Who Looks After Your Pet While You're on Holiday? Here's What a Croatian Company Offers

Today, pets are full-fledged family members, and more owners than ever are seeking reliable caregivers to look after them while they're at work, traveling, or on vacation. In Croatia, demand for professional pet sitters is steadily rising, with owners increasingly turning to experts who can provide peace of mind and security.

One of the pioneers in this field in Croatia is Saša Španović, a doctor of veterinary medicine and owner of Pets Only. According to data from Financije.hr, her company has been successfully providing pet care services for ten years, and interest shows no signs of waning.

From Dog Walks to Watering Plants

"Pets Only offers dog walking and pet visiting services. We walk dogs, visit cats and other animals in their owners' homes, and also offer dog boarding at our facility, a dog daycare, dog transport, and plant watering," Španović told Financije.hr.

Starting the company ten years ago was a major challenge because this line of work didn't exist in Croatia at the time. Before registering, she spent nearly a year researching how to even establish a pet care and walking business. However, finding the first clients wasn't a problem since they were among the first in the market.

"After almost a year of researching how to open a pet care and walking business, we managed to register. Then, the first steps were finding clients and employees. Finding clients wasn't an issue since we were among the first, and we quickly gathered a considerable number of clients; more or less, clients come to us through referrals," added Španović.

Patience, Understanding, and Communication

As a doctor of veterinary medicine, Španović emphasizes that this knowledge greatly aids her daily work with various types of pets. However, she also highlights the key traits needed for this job.

"Certainly, a person in this line of work must be patient with animals, understand different species, and be able to read their moods and body language. Communication with the pet's owner, i.e., working with people, is also crucial-that's actually the most challenging part; with the pets themselves, we come to an agreement very quickly," she said for Financije.hr.

Individual Approach and Special Needs

Pets Only's services are used by a diverse range of people, from students and retirees to professionals in various sectors. Each owner receives terms of service, and pets that aren't candidates for group stays-for instance, due to fear or aggression-are not accepted into the group. For such dogs, individual sessions are available.

"If it's a dog that doesn't join the pack but works individually with the sitter and cooperates, of course we'll accept them and give them our full attention. For owners of such dogs, if they're not working with a trainer, we recommend trainers," said Španović.

For animals with chronic conditions, she stresses the importance of precise information from owners about diagnosis and therapy. Her veterinary background makes caring for sick pets easier. At the company's facility, dogs roam freely, without cages, and choose where they want to settle.

The Hardest Part of the Job: People, Not Animals

Španović also spoke openly to Financije.hr about the risks that come with this job. Although it may seem idyllic, caring for others' pets carries responsibility for unexpected situations.

"The biggest challenge is working with people. Then there are other situations you have to be prepared for. One is that the dog you're walking might be attacked by another dog, that dogs might get into a fight, that the animal you're caring for might fall ill or, God forbid, pass away. These are all risks of this job," she said.

Despite all the challenges, demand for pet sitting shows no signs of slowing down, and Španović is pleased to note that more and more people are deciding to start their own businesses in this field because, as she puts it, there's always work.