Happy January! It’s another new month and another chance for us to share all the wonderful discussions and latest goings-on from our friendly Community Forum. From discussions on missing amenities to Portugal photo sharing, our members truly kicked off the new year in style. So, whether you’re an owner or a sitter, buckle up! This month’s jam-packed forum update has a little something for everyone…
Trending posts
Purr-use some of the top blogs our members have been loving this month- Top male dog names for your new furry friendGot a new furry family member in your pack? Check…
- Top female dog names for your new fluffy palWelcoming a new pooch into your family? Explore…
- 120+ gray cat names your silver feline will loveRecently welcomed a fluffy gray bundle of joy into…
- What are normal pet sitting rates?Discover the average pet sitting rates for animals…
- Unique dog names to stand out from the packDare to be different with our list of the best…
Topic of the month
Question time: what’s the one amenity you miss most while on a sit? In this useful topic (for both owners and sitters alike), our members shared their most wanted missing amenities while on a sit. From one sitter who had taken it upon themselves to travel with a full mini chef kit, to missing cheese graters and a motion-activated toilet bowl night light (yes, really!), discover what items our sitters missed most in a discussion that revealed rather a lot of ingenuity - and some surprises…
What's going on here then? Read our missing amenities topic to find out! | Image credit: @MissChef
Category of the month
From feedback for the TrustedHousesitters' product team to the question of ‘what do we need to know about pets? (spoiler alert: the answer? More or less everything!), our Owner and Sitter Exchange category was positively a buzz this month! Whichever side of the pet sitting network you’re on (or even if you’re just curious), this is a great category to get involved in and to connect with fellow members.
Forum user of the month
This month, we’re shouting out member @Amparo, who never fails to deliver bundles of positivity to the forum, and is always on hand to help out fellow members across the community:
“Hello and welcome! I am a full-time International Happy Pet and Home Sitter since 2018 and I absolutely love what I do. As a happy, peaceful retired person who loves animals and travel, this has been the most meaningful and rewarding way to live my life now. How can I help you?”
A big thank you from the forum team, @Amparo!
Now thats what we call 'happy at home'! | Image credit: @Amparo
Quote of the month
This month’s Quote of the month comes from member @MichaelinVA02, who shared his ingenious house sitting cleaning hacks - and turns out, all he needed was a couple of 39-gallon trash bags…
“Before I head out to a sit I’ve taken a couple of 39-gallon trash bags and cut the seams off the bottom, and stuck them in a pocket of my backpack as the first thing I do when I get to a job is unfurl the plastic on a table or countertop. Then I place my belongings, food, water, computer bag, etc., on top of the plastic bag to protect the owner’s table or countertop from my stuff.
And as I vacuum almost daily, especially if the cat(s) and/or dog(s) shed a lot, I have found some vacuum cleaners can kick up some dust depending on where the vent is on the vacuum cleaners so I can unfurl another 39-gallon trash bag to cover up my belongings. Not pretty… but effective!”
Photos of the month
This month, our Forum members didn't disappoint with the many wonderful photos they shared from their travels. The standout destination this month? Portugal!
We had members across 5 different topics discussing what it's like to live there as well as what it's like to house sit and vacation there. Not yet convinced? Just checked out these dreamy photos shared by @BunnyCat, and you soon will be...
Image credit: @BunnyCat
Image credit: @BunnyCat
Image credit: @BunnyCat
What else have the community been discussing this month?
Have you ever been house sitting locally? As you'll find out from our members in this recent Forum discussion, house sitting is all about the pets and the experience - wherever you are in the world!
”I did a New Year sit literally 5 minutes drive from my home! And I’m so pleased I did as it was for an elderly puss who was such a gentle soul and a lovely young couple. The location of their home had the most stunning views overlooking our township and I’ve never seen such a view in my 30+ years living there! Amazing what can be right under our nose and we don’t realise.” - @Temba
Our only question is... is the cat flap for the chickens? | Image credit: @Vanessa-Admin
Or, what about a house sit with chickens? In this chicken-fuelled topic, our members discussed the joy of pet sitting for chickens. If you're new to the world of chicken sitting, be sure to take a read!
Continuing with the feathered theme, forum member @Françoise-et-Youn, a featured contributor, shared even more great tips on winterizing our fine feathered friends in this excellent Martha Stewart article on How to Protect Your Backyard Chickens in the Winter.
Image credit: @Colin
And lastly but by no means least, member @Colin shared this wonderful snap after meeting up with fellow forum members in sunny España...
"Today we had the absolute pleasure to meet and spend the afternoon in sunny Spain in the company of the lovely @Itchyfeet and her husband."
Which brings us nicely on to the launch of our brand-new forum category: Member Meet-Ups! Got a snap to share with a fellow member, or want to plan a meet up in your area? This is the place to do it!
Have you joined the Forum yet?
Our Community Forum is the perfect place for those sharing a love of pets and travel to come together. Join for free today and share advice, find support, and discuss all things house sitting, pets, travel, and more.
And remember, you can visit the Forum at any time while browsing the TrustedHousesitters site simply by clicking your name in the top-right hand corner and selecting 'Community Forum' from the drop-down menu. See you there!
