Last summer, I faced a dilemma—I wanted to extend a trip in Europe to escape the Arizona heat for an extra week without the steep price tag of boarding my dog and paying for lodging. I’m lucky to have a wonderful neighborhood pet caretaker, but asking them to care for my pup and stay at my house that long felt like too big of an ask. Enter Pet Sitting! I’d heard about a couple who spent three weeks living in Wales for free in exchange for watching someone’s pets. It sounded too good to be true—but it turns out, it’s absolutely a thing. Where to Start? There are several reputable pet-sitting platforms out there that connect pet owners with travelers who are happy to exchange pet care for free accommodations . I came across a blog that compared the various services and found it super helpful in choosing the one that was right for me. I ultimately went with TrustedHousesitters.com , a platform known for its thorough background checks and professional approach. They do charge an annual fee...