Molly leads the way on a walk in Cloverdale. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

One of the best things for an animal lover who doesn’t have a fur baby is to pet sit.

I’ve been without a dog for more than four years. It feels like forever since AJ was sleeping behind me as I wrote. I still miss her.

Not long after she crossed the Rainbow Bridge I started volunteering at the Butte Humane Society. While that still brings me happiness, it’s pet sitting that is even better. This is because I get the opportunity to really bond with an animal. It’s not just minutes together, but days and days.

Until I watched Pigz I had no ideas cats would cuddle in bed. I’ve since learned Gabby and Novak will do the same.

It seems like I’ve done more pet sitting this year than ever before. Most of the stints are at the person’s home. This is what I preferred for my dogs—that the sitter stay at the house. This way the animal is home and for the most part has his or her routine intact.

Novak and Gabby take over the guest bed when the sitter is in town. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

As a sitter it’s great because I get to travel. Even if it’s to a place I’ve been before, it is still a change of scenery. I loved being able to explore Cloverdale earlier this month when I watched Molly.

Luckily I can do my real job from any location that has internet. That gives me a ton of flexibility.

My next gig will actually be at my house when Leo comes to visit for a few weeks. He’s my dog nephew. I need to start plotting places to take him and preparing for not having the whole bed to myself.

There really is nothing like a fur baby in your life, even if it’s temporary.