Right now in Australia, anyone can operate as a pet sitter, walker or trainer with no qualifications, no checks and no accountability.

No mandatory first aid knowledge.
No required police check.
No compulsory insurance.
No governing standard.
No safety net when something goes wrong.

Pets have been lost, injured and killed in preventable circumstances, and many families receive no justice and no explanation. Good pet professionals are grouped with unsafe ones, and trust in the industry continues to erode.

This must change.

We, the public, are asking the Australian Government to introduce mandatory minimum standards for all pet care providers, including:

• Pet First Aid Certification
•  National Police Check
• Public Liability Insurance
• Written Service Agreements for all bookings
• Clear pathways for complaints, investigations and accountability

These requirements are not excessive. They are the bare minimum needed to protect the animals we love and the families who trust professionals to care for them.

A standard protects everyone.
It protects pets.
It protects owners.
It protects responsible pet professionals.

We are asking the Government to implement national pet care regulation by law, and we ask the public to stand with us in one united voice.

REAL STORIES 

1) Buddy was booked for what should have been a simple weekend stay. The sitter walked multiple dogs at once with no training or awareness of risk. Buddy slipped his collar, bolted, and never came home. No insurance. No accountability. Just a family left with grief and no answers.

2) Milo’s walk took place at midday during a heatwave. His walker didn’t recognise early heat stress. By the time Milo collapsed, it was too late to prevent the damage. He spent three days in vet care and the family paid the full bill. No required training, no standards, no consequence.

3) Rosie was meant to have overnight care, but the sitter left early and didn’t return. She was alone, anxious, missed meals, and missed medication. With no contract in place and no reporting pathway, the family had no way to hold anyone accountable.

4) Arlo was a strong dog who needed experienced handling. Instead, he was paired with someone who hadn’t been trained in leash pressure or dog movement. He lunged, broke free and ran into the road. He survived, but required surgery and a long recovery that could have been avoided.

5) Bella needed heart medication every day. The sitter forgot.. twice. There was no checklist, no medication protocol, and no training in place. Bella deteriorated quickly and ended up in emergency care. Consistency saves lives. A system would have protected her.

6) Charlie was nervous and better suited to solo or low stimulus care. Instead, he was added to a mixed group walk without assessment. Another dog attacked and Charlie needed stitches and sedation. It shook him for months. One behavioural screening would have changed the outcome.

7) Daisy squeezed through an unlatched gate during a pickup. She was found after neighbours helped search. This was a near miss, but near misses are warnings. We shouldn’t rely on luck when it comes to animals in our care.

8) Jasper went out for an adventure walk. No contract. No emergency contacts. No written agreement. When he was injured, hours passed before the owner was notified. There was confusion, panic, and no formal responsibility. Documentation isn’t paperwork, it’s protection.

9) Luna had a food allergy. Nobody asked. She was given treats, reacted badly, and ended up swollen, distressed and needing urgent vet support. A basic intake checklist would have prevented the entire situation.

10) Max was passed between two carers with no formal handover. A door opened, Max bolted, and no one accepted responsibility. There was no process and no accountability. Max is still missing.