WE Britons are well-known for our love of pets, and now a trend is sweeping the nation – of live-in petsitters.

Thousands of people across the country are paying hundreds of pounds on top of their holiday costs for their pooch to be perfectly pampered while they are away.

Companies are already taking bookings for two years time, and business is booming most of all in the south. Adele Barclay founded Homesitters Ltd in 1980 with a few dozen sitters and the numbers on their books is now approaching 1,000 across the country.

“I started the company when I had a menagerie of pets I didn’t want to leave unoccupied when I went on holiday,” she said. “I realised if I had a need then others would too.

“Dogs and cats are happier in their own homes, and insurance companies look favourably upon houses which are occupied,” she added.

It sounds a doddle, but not just anybody can become a petsitter.

“We aren’t an introduction agency. We employ the sitters after a lengthy and rigorous recruitment process and a personal interview – including spouses if they will be joining them,” said Adele.

Animal Aunts, a Hampshire-based company also offering pet sitting services, is similarly stringent in its hiring process.

“We never have to advertise as we have about 30 people each week wanting to be an Aunt,” said Maggie Harding, who works as an administrator.

“Out of those we take on around four or five recruits.”

It’s testament to the responsibility of a position which could involve everything from cuddling cats to chasing chickens to ferrying ferrets.

As well as the usual dogs and cats, sitters have had to take more exotic species such as llamas, parrots, tropical fish and even Capuchin monkeys into their charge.

“The occasional reptile isn’t unheard of, either,” said Adele. “Although luckily snakes can go for some time on a big feed.”

“And you have to defrost chicks to feed birds of prey.”

On the up side, it offers animal lovers the chance to spend time with pets without the full-time commitment.

“It’s a change of scene and they get to stay in some splendid houses.”

Naturally, sitters are matched to the homes and pets to best effect. A feisty German shepherd dog, for example, wouldn’t be the best match for someone who is happiest looking after a lap cat.

There is, of course, the property to consider too. The nation, as well as insurance companies, are more nervous of unattended properties in case of burglary or weather damage.

Monica and Eric Cook from Bournemouth have been pet sitting for 10 years and have sat more then 100 times for Homesitters.

The couple, both in their mid-70s, were previously in the hotel industry.

“We’ve always had dogs and we now live in a flat where we can’t have animals, so it suits us perfectly,” said Monica.

The Cook’s stays have lasted anywhere between a day and a month and their new career is now something of a full-time occupation.

“It takes a hard heart leaving the pets we look after, but we have had some wonderful clientele and funny experiences,” she said.

“I was once looking after a parrot called Dylan and I decided to clean out his cage. I was using a brush and he obviously had ticklish feet as he was jumping from one foot to the other.”

Then, all of a sudden, the parrot told him – in shockingly colourful language – to desist.

“It was absolutely hilarious.”