How a house sit set the scene for the perfect elopement

When Oregon-based Chris and Nova Scotia native Meg finally got together after years of online friendship, they knew they weren’t ready to settle down. Both self-proclaimed “techy gamer nerds” and dedicated animal lovers, they dreamed of exploring the world – but couldn’t imagine life without pets. As longtime foster parents and shelter volunteers, they set out to find a way to blend their love for animals with their passion for travel.

Finding the perfect solution: Pet sitting

After researching every possible option, Chris and Meg finally discovered house and pet sitting. They packed up their most prized possessions, gave up their condo, and set off.

“We've both worked remotely since before it was cool, so we figured pet sitting could pair well with that flexibility.”

Joining TrustedHousesitters in the fall of 2021, they recently celebrated three years of incredible adventures. And what a journey it’s been!

Exploring the world as pet sitters

Pet sitting turned out to be the perfect way for Chris and Meg to see more of the world and even get a feel for where they would eventually settle down.

“We've been able to see new places that we otherwise might not have thought to travel to. We never knew where exactly we wanted to live, so it's also been a great way to scope out communities and areas to see how we feel about them. It's definitely helped us narrow down where we would like to plant roots one day.”

Booking sits that last 4+ weeks means they can settle into each location and truly soak up the experience.

“We do enjoy a mix of stability,” they say.

Making memories and lifelong friends

Alongside unforgettable places and adorable pets, Chris and Meg have made lasting friendships with many pet parents.

 “Our very first pawrents have practically become family.”

Staying in touch via social media or email, they now have friends scattered across the globe and a roster of repeat sits they love revisiting.

“We give out Pawpad Awards to our favorite pet sits. At the end of the year, for the holidays, we ship back some goodies for the humans and pet pals to enjoy.”

They’ve also gained plenty of hands-on experience with pets, including caring for over 50 animals on a hobby farm!

“In the home, we had 3 rescue pups and two kitties. Outdoors, we had another handful of barn cats, kunekune pigs, sheep, countless chickens, and even fainting goats (we did see one faint!).”

Some pet sits have come with even more surprises, like the time they were told they might see the Northern Lights.

“We were rural enough to have the sky clear and had an amazing night wandering the property with the sky dancing above us. That was a bucket list item we did NOT expect to cross off there at all!”

A magical elopement in the mountains

Pet sitting has brought Chris and Meg countless adventures, but one of their most cherished experiences was their elopement. After celebrating their engagement with family, they wanted to do something special for themselves.

“To make it official, we knew we had to slide in time during our constant travels to get hitched.”

They scanned their upcoming house sits and found the perfect location – a beautiful spot in Canmore, Canada.

“Caring for just one cute kitty Mookie, we figured that'd be our winner!”

They found an elopement package that would supply an officiant, photographer and videographer, and shuttle transportation, and they were all set.

“On the big day, we headed to our destination at Moraine Lake to exchange vows, followed by hiking in our tux and dress to get some breathtaking mountain shots. We got some odd looks, many congratulations, and even some snowflakes at the peak! We returned to our pet sit where we relaxed by the fire with Mookie in awe of the day we just had.”

That sure is one of our favorite sit stories!

“We always treat [pet sitting] like a real job and aim to provide premium pet care experiences”

Aside from the joy of meeting incredible pets and people, pet sitting has helped  Chris and Meg financially, letting them reach savings goals they had never anticipated.

And thanks to their dedication, the pair has no trouble booking sits 6-12 months in advance, staying constantly on the move. They’re wrapping up the year visiting repeat sits in western and central Canada, and are already planning their route next summer.

“You'll watch us bounce from Alberta to Winnipeg, Ontario, and New Brunswick as we reverse our coast-to-coast Canada adventure.”

Between applying for dual citizenships and planning future pet sits outside of North America, it sounds like Chris and Meg’s journey as pet sitters is just getting started!

Love is in the air

Wow, a huge congratulations to Chris and Meg – here’s to many more adventures! If reading this has warmed your heart, wait till you hear how TrustedHousesitters helped one member pull off the perfect proposal in Sam & Olivia’s story!