The RSPCA has joined up with Airbnb-esque pet sitting service Petcloud to try to curb the number of animals surrendered each holiday period.
More than 60 animals are surrendered to RSPCA Qld every holiday period, usually because owners forget to book their pets into boarding facilities, RSPCA Qld chief executive officer Mark Townend said.
"People are just not thoughtful and don't plan ahead, they just think let's go on holidays but during busy times, most boarding facilities are full.
"They surrender the animal, that is what happens, I could never imagine it but people just treat it like a piece of property.
"Petcloud eases the burden because they give the other option."
An 11-month-old online service, Petcloud links pet owners with animal lovers who can provide pet-sitting, dog-walking, vet taxi, 24/7 supervision and grooming services.
The site operates in a similar way to Airbnb, with a profile for each registered pet-sitter alongside a user rating system.
There is even a facility on the site that allows you to Skype your favourite pooch, free of charge, while you are on holidays.
Brisbane-based Petcloud founder Deborah Morrison created the business after she realised how long and difficult it was to find a pet-sitter for her toy cavoodle Milly.
"I initially had the problem myself, I was a web consultant and would have to fly interstate at short notice," she said.
"I had a dog and a family that lived on the other side of town in Brisbane and they weren't pet lovers and I didn't know anyone in the neighbourhood and couldn't find any services online.
"I came across a pet minding service but they said they had to send an application form through the mail, it took two weeks.
"I thought it was ridiculous, it was with a lady I had never met, I hadn't seen her property. I thought 'Wow, there has to be other people in my situation'."
Ms Morrison said the RSPCA partnership meant each pet sitter went through animal cruelty cross checks via the RSPCA database before they could link up with pet owners, a first for online pet sitting services.
"With our partnership with RSPCA we are able to offer animal cruelty checks that no other platform can offer," Ms Morrison said.
"It is also mandatory for our pet sitters to have a national police check if they are staying in pet owner's homes while they are away.
"We think it is really important that if you are opening your home to a stranger they need a background check."
Ms Morrison said pet-sitting eases the stress on those animals who don't like boarding.
"We think it is a more settling environment, it doesn't make pets anxious. If they are put in cages while the owner is away they tend to get upset," she said.
The national website has thousands of registered pet sitters available and offers up to $20 million on insurance cover free of charge for every booking.
The site also charges 19 per cent per transaction for booking cost, with 20 per cent of all profits feeding back into RSPCA.
