High-quality care doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag.
It shows in calm cuddly pets, normal meals, and routines that stay intact.
I’m Misti—a pet care provider shaped by 8 years of experience, including 2.5 years of full-time nomadic pet and house sitting (the story behind “Misti On The Run”). Now based in San Diego, I provide attentive, flexible care that prioritizes your pet’s comfort without inflating the cost.
I offer:
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House and pet sitting throughout coastal San Diego neighborhoods & occasionally San Clemente
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Walks & drop-ins in Ocean Beach and Point Loma area
MY PET CARE PHILOSOPHY
For the past few years, pet sitting has been more than a side gig for me. It’s been the foundation of how I built flexibility while paying off debt.
I spent 2.5 years as a traveling pet sitter, often through exchange-based (aka “free”) care and house sitting. That experience shaped how I think about quality care. I saw firsthand that the most important metric isn’t price—it’s how a pet behaves when their routine changes. Are they calm? Eating normally? Sleeping comfortably? Or are they stressed, withdrawn, or refusing meals?
Those signals matter more to me than premium branding or inflated rates.
Now, I’m based in San Diego and continuing to offer pet sitting and drop-in care that reflects that same philosophy: luxury-level attention, realistically priced. I believe high-quality care doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. It comes from patience, attentiveness, and genuinely caring about your pet’s comfort and emotional wellbeing.
I often find myself saying “Okay baby, I’ll be back in a couple hours, have a good day, I love you!” to dogs I just met like yesterday, arguing with vocal shepherds about why sitting outside in 0-degree weather is a bad idea, and wrangling my fair share of chaotic orange cats (oh but we gotta love 'em).
I still pet sit with flexibility and relationships at the center. That means I’m a great fit for families with one-off, last-minute, or flexible timing needs—but not always for rigid, daily recurring schedules. Because I offer house and pet sitting across San Diego and San Clemente while working full time as a researcher, my availability shifts for drop-ins and walks.
I love maintaining long-term relationships with my families and welcome new clients around Point Loma/Ocean Beach who resonate with a flexible approach to dog walking and pet drop-ins. For example, perhaps you’re on a hybrid work schedule or have unpredictable hours you’ll be away from home and don’t want your pets to be lonely—those are the perfect times to reach out and see if I’m available! After an initial inquiry, I share my cell number so I’m always reachable by text.
If you’re looking for a provider who treats your pet like an individual (not a booking slot), communicates clearly, and understands both the emotional and practical sides of pet care—while staying accessible on price—I’d love to connect.
You can also find me on Rover, but I prefer to book directly.
New to app-based pet sitting?
I've got you covered! Sign up using my referral links to score some major discounts!
Use code MISTIJ80476 to get $20 off your first booking on Rover.
Use this link to join Trusted Housesitters with 25% off.
Follow me on Instagram @mistiontherun
SERVICES
I offer thoughtful, relationship-based pet care designed to reduce stress for both pets and their people — whether you’re traveling or navigating real-life curveballs.
HOUSE SITTING & OVERNIGHT PET CARE
For dogs and cats who do best staying in their own space.
I house & pet sit throughout San Diego's coastal neighborhoods between Ocean Beach and Del Mar and occasionally in San Clemente.
Starting* at $60/day
*Additional pets & special needs incur additional fees
WALKS AND DROP-INS
(IN POINT LOMA/OCEAN BEACH)
Available for feeding, potty breaks, walks, medication, and check-ins.
These are best suited for:
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One-off or occasional needs
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Last-minute help when plans change
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Pets who don’t need daily recurring walks at fixed times
Because my schedule is built around house & pet sitting, my availability for walks and drop-ins varies from week to week. I don’t offer standing weekly commitments, and I’m always transparent about what I can realistically take on.
Pet parents in the area can arrange a virtual or in-person meet and greet and reach out "on-demand" to see if I'm available for last-minute needs.
My current schedule allows the most flexibility Monday through Wednesday.
20 minute drop-in visits: $25
15 minute walks: $25
30 minute walks: $30
60 minute walks: $40
Extra pets: $5 add-on per pet
THE STORY BEHIND MISTI ON THE RUN
Hi there! I’m Misti—a researcher, writer, and editor whose favorite job has always been pet sitting. I started walking dogs in Boston during grad school (shoutout to the summer of 2018, which will forever be remembered as the most fun, fit, and tan I’ve ever been). Back then, I was logging up to 17 miles a day, rain or shine, all while building a true love for working with animals.
Originally from Tennessee, I spent about a decade in Boston and St. Louis before deciding to follow my dream of living as a nomad. Thanks to my remote job, I was able to live life “on the run,” with no leases, no furniture to move, and no car for 2.5 years! This lifestyle let me offer affordable pet-sitting services while traveling the U.S. I’m also working on paying off my grad school debt, and pet-sitting has already helped me pay off over $35,000!
I’m drawn to life in cities, preferably on the coast—because honestly, is there anything better than a good book on a sunny day while listening to the sound of the ocean?
For me, pet sitting isn’t just a way to travel or earn side income—it’s a way to build connections, spend time with amazing animals, and help people feel at ease while they’re away.
Now that I'm committing to a new chapter in San Diego, I look forward to continuing offering high quality care in the area!
ADVENTURE GALLERY
Check out some of my new furry friends and favorite moments along the nomad journey!
