Professional Dog Walker/Cat Sitter - Flexible Availability

Becky's Pet Care; Springfield (VA); Hybrid; USD 7,400 - 11,000; Part time

Job summary

Becky's Pet Care is seeking a Backup Pet Care Specialist for flexible, intermittent hours. You will provide pet care coverage and visit clients' homes to walk dogs and care for pets, following detailed instructions.

Ideal candidates have hands-on animal-care experience, strong time management, and the ability to work independently with a reliable vehicle and valid driver's license. Earnings vary by availability and schedule.

Qualifications

• Hands-on animal-care experience required or strongly preferred.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Valid driver's license and a reliable, insured vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide pet care coverage when regular Pet Care Specialists are unavailable or need extra support.
• Visit clients' homes to walk dogs and care for dogs, cats, and other household pets.
• Follow detailed pet and home-care instructions.
• Safely handle pets of different sizes, breeds, personalities, and energy levels.

Skills

Animal care

Independent worker

Time management

Flexibility

Communication

Judgment

Own vehicle

Driver's license

High School diploma

Reliability

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Flexible work for experienced animal lovers.

Do you love animals and want a non-traditional part-time job?

Maybe you're a vet tech with a rotating schedule. A dog trainer. A rescue professional. Retired and looking for something fun to do. A student who comes home during school breaks. Or you're in a transition period and want flexible work that gets you outside and around animals.

As a Backup Pet Care Specialist with Becky's Pet Care, you'll provide pet care coverage when our regular team needs additional support. This is an intentionally flexible role for people who enjoy working with animals and want the opportunity to pick up work without committing to a traditional weekly schedule.

Because you'll be stepping into coverage needs as they arise, this position is best suited to someone who is experienced, confident, adaptable, dependable, and comfortable working independently.

What You'll Do

• Provide pet care coverage when regular Pet Care Specialists are unavailable or additional coverage is needed.
• Visit clients' homes to walk dogs and care for dogs, cats, and other household pets.
• Follow detailed pet and home-care instructions.
• Safely handle pets of different sizes, breeds, personalities, and energy levels.
• Provide exercise, play, companionship, feeding, fresh water, and other requested care.
• Maintain a safe and secure environment for pets and clients' homes.
• Review client, pet, and visit information before each assignment.
• Check in and out of visits using our mobile app.
• Complete detailed Pet Care Journals with updates and photos.
• Complete assigned visits within the client's requested time window.
• Manage your assigned visits, schedule, and route independently.
• Communicate with Operations regarding questions, concerns, or unexpected situations.
• Use sound judgment and problem‑solving skills when situations don't go according to plan.
• Follow all company safety procedures, emergency procedures, policies, leash laws, and pet‑care protocols.
• Maintain client confidentiality and professionalism in every home.
• Maintain the equipment and supplies necessary to complete assigned visits.
• Complete required training and remain current on company procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Your Schedule

This is a flexible, intermittent position with opportunities for both weekday and weekend work.

A minimum of 20 hours per month is required.

Availability is especially important during our higher‑demand seasonal periods:

• June-August: 60 days of availability
• October-January: 60 days of availability

You do not need to be available every day. Instead, we'll work with you to understand when you're available and match you with coverage needs when possible.

Average earnings are approximately $50 per day, with total earnings depending on your availability, assigned schedule, number of visits, and business needs.

Working Independently

All Becky's Pet Care Specialists are expected to work independently. You will be responsible for managing your assigned visits, traveling between clients' homes, following care instructions, documenting your work, and providing excellent care without a supervisor physically accompanying you.

As a Backup Pet Care Specialist, you'll often be stepping into assignments outside of a regular routine. You should be particularly comfortable quickly reviewing information, understanding a new pet's needs, adapting to different homes and routines, and confidently providing care with minimal direction.

Operations support is available when needed, but your ability to use your training, experience, and good judgment to manage assignments independently is essential.

What You Bring

Previous hands‑on animal‑care experience is strongly preferred. This role is best suited for candidates who already have significant experience caring for or handling animals.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine love and respect for animals.
• Has hands‑on experience caring for and handling pets.
• Is confident safely handling dogs of varying sizes, breeds, energy levels, and temperaments.
• Can quickly learn new pets, homes, routines, and care instructions.
• Is highly comfortable working independently.
• Can confidently make decisions and solve routine problems without constant direction.
• Has strong judgment and knows when an issue requires additional support.
• Is adaptable and comfortable stepping into unfamiliar assignments.
• Is dependable, even when working intermittently.
• Communicates clearly and professionally.
• Has excellent time‑management and organizational skills.
• Has a reliable, insured vehicle for traveling between clients' homes.
• Has a valid driver's license.
• Has a High School Diploma or equivalent.

Physical Requirements

Pet care is active work. You should be comfortable walking, standing, sitting, climbing stairs, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and using your hands throughout the day. You must be able to lift, move, pull, or push a minimum of 25 pounds.

You will work primarily in clients' homes and outdoors and may be exposed to heat, cold, rain, snow, and other seasonal weather conditions.