I've grown up with multiple dogs my entire life--everything from Poodles to Rottweilers - we also had cats, but mostly Siamese. When my friends travel, they regularly ask me to take care of their pets because they know that I care about animals and they know I enjoy the company. I would love to have my own dog or cat, but I travel for work sometimes and my parents live too far away. In fact, most of my social network is in Cleveland, so I tend to have a bit more free time here, and animals are generally great company to keep. Animal-sitting is a great alternative for me, because I get to enjoy the company when other people need a sitter, without the commitment to the responsibility that comes with having a pet full-time.