Services | About the Founder | Meet
Our Sitters
Process of Engagement | Service
Area | Fees | Contact Us
The Sitters is a professional pet and house sitting service provided by Edson Enterprises, LLC. We offer pet care in the home, or monitor the home if there are no pets, while you are:
• out-of- town on business
• gone on vacation
• busy at work/school or unable to return home for extended hours (such as you are going out directly after work to dinner/theater etc.)
• unable to exercise, relieve, or transport pets due to other reasons (such as you are post-surgery, have difficulty walking, are temporarily unable to drive)
• unable to do errands, meet delivery or repair persons mid-day
Types of Pets: We care for your dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rats, birds, ferrets, lizards/iguanas, snakes, turtles, fish, frogs and a variety of other animals.
All pets must have an identified veterinarian and be currently vaccinated.
We do not care for pets with dangerous tendencies, aggressive behavior or a history of biting. Our Sitters always reserve the right to place a pet in an appropriate safe setting if they become a safety concern or a risk to our Sitter while you are away.
Pet care includes: feeding, watering, potty breaks, walking/exercising, playing, loving and companionship for your animals. We will take your pets to their favorite park/play area if requested. We also provide health and safety checks, medications, clean-up and pet-taxi if needed.
Home care includes: lighting rotation, bringing in the mail and newspapers, watering plants/hanging baskets, taking out the trash/recycle, interior and exterior residential checks, and other duties as requested.
Errands include: stocking your refrigerator before you return from being away, picking up pet or supplies, meeting delivery/repair persons, or doing other types of errands per client request.
Sitter visit hours are typically scheduled between 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Overnight Sitter services may be arranged on a case-by-case basis. We do a limited number of overnights in non-smoking, very clean households. Overnight accommodations must also include a proper sleeping situation for our Sitter.
Our founding principle is to serve pets and owners with the utmost care, attention and respect for life and property. The Sitters is Insured & Bonded. We also are certified by the American Red Cross in Pet First Aid for Cats and Dogs.
We are members of Pet Sitters International (PSI), which is a wonderful resource for pet owners and pet sitters. The web address for PSI is www.petsit.com.
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About the Founder
The Sitters was founded in 2003 by Jill W. Edson. Jill's passion for animals began the first time she saw one as a toddler. She has loved and owned various combinations of animals all her life including large, medium, and small dogs; cats; guinea pigs, rabbits and mice; birds; turtles, an iguana and various fish. Today she has two dogs (one Shepard Mix and a Chow Mix...both rescues), two Siamese cats, an Eastern Box Turtle, and two African Dwarf frogs. Jill also has been a horsewoman since she was too small to reach the stirrups!
| When preparing to graduate from high school in the mid-1970’s, Jill wanted to be a veterinarian. At the time, the University of Wisconsin had a large animal program that upon interview let Jill know that she was “just too small” to do “that type of work”. Instead, Jill earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, and worked as a Registered Nurse for many years. Her specialties throughout her career included all areas of critical care, ortho-neuro, and rehabilitation. (Jill is still licensed as an RN in the state of Washington). Next, Jill completed a Master’s in Business Administration in 1983. Since then, she has worked in healthcare in marketing, strategic planning, contracting and business development. |
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Owning and operating a pet and house sitting business represents Jill’s third major shift in careers. This one is inspired by her love for animals, and satisfies her life-long desire to work in their service.
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Our Assistant Managers
| Suzanne: My first encounter with Jill Edson and The Sitters was when I became a client many years ago.
We have two Yorkies who are now our only "children" at home. I was and am so impressed with the care that I wanted to be a part of the care-giving for others. I have a background for "care-giving". I have four grown children, nine grandchildren and am a care-giver for my elderly mother. I also was a flight attendant for 28 years--hence more "care-giving" on the airplane!! |
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I am proud to serve as Assistant Manager for The Sitters. In this role I am in charge whenever Jill is away or needs administrative support. I also have a full caseload of pets who I enjoy pampering. I look forward to meeting your pets soon.
| Shana: Some of my earliest memories include caring for and enjoying the company of animals. As a child, I considered my pets to be part of my family, including our dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pig, fish and even an occasional injured or orphaned wild animal baby that we would nurse back to health and return to the wild. Now that I’m grown and have a family of my own, my husband Jim and I call our pets our children. We both enjoy caring for our two shelter dogs Blixa (the softest and most beautiful Aussie Shepard mix) & Rudy (our handsome and playful German Shepard mix), chinchilla siblings Marla & Tyler, and newly adopted baby bunny Lofa. They bring such joy into our home, and caring for them is truly a pleasure. We are also part of Tacoma Humane Society’s foster program, adopting two out of the seven animals that have been in our care. |
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My professional background includes 13 years as a Social Worker, where I first met and worked next to Jill Edson, and where I discovered the power of animals and the healing process. I often included my retriever mix Malu (rest in peace, sweet girl), a trained therapy dog, in my counseling sessions with patients and families. She brought with her the gifts and strengths that I could not. Her gentle presence could soothe a struggling stroke survivor, and calm even the most agitated injury victim.
