Kirsty and Lawrie’s UK Pet Sitting Adventures
Calling all pet lovers! Fancy cosying up with a cute kitty in Cornwall and bunny sitting in bonny Edinburgh? Or perhaps caring for Corgis in the heart of London is more your cup of tea? Either way, the UK is where it’s at this summer — and it could be your ticket to a truly unforgettable adventure.
To find out what it’s really like to go pet sitting in the UK, we sat down for a chat with Kirsty and Lawrie — two beloved members of FurPetVo. Since joining furpetvo.com back in 2018, they’ve enjoyed 80 stays across the globe — and of course, met some seriously cute, fluffy friends along the way.
First Steps in Soberton
Their first venture outside Australia was in the UK — a quiet, historic village called Soberton in southern England. It was a world away from the pace of Melbourne.
“It was to become our first sit anywhere outside Australia,” they shared, “and it started something of an on-going love affair with English village life. [...] The many thatched roofs [...] giving the village a look we’d seen only on postcards.”
But it wasn’t just the charm of the village that captivated them — it was the home itself.
“We were hooked ... especially after being shown into our home for the next month. Parts of it were about 400 years old and there was a well in the middle of the living room. Yes, a well.”
Six Independent Cats & Autumn Explorations
Their furry charges? Six delightfully independent cats — the perfect companions for a relaxed, low-pressure stay.
“Cats being ... well, cats, they did not take a lot of looking after,” Kirsty and Lawrie explained, “so we were able to spend beautiful autumn days taking in our surrounds.”
Just steps from their doorstep lay an old rail trail: one direction led to Wickham, the other to West Meon. They discovered the stunning South Downs — hiking, driving, and uncovering charming villages like Bishop’s Waltham, Droxford, and — for the cricket enthusiast in the pair — Hambledon.
Brill: Pubs, Chips, and a Gentle Staffie
Next up: Brill — a picture-perfect English village with two cosy pubs and a beloved fish-and-chips van.
“The culinary highlight for us was the weekly visit of the fish and chips van,” Lawrie said. “Those things should be mandatory in every village.”
Evenings were spent at The Pheasant and The Pointer — but their biggest responsibility (and joy) was Bella, a gentle Staffordshire Bull Terrier adopted from Spain by her owners Mark and Virginia.
“Bella had been traumatised by fireworks,” they shared, “so she was very shy at first. But she loved playing tug-of-war with her rope, fetching her ball, and riding in the car with us. She especially enjoyed walks in nearby Wotton Underwood — usually trotting along with the biggest stick she could find.”
A Windmill, a Common, and Wider Wanderings
Right outside their front door in Brill stood the village’s most iconic landmark: the Brill Windmill — a Grade II listed 17th-century post mill, beautifully restored and managed by the local Brill Society.
Surrounded by open common land — a favourite sniffing spot for Bella — the windmill draws visitors from around the world. Kirsty and Lawrie even got to watch a youth choir from South Africa perform there.
With access to vehicles during both their Soberton and Brill sits, they also made day trips to Southampton, the Isle of Wight, Winchester, Salisbury, Oxford, and Aylesbury — adventures they promise are “other stories” for another time.
Your Turn to Explore
Feeling inspired by Kirsty and Lawrie’s adventures? Then follow in their dog-walking and kitty-cuddling footsteps this summer.
Explore the UK for free — in exchange for caring for adorable pets — through furpetvo.com. With over 5,000 new UK pet sits added every week — and countless pets waiting for love and attention — now is the perfect time to begin your own FurPetVo journey.
