Pet Sitting Jobs for Teens
Teens can earn money and bond with animals by taking on pet sitting jobs. The job is also an opportunity to earn work experience and gather references for future employment. They can work during the summer with animals requiring frequent care, or before and after school with animals requiring minimal care. Job duties for teenage pet sitters include providing pets with food, water, interaction and cleaning.
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During School Year
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Teens can watch a pet while school is in session, provided the pet needs minimal attention. Hours could take place before and school; the teen could stop at a neighbor's home before school to give a cat fresh food and water. After school, he would return to the home to play with the cat, clean out the litter box and provide more food. A teen can also care for pets that require only once-per-day attention like fish.
Summertime
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Teen's pet-sitting options increase with the leisure time the summer offers. Watching animals that require more frequent or laborious care is possible. They can care for unconventional "pets" on farms, like chickens, goats, cows, llamas and horses. As with other pet-sitting jobs, caring for farm animals requires comfort with the type of animal. In addition to farm work, teens can consider caring for animals that require several visits per day, like dogs -- which need to be fed, let outside more than once to use the restroom, taken for walks and petted.
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Overnight
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Some owners might request overnight supervision of a pet. This is true for especially needy animals, like those who are anxious or who require special care. Teens interested in these types of opportunities will need to work out a plan with their family and the pet owner. Older teens may be able to sleep overnight in the pet owner's home. Younger teens may need to care for the pet in their families' home. Either way, this pet-sitting arrangement requires a healthy time commitment.
Long-Term
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A teen who agrees to care for a pet on a long-term basis becomes the pet's main caregiver until the owner returns or discontinues services. Long-term pet-care opportunities arise when an owner needs to leave a pet for several days or months. The pet will rely on the carer for food, water, shelter, fun and comfort. This opportunity carries the greatest responsibility and is good for teens who are experienced pet owners or have adult guidance.
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