miss your fur babies when you’re gone. We’re pet owners too. So we’ll keep you up to date with regular and proactive updates and pictures highlighting the daily routines and hijinks you undoubtedly miss when travelling. We call them cat chronicles and dog diaries, and they’re delivered in a way that’s convenient for you, whether text, email or WhatsApp. We’ve even done FaceTime and video calls.
Choose the Service and Price Point That's Right for You
House Sitting
Our bonded, insured staff will occupy a spare room in your house while you’re away, coming and going as normal, while watching for any signs of suspicious activity. Houseplants and gardens are watered, packages and mail brought in.
Live-In Pet Sitting
Same great service as the house sitting. Our bonded, experienced sitters will take up residence and keep your home in tip-top shape, but we also ensure all your pets get their food, medications (if any), and interactions (cuddles, walks, play, and other routines) on their normal schedule.
House Check
No pets? Rather not have someone stay on site? Then a simple House Check / Security Check is all you need. We can stop by once a day or several times a day to check that doors are locked and all access points are secure. We even do walk throughs to ensure no toilets are running, sinks are leaking, or appliances are malfunctioning.