Becoming a "Pet Person" - Trish's member story

Before February 2023, Patricia (also known as Trish) never imagined animals would become the main focus of her travels. Although she’d grown up with pets, the thought of house and pet sitting had never much appealed. Little did she know, that was all about to change!

Trish had been a dedicated UPS employee for 30 years until, four years ago, she was hit with redundancy. Not only this but 12 years ago Trish was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as “Pheochromocytoma”. Luckily, her cancer is under management and has been given the “stable” stamp by her doctors. But, with the stress of redundancy and life, Trish had to find a better way to deal with it all. It was time for a new challenge. 

Her goal? Visit all 50 US states by her 60th birthday on January 27, 2024. The idea of visiting her remaining 24 States in 10 months - especially with a cancer diagnosis - would seem impossible to some. But not Trish…

Fortified by her faith and inspirational willpower, Trish began looking at how she was going to do this. Her first (and biggest) challenge was working out how she would afford to do this trip. Luckily, her path crossed with TrustedHousesitters member, Stephanie Perry - creator of House Sitter School and an expert in “helping Black women embrace ease by taking a career break, traveling long-term or moving abroad”. Although nervous about the idea of caring for someone else's home and pet (not to mention, she had never considered it as a means to travel!), she began applying for sits.

To accompany her adventures around the States, Trish’s profile also included her son, Preston, and her two young grandsons, DeMiko and Jair, who tragically lost their mother in a car accident last year. Since then, the three of them have accompanied Trish on numerous sits. Now, Trish and her family are complete pet sitting converts!

“Travel is an addiction, every sit has something different, someone different and a beloved pet companion” 

And how does she feel about the responsibility of caring for cute companions?

“I now prefer pets to people!”

Trish now cannot imagine being without pets in her life, she loves them all and misses each one when she leaves. As for her challenge to visit all 50 states before the age of 60? She’s completed it! 

Armed with a newfound love for pet-enhanced travel (and her TrustedHousesitters membership, of course), Trish completed her 50-state challenge by visiting 26 states in 9 months, completing her 50th State on October 23rd, 2023. Paw-some work, Trish! During her US-state tour, she completed a total of 20 house sits through TrustedHousesitters, all with 5-star reviews, she offers thanks to her faith in God, “He’s not done with me yet!”. Her new pet pals included 18 dogs, 11 cats, three ducks, two fish, one tortoise, and a bird.

Now that Trish has conquered the US, she has planned to head overseas to meet pets in all four corners of the globe. So, what's in store for 2024? Trish is already excited and asking for “More in 2024”! She has started her year off in Thailand with a little break for her birthday. Trish will pick up house sitting in February and is very excited with already three confirmed sits in Australia. After visiting Down Under, she’s keen to look for volunteering across the African continent taking her grandson, DeMiKo, along for the ride.

Trish is an absolute inspiration and we wish her all the best on her next adventure. To her story, we want to leave you with this final quote from Trish herself: 

“Time is the most expensive thing you can buy.” 

Well said, Trish.

You can follow Trish’s adventures by following her Instagram accounts, @let2sit4u and @trishtravelsandtastytreats_.