Finding Strangers Who Feel Like Friends

By Ewan & Emily, pet owners from the UK

We were nervous, I won’t lie. Handing over the keys to our home and trusting someone we’d never met? That’s a big leap. But life keeps moving, and sometimes, you have to jump. So, after reading reviews, messaging a few sitters, and having a video call with Sarah — a traveler from Australia who adored dogs as much as we do — we decided to take the chance.

The day we left, our dogs barely noticed. They were too busy getting belly rubs from Sarah. We checked in once or twice (okay, maybe five times), but every update was better than the last. Photos of happy dogs, a neatly kept house, and even a note about how one of our pups had discovered a new favorite napping spot.

When we returned, everything was exactly as we had left it — except our dogs, who now had a new best friend. But the biggest surprise? We realized we weren’t just coming home to wagging tails — we were coming home to a whole new way of seeing travel.

Now, every trip begins with excitement, not just for the adventure ahead, but for the night before we leave — the part where we sit down for dinner with our sitter, share stories over a glass of wine, and talk about the quirks of our pets. It’s become our little tradition, and honestly? It makes leaving easier, knowing that by the time we walk out the door, our pets have already made a new friend.