Dog Walker/Pet Sitter

We’re Hiring! Join Our Team at Dogwood Critter Care

Two of our incredible team members are moving on to exciting new adventures! Now, we’re looking for two new part-time team members to join our team!

What You’ll Be Doing (Get Ready for the Best Job Ever!)

Love animals? Love independence? Want a job where every day is different? This is it! As a Pet Care Professional with Dogwood Critter Care, you’ll:

Care for pets one-on-one – You’ll visit clients’ homes to provide top-notch care, including feeding, medicating, exercising, and giving lots of love!

Work with dogs of all confidence levels and behavioral backgrounds – Some pets will run up to greet you with wiggles, while others may need patience and understanding to feel safe. You must be comfortable handling pets with a variety of personalities—or be eager to learn!

Administer medications – Many of our clients need help with pill poppers, injections, or topical treatments. Experience is a plus, but if you’re not familiar, we’ll teach you!

Drive between visits (and get paid for your time!) – Got a favorite podcast? Perfect! You’ll have built-in time to catch up on your latest true crime series or jam out to your favorite playlists while driving between appointments.

• Driving time is paid.
• Gas and mileage are not reimbursed—so a fuel-efficient car is a big plus!
• Solo work with tons of flexibility – If you enjoy working independently and making your own schedule within set availability, this is the perfect fit!
• Meet your step count goals effortlessly – With plenty of dog walks and active pet care, you’ll get your daily movement in without even trying!
• Occasional overnight stays – Some pets need extra love and care overnight, so you’ll have opportunities for overnight pet-sitting in clients’ homes.
• Keep pet parents in the loop – Send adorable updates, messages, and photos to let owners know their pets are safe and happy.
• Safety is key – You’ll use Fear Free handling techniques and follow all company protocols to ensure a safe, stress-free experience for pets.

Who We’re Looking For:

✅ Experience: Professional animal experience required. Volunteer experience may be considered with:

• A letter detailing your volunteer duties
• A reference from someone who supervised your work

✅ Comfort with pet behavior & care:

• Must be comfortable with dogs of varying confidence levels and behavioral backgrounds—or willing to learn.
• Must be willing to administer medications to pets as needed (training provided if you don’t have experience).

✅ Availability:

• At least two weekdays between 10 AM and 3 PM if you are interested in the daytime shift.
• At least two weekdays between 3 pm and 8 pm if you are interested in the evening shift.
• We are hiring for a weekday daytime shift, 10 am - 3 pm, and we are hiring for an weekday evening shift, 3 pm - 8 pm. (schedule can be flexible, but availability in line with the above listed shifts is a must)
• Willingness to do occasional overnights

✅ Hours: Estimated 10-15 hours per week with opportunities for internal growth and promotion.

✅ Pay & Perks:

• Starting pay: $15 – $17 per hour tips (based on experience)
• $250 hiring bonus for those already certified in Pet CPR & First Aid or Fear Free Certified
• W-2 employment (NOT an independent contractor role!)
• Paid driving time (gas & mileage not reimbursed)
• Students are welcome and encouraged to apply!

✅ Other Requirements:

• Reliable transportation (you’ll be driving between visits)
• Comfort working with a variety of pets and situations
• Physically able to walk for 25 minutes at a time and able to lift up to 50 lbs

Who Might Not Be the Best Fit? (Transparency Matters!)

While we LOVE hiring passionate pet professionals, we’ve learned that this job works best for certain types of people. If any of the following sound like deal-breakers, this may not be the right role for you:

You need an extremely firm, predictable schedule.
We aim to provide as much consistency as possible, but because we offer on-demand services, schedules sometimes shift at the last minute. If you need to plan your life months in advance with zero flexibility, this might not be the best fit.

You need constant social interaction.
This is a solo job—you’ll work independently for most of your shifts. If you thrive in a team setting and need coworkers to chat with throughout the day, this might not be fulfilling unless you meet your social needs outside of work.

You’re “just” an animal lover.
We love that you adore animals, but pet care is more than just cuddling puppies. Our team is committed to meeting each animal where they are, whether that means handling a nervous rescue dog, medicating a senior cat, or reinforcing training with patience. If you haven’t worked with animals professionally or done extensive volunteering with a rescue or shelter, this job may feel overwhelming.

Your car guzzles gas.
If you drive a large vehicle with poor gas mileage, commuting between visits may get expensive. A fuel-efficient car is a big plus!

You believe in using punishment-based training or handling methods.
We are a Fear Free, positive reinforcement-based company. We do not use aversive techniques like prong collars, shock collars, or dominance-based handling. If this doesn’t align with your philosophy, this is not the right job for you.

We are happy to teach positive reinforcement methods, but all animals MUST be handled with compassion and care.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.00 - $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15 – 30 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule

Application Question(s):

• How many hours per week are you looking to work, and are you open to working weekends, evenings, overnights, or holidays?
• What is your current weekly availability, and are there any specific days or times when you are unavailable?
• If hired, how soon would you be able to start working?
• If hired for this role, how long do you anticipate staying in it? For example, if you are a student, when do you plan to graduate, and do you expect to leave the area at that point?
• Do you have any upcoming commitments in the next six months, such as school, family obligations, or other jobs, that might affect your availability?
• If your availability is expected to change in the near future, what will your new schedule look like?

Experience:

• Professional pet care: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $15 - $17