Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 25/98) - What does your pet do when you're away?

Some wait faithfully at the door for your return, others doze oblivious of your absence. Some take revenge on your favourite sweater and some... well, some wait for pet pal Bill Hewitt to come by for playtime.

As winter sets in, pets and their owners see less of the great outdoors then is healthy for them and some owners often don't make the trip home for lunch that their pets are accustomed to. That's where Hewitt and his home-based business, Pet Pals can step in, literally.

Hewitt runs a one-man pet-sitting operation which takes him all over town visiting animals in their homes for food time, playtime and outdoor fun time.

"I'm like their best friend," said Hewitt.

On his busy days, Hewitt can have up to 19 house calls, including taking pets out for walks or runs of 20 or 40 minutes to an hour long.

For Donna and Fred Hunt's eight indoor pets, the service is perfect.

"He takes the dogs twice a week in the afternoon for an hour-long run," said Donna Hunt. "We have big labs and they just love to go, and he just tucks the chihuahua in his coat and lets him down when he wants."

The Hunt's let the dogs out in their backyard during the winter for 15 minutes, three times a day plus they take them out for walks -- but it's that extra time for play that they just can't spare.

"We just feel they need that run twice a week," said Hunt. "Fred travels a lot and I have lots that I do, too."

The Hunt's four house cats, have warmed up to Hewitt's friendly attention as well and will see him frequently when he housesits during the Hunt's holiday.

Hewitt's holiday housesitting includes a little bonus, besides attending pets. He also sweeps snow from the steps, runs the faucets to keep the water pipes from freezing and maintains the home's temperature.