Maureen & Terry’s House Sitting Story
After downsizing and retiring, Maureen and Terry were ready to explore. They wanted to see more of Australia and the world, and house sitting offered a way to combine travel with something they already enjoyed: caring for pets.
What followed has brought them new places to discover, different communities to experience and some memorable animals along the way.
But the biggest surprise wasn’t the travel. It was how quickly the pets welcomed them.
“The best surprise was how quickly the pets took to us and were happy to be with us,” they say.
Time to settle into somewhere new
For Maureen and Terry, one of the pleasures of house sitting is having time to experience a place beyond a brief visit.
A longer stay gives them the chance to settle into a neighbourhood and feel part of the local community. Their travels have included sits in Australia and the UK, with Tasmania and South East Queensland among their Australian destinations in 2026.
They enjoy walking and dancing, and house sitting fits well with their active retirement. Their own plans, though, always work around the animals.
“The welfare of the pets comes first,” they explain. “Therefore, we always fit our own activities around our commitments to the pets and the house.”
A few unforgettable characters
The variety of animals has been a particular joy. Alongside dogs and cats, Maureen and Terry have cared for chooks and three blue-tongue lizards.
The lizards brought their own feeding arrangements, with special worms for some and a vegetarian diet for another. Keeping track of who needed what made feeding time interesting.
Then one lizard appeared to disappear.
After 24 hours, they found it tucked away beneath the bark and other material at the bottom of its enclosure. It was a memorable reminder that getting to know an animal includes learning where it likes to hide.
Another character was Louie, a dog they cared for in the UK. Louie reacted strongly to other dogs on walks, so Maureen and Terry adjusted their outings to avoid encounters.
Experiences like this have reinforced the importance of understanding a pet’s behaviour before accepting a sit, including anything that might make walks or daily care more demanding.
Preparation makes a difference
Their very first sit also taught them a practical lesson.
At the end of the stay, they were asked to take Murphy, a Staffy, to boarding kennels. When they arrived, the kennels needed vaccination certificates that Maureen and Terry hadn’t been given.
The owners were in the UK, where it was four in the morning, and the couple were due to fly home the following day.
They worked with the kennels to arrange temporary isolation for Murphy until the owners could make contact and resolve the paperwork.
It is the kind of detail that can easily be overlooked during a handover, but can make a considerable difference later.
Today, Maureen and Terry make a point of asking for clear instructions about each pet’s food, habits, likes and dislikes, as well as the home.
They also plan to reach the local area 24 hours before the owners leave, allowing time to meet everyone and go through the arrangements in person.
Keeping owners connected
Before an owner heads overseas, Maureen and Terry make sure their chosen way of communicating is set up and working.
They send regular updates and photos, particularly during the first week, to help owners relax knowing their pets and home are being cared for.
If something is unclear, however small, they ask.
Their approach is straightforward: understand the instructions and follow them carefully.
Their advice? Start small and be yourself
For anyone considering house sitting in their 50s, 60s or 70s, Maureen and Terry suggest beginning with a short stay and one pet you feel confident caring for.
They also encourage sitters to discuss expectations openly. Sleeping arrangements, behaviour and daily routines all matter when deciding whether a sit is a good fit.
Their advice is to choose animals you have the experience and confidence to care for, however appealing the house or location might be.
And when writing a sitter profile, honesty matters most.
“Your profile should be honest and truthful, or in other words be yourself.”
For Maureen and Terry, house sitting has added something special to retirement: the chance to enjoy the company of animals while discovering wonderful places.
“House and pet sitting has given us the opportunity to love and experience pets for brief snippets of our lives.”
Those brief connections, and the experiences that come with them, have enriched their retirement.