After leaving Social Work, I found myself wanting to stay in a “helping” field yet still surround myself with animals. My time as an Adoption Counselor at the Tacoma Humane Society and Vet Assistant was just that. I ultimately lost that position due to budget cuts but am still an active volunteer at the shelter as well as Point Defiance Zoo. I am also a Creative Memories consultant with a focus on preserving family memories through scrapbooks and journaling.
When I’m not sitting for your pets and caring for your home, you can find me cheering on the Mariners, kayaking throughout the beautiful Puget Sound, finding loving and forever homes for homeless pets on the Humane Society’s Comcast On-Demand pet adoption show, and enjoying the company of walruses and polar bears at Rocky Shores.
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Our Sitters
Casee: Growing up as an only child I found comfort and love in my family pets. I have made a point to always have animal companions in my life, especially dogs. My experience in caring for animals goes back to my childhood. I was raised with dogs that had special needs and now have a soft spot in my heart for those animals that need a little extra care. |
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Being an evening and weekend pet sitter, I can only hope that I will have the opportunity with your pets to be able to bring extra love and care into your family.
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Dayton: |
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I have raised rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds, and have enjoyed the loyal companionship of dogs most of my life. Four years ago I got my first cat – a rescue kitty (just 6 weeks old) from the streets of downtown Tacoma. It was love at first sight for both of us. Precious Cleopatra is such a gentle and tender kitty – she's just a love and this summer I got baby kitty Grayson who keeps us all on our toes as he races around the house finding mischief. I also share caring for our neighborhood feral cat who is still spry and active and comes bounding for breakfast every morning after 18 years of living on the streets. Amazing!!!!
I live in Tacoma and am pictured here with my dog Charlie who is now in doggie heaven after 16 happy years. I have been an educator most of my career and now work part-time for The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising presenting many interesting topics to local high school classrooms. Five years ago I followed my passion for art and now am also a professional artist using photography to create my award winning art.
I am excited to be a part of The Sitters and look forward to meeting and taking care of your precious pets.
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Laurissa: Gold and angel fish, hamsters, parakeets, canaries, polliwogs, and Kemmie McFergus Gabriella (a sweet, sleek black cat) adopted me when I was a teacher of some great (multiply-handicapped) students. She and I were joined by Theo, a shepherd/Rhodesian mix, and then by Flora, a Rhodesian/hound mix. I went on to teach Sp. Ed. preschool and then kindergarten, and now am retired. |
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My retirement companions are Amanda and Tadashi (dogs from the Humane Society), and Emma and Juniper (Tortie cats). We periodically share our home with a variety of foster puppies or adult dogs from the Humane Society (where I also practice my relaxation massage skills with some wonderful dogs while they wait to be found by their new companions.)
As the Tacoma Area Lead, I serve as a resource and trainer for our Sitters in the Tacoma Area. I'm enjoying the opportunity to meet, feed, walk, play with, and otherwise care for the animals you live with and love.
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| Lynne: I grew up in Federal Way before it became the metropolis it is today. I was lucky that my parents were both animal lovers and allowed us to have many pets. We had quite an assortment including: cats, dogs, hamsters, turtles, fish, birds and a white rat. I learned a lot about animals from the experience of raising all of these critters. I wanted to help every stray animal that came into our yard. I can remember holding my dog on my lap and telling her "You're my best friend." |
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During college, I found a black-and-white stray kitty. Or, maybe I should say she found me. This was the beginning of a long relationship with my cat Gypsy. Thanks to Gypsy I survived graduate school and my first job as a CDS (Communication Disorders Specialist) in Eastern Washington. I didn't realize that I would soon find out the real meaning of the word "rural."
Since that time I have always had cats in my life. Currently I live in Kent with my 12-year-old daughter. I work three days a week as an SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) for the Kent School District. We have five cats and one fish. I also take care of my mom's Chin/Pekinese Focus. I'm his taxi driver and walker. I look forward to adding a little dog to our menagerie some day, but that will be when I retire. Our most recent kitty (number 5) is sometimes shared by our neighbor so he has the best of both worlds. We call him Snickers, and she calls him Max. Hmmm. Maybe that's why he seems a little confused? Snickers is joined by Socksy, Tessa, Baby Kitty (Squeakers); and Missy and of course their two humans. Pet Sitting offers me the opportunity to give back to animals the love and devotion that they have given to me.[ Back to Top ]
Sallie: Our home was always a place of safety, rescue and healing for anything from abandoned wild babies to injured crows and housed numerous families of skunks, raccoons, rabbits and deer. We were forever calling the Cincinnati Zoo for feed and housing instructions. |
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We met Jill during our move to this area from Nevada, she was a savior as my husband went back and forth to Nevada and while I was finishing classes in Las Vegas and during my dietetics internship in Portland for a year. Anyone who can handle our “wild home” and keep it reasonably calm and organized deserves a medal!
As my professional careers advanced through child abuse investigator, to geophysicist and now to Registered Dietitian, I have forever kept my interest in animals large and small. My husband has called a halt to my bringing rescued animals home as we presently have three large dogs that are a challenge to walk at one time.
