Pet Sitting in Melbourne: what to know
In-home sitting keeps your pet at home while you travel; agree on keys, heating and gates in the chat.
Homes, buildings and access
Apartment buildings have owners’ corporation rules that may cover pets; rentals in Victoria generally need the landlord’s consent for pets. Tell your provider about access, lifts and gates.
Weather and seasons in Melbourne
On hot northerly days, walk early, avoid hot footpaths and keep dogs indoors in the afternoon heat.
In spring and early summer, check paws, ears and coats for grass seeds after walks.
Before you book
Agree on feeding, medication, keys and house rules in the chat before the first visit, and leave your vet's details with the sitter.
Keep your pet's vaccinations and any local registration up to date and carry the records — providers may ask to see them before the first booking.
Pet Sitting in Melbourne — FAQ
Is pet sitting available in Melbourne?
Yes. OnlyPaw is available worldwide, including Melbourne. Because it's a marketplace, the pet sitters you can book depend on who has been approved near your address — the app shows who's available before you pay.
How much does pet sitting cost in Melbourne?
Pet sitters in Melbourne set their own prices, so you see each provider's rate in the app before you book. At checkout OnlyPaw adds a service fee of 10% of the service price, with a minimum of USD 2 and a maximum of USD 20 (or the equivalent in your local currency), shown before you pay. Your payment is held and only released to the provider after the service is completed.
How are providers vetted?
Every provider submits a government ID and a selfie, passes a knowledge test with a 70% pass mark and uploads service-specific documents — home photos for sitting and boarding, driving licence and vehicle registration for pet taxi, certificates for grooming and training — before the OnlyPaw team approves them.
Does my pet need to be registered in Melbourne?
Yes. In Victoria dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered with your local council.
What if I need to cancel?
Each provider uses one of three cancellation policies. Under the default moderate policy you get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, 50% if you cancel at least 2 hours before, and nothing in the last 2 hours. The flexible policy refunds in full up to 2 hours before the start; the strict policy refunds in full from 48 hours and 50% from 24 hours before.
What happens in an emergency?
Every active booking has an SOS button in the app. It alerts the other party and the OnlyPaw team straight away. If your pet needs urgent medical care, contact a vet or emergency clinic first.
