On the Road for Pet Care: My South Island Journey with PSNZ

My South Island Road Trip: Spreading the Word about PSNZ and Connecting with Kiwi Pet Sitters

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A few weeks ago, I set off on a road trip across the stunning South Island of New Zealand—an adventure with a mission to promote Pet Sitting NZ (PSNZ), spread the word about our growing association, and connect with pet lovers and professionals across the region. While the road was full of surprises, and I didn’t have any official “meet-up” events with attendees, the connections I made and the positive feedback I received from vets and the public were incredibly encouraging.

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Here’s a little recap of my journey and what we’re doing at PSNZ to continue supporting the pet care community.

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From Vet Visits to Cafe Stops: Connecting with the Heart of the South Island

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One of the highlights of my trip was meeting with vets across the main regions of the South Island. Every single one I visited was enthusiastic about PSNZ and how our efforts to support professional development in the pet care industry could benefit pet owners. In fact, the feedback I got from the vets was overwhelmingly positive. Many felt that their clients would find real value in having access to our network of professional pet sitters and pet care providers.

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I was also lucky enough to visit a number of pet-friendly cafes (which, let’s be honest, is always a treat) and take a few fun pictures with our plush dog teddy mascot, Nicholas, who was a huge hit! As you can imagine, Nicholas got a lot of attention at the cafes. I found myself chatting about PSNZ with customers enjoying their morning coffee, and one lovely person even offered to take a photo with him to help promote the image! It was a fun addition to the pet-friendly stops and gave us the perfect chance to tell even more people about our mission.

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Most pet friendly cafes were offering pet friendly outdoor seating areas, which is great for dogs and their owners to enjoy a cuppa together. We’re now compiling a pet-friendly list, which will include cafes, accommodations, and entertainment options across New Zealand. This way, pet owners and pet sitters can have the perfect day out with their fur babies—whether that’s for a walk, a coffee date, or a night away.

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As I drove through the rolling hills and farmland of the South Island, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer number of sheep in paddocks (I’ve never seen so many and I live rural!) and the takeover of rabbits in one of the paddocks, again I’ve seen wild rabbits roaming but there must have been 50 in this one paddock. I worked out if I started my mornings around 6am, it meant I was able to get the shots at the cafes before the place became filled with customers. It also meant I was able to enjoy watching all the doggies on their morning walks—from little pups to golden oldies, which was nice when away from my boy at home (Nicholas my mastiff X).

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The Heartwarming Side of Pet Care: Vets, Councils, and Communities

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It wasn’t just vets and cafes that I connected with. I also visited local councils and libraries, where I found myself chatting for too long about our own pets and the joy they bring to our lives. In many cases, I was met with immediate enthusiasm when I explained how PSNZ could help local pet owners find trusted, professional pet sitters. I had one vet ask for a bunch of business cards, which felt like a huge win for PSNZ—it shows the vets need someone to refer their pet owners and pet carers!

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One of the most moving parts of the trip was visiting the vets and seeing the angel boards—those walls adorned with photos of beloved pets who have passed on, or who were recently cared for. It’s always a reminder of the deep bond we share with our pets, and it felt wonderful knowing PSNZ can help foster connections between pet owners and reliable, compassionate caregivers. I kept my vet visits short and sweet. There are often people having a difficult day with their beloved pets needing medical attention and it's important to me to always be respectful of the pets and pet parents in their care or in the waiting room at the time (I did enjoy bumping into more pets!)

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Looking Forward: More Pet Sitters, More Connections

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Another highlight of the trip was dropping off the prize for our launch giveaway to Kirsty in Dunedin-a wonderful pet lover who won $500 worth of Kooky Kibble cat and dog food along with 6x packs of Little Green Dogs ECO FRIENDLY poo bags! We look forward to seeing the result once she manages to lug them out of her car with someone's help (yes, that heavy!)! I hope to see even more pet owners join our community and enter our giveaways moving forward (who doesn’t like, and often need to catch a break!).

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PSNZ: A Growing Community of Pet Professionals

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As a small, growing organisation, we’re continuously striving to build relationships and support the amazing pet carers in New Zealand. By providing a code of conduct and resources to kiwi pet sitters, we are working to lift the standard in pet care nationally. As a pet owner, you can ask if your pet sitter holds the PSNZ Pet Care Commitment Code (accessible through our free or paid membership) and feel confident they are upholding the highest of standards in pet care. 

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At this point, we're actively looking for more Kiwi pet sitters to join our directory. Pet owners are searching for local professionals who are passionate about the care and well-being of their pets—and we want to make sure those pet owners can find the best people to look after their furry family members.

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For those joining as paid members, there are two main benefits: a pet sitter profile and verification through PSNZ. 

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Paid members are vetted by Pet Sitting NZ, providing an extra level of trust and credibility with potential clients. The PSNZ Verified Badge assures pet owners that you are a real person, have a clean background, and have references to support you, saving both the pet owner and sitter time in the communication process.

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If you’re a pet sitter, dog walker, or anyone involved in pet care, becoming a paid member gives you the benefit of a professional profile on our website, allowing you to connect with pet owners who are actively looking for reliable, trusted care. It’s an easy solution to advertising your pet care services to local pet owners. 

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My Meet-Up Experience: Building Connections in Person

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I connected with a fellow professional who shares my passion for animals. We spent a good while chatting about our mutual goals for the pet care industry and how we can support each other as we grow our businesses. I love meeting people in person because it brings a whole new level of connection that messages or emails just can’t provide. Plus, the nervousness disappears quickly when you know you’re speaking to someone who genuinely cares about animals—it’s one of the best parts of this journey!

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On that note, I’m always open to meeting more of you. If you’ve been considering getting in touch, just do it! I’m excited to keep building relationships and hearing your thoughts on how we can work together to improve the pet care industry here in New Zealand.

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Final Thoughts: A Thank You to Everyone I Met

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Looking back on my South Island road trip, I feel grateful for the many connections I made and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from everyone I spoke to. Whether it was a vet, a pet lover, or a cafe owner, everyone I met was excited to learn more about PSNZ and how we can work together to improve the pet care industry.

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For now, I’ll continue to work on building those relationships and growing our network of professional pet sitters. 

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If you’re a pet sitter, dog walker, or anyone working in pet care, you have access to the Pet Care Commitment Code and support through our community. 

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Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them.

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Thank you for your ongoing support—and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!

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