Pet owners urged not to leave Christmas care until the last minute
– 2 min read
Pet owners planning to go away or travel over Christmas are being urged to arrange care for their animals as early as possible, as bookings for the festive period and October half-term begin to come in.
Holly Bird, founder of premium pet sitting service Birddog Catwalk, says the business regularly receives late enquiries and, while the team will always try to help, availability cannot be guaranteed during busy holiday periods.
“We get a lot of last-minute, or slightly late in the day, enquiries and we will always do our very best to accommodate people,” said Holly. “But we simply can’t guarantee that a sitter will be available for the dates somebody needs.”
Holly says arranging care early is about more than securing a sitter, as there are several things that need to happen before somebody looks after a pet for the first time.
Birddog Catwalk arranges a meet-and-greet before any new sit or walk to understand the pet’s routine, behaviour, allergies and any other needs. The team also records access instructions and vet details, while clients complete an agreement and veterinary release form in case of an emergency.
“There’s more to arranging pet care than finding somebody who is free,” said Holly. “Meeting beforehand means the pet has met us before we suddenly walk into their home when their owner isn’t there, and the owner can feel comfortable about the person coming into their home.
“It also gives our sitter the chance to make sure they feel comfortable and safe with the arrangement.”
Holly is encouraging anyone using a pet sitter for the first time to check they are insured and DBS checked and ask what procedures they have in place for emergencies and handling personal information.
“Pet sitting has historically been quite a casual arrangement, but true peace of mind comes from having the right policies, procedures and training in place,” she said.
Birddog Catwalk enters this Christmas with a much larger team than it had 12 months ago. Holly took on her first staff members at the end of September 2025, when she was still carrying out the bulk of the service delivery around Malmesbury herself.
Today, five active contractors work alongside Holly, with another sitter due to join the Bristol team and further recruitment planned around Malmesbury and Tetbury.
The larger team means Birddog Catwalk can cover a wider area, provide back-up if a sitter has an emergency and match animals with sitters suited to their individual needs. All team members follow the same procedures, software and training.
Clients also receive regular photographs and updates from walks and sits so they can see how their pets are doing while they are away.
“Christmas isn’t really any different to pet sitting at any other time of year, except that, like the summer, it’s busier,” said Holly.
“If you know the dates you’re going to need us, get them to us early. It gives us the best chance of being able to help and means everything can be properly arranged before you go away.”
Birddog Catwalk offers pet sitting, dog walking and home visits across Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds. For more information, visit https://birddogcatwalk.com/
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