When Jill indicated that she needed someone who could handle multiple large pets, I thought that doing this would be a nice way for me to still be involved in a diversity of animals along with starting my dietetics practice in the area.
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Sandy: I worked as a Registered Nurse in Minneapolis...and later became a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines. I recently retired from Northwest after 37 years of flying. |
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Presently, I have my Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Chloe that I love with all my heart! After participating in Obedience and Rally, we became "Pet Partners" with Delta Society Therapy Dogs. Chloe and I visit patients at a local hospital, where she brings much joy and comfort during her visits.
I have always loved being around animals, and caring for them as if they are part of the family. I look forward to meeting and caring for your pets in the near future!
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Sara: |
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Currently, I live in the Lakeland Hills area of Auburn. I have three young boys who I enjoy each day and keep me on my toes. I look forward to caring for your beloved pets. I will care for your pets with the love and attention as if they were my own.
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Tanya: |
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In addition to being a pet sitter, I am working as a receptionist at a veterinarian hospital, and love being an auntie to all the animals!
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Teresa: |
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Born and raised in Eastern Washington, I was a farm girl in Walla Walla. Although my dad mostly had crops of wheat and barley, we also raised cattle for beef. There were horses, goats, dogs, cats, bunnies, chickens and I was even friends with the deer and coyotes! It was so great growing up with animals. It taught me so much.
College brought me to Vancouver, WA; marriage kept me there! Eventually, careers brought us both to the Auburn/Federal Way area where we have lived since the '80s.
We have had many pets the past 30 years but recently lost our sweet old beagle, Sadie Mae. Currently we have two miniature long hair dachshunds, Link and Frankie. They are our babies for now and are constantly bringing a smile to our faces. We are having fun doing obedience classes and learning rally and agility. Of course, we never forget that Tiggy, our sweet old gray tabby, rules the household!
It would be wonderful to meet you and your pets and to help in any way to give you peace of mind and your pet lots of love!
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The Sitters is serious about ensuring we can provide the type of service that you desire and your pet requires. The first step in deciding if we're a good match is the Initial Interview. There is a charge for this one-time service to document the care required and activate your client account. For details, please review our client policies.
During your Initial Interview, your Sitter will visit with you in your home. The purpose of this interview is:
• To get to know your family, your home, and your pet (if you have one)
• To listen to and document what you need to be done when you’re away
• To learn about your preferences for caring for your home and pet
• To learn where supplies are kept
• To complete your Service Agreement
If you decide you would like us to be your Sitters, you may provide us with the necessary keys, openers, and codes at the time of the Initial Interview, or, for an additional fee we can come pick these up at a later date.
To schedule your Initial Interview, call 253-661-SITT (7488).
If you decide you would like a second interview or an instructional visit, that’s okay too. Be aware that a charge will be incurred based on the amount of time needed to complete the additional visits.
It is important to
remember, we typically prefer 1 week notice for service reservations.
All clients should review our client
policies prior to starting pet sitting services.
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Primary Service Areas:
Primary Service Area #1: Within 7 miles of our south Federal Way office (includes Federal Way, Twin Lakes, Dash Point, Browns Point, Marine Hills, Northeast Tacoma, Edgewood, Fife, Milton and some parts of Woodmont, Kent, Lakeland Hills, Auburn.)
Service Area #2: Within 7 miles of North Tacoma including the Stadium District, Old Town, Proctor District, Ruston, West End, Lakewood and some surrounding areas including University Place)
Service Area #3: We also service Bonney Lake, Sumner and Lakeland.
Additional Service Areas: For engagements outside our primary service areas, an extra charge will be assessed for each additional 15 minutes of travel time required to reach your residence.
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The Sitters recommends your dogs be visited two to four times per day. For their own safety and well-being, cats must be visited at least once per day. Other small animals’ needs depend on species and unique character. All animals in a household must be “visited”. There are no additional charges for each animal in a household, or for medication administration…however if additional time is warranted to ensure each animal is fully tended, you will be charged for that time. This is documented at the time of initial interview.
• A visit for pet sitting is a 30 minute minimum.
• A visit for house sitting is a 15 minute minimum.
• Errand services have a 30 minute minimum.
• Overnights have a 10 hour minimum. (Daytime visits are additional.)
Pet Sitting is a pre-paid service. Payment must be received in full prior to our first visit of each trip...or at the beginning of each month for ongoing service clients. Please review our client policies and our current fee schedule for pricing and cancellation of service details.
For a service fee quotation to be current and accurate, an Initial Interview must be completed. To schedule your Interview call The Sitters at 253-661-SITT (7488).[ Back
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1911 SW Campus Drive, #307
Federal Way, WA 98023-6441
Phone: 253/661-SITT (7488)
FAX: 253/276-0224
Email: info@the-sitters.com
Website: www.the-sitters.com
We accept phone calls between 7 am and 7 pm. If we are unable to answer your call in person, please leave a detailed message, and we’ll return your call as soon as we’re able. We are also very comfortable with corresponding by email.
Look forward to meeting you soon!
The Sitters is service provided by Edson Enterprises, LLC.
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