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Petsitting
简体
Petsitting
照看宠物

Learn English with this pets English lesson.

Date: Jan 30 2013

Themes: Pets

Grammar: Simple Present Tense

Intro

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Do you love animals but not have a pet of your own? Maybe petsitting is the job for you! You can stay at someone’s house and take care of their cat, dog, bird, or whatever pet needs some attention.

Depending on what kind of pet it is, and how high maintenance the owner is, petsitting can either be a lot of work or not much work at all. Cats might only need to be fed a few times a day, while dogs might need multiple walks. Either way, expect lots of calls from anxious owners, checking up on how their animal companion is doing. Find out about Mason and Greta’s experiences with petsitting in this pets English lesson.

你是否喜欢动物却没有属于自己的宠物?这份照看宠物的工作可能非常适合你!你可以待在他人家中,替主人照看猫、狗、鸟或其他任何需要照看的宠物。

替他人照看宠物这项工作可能很繁琐,也可能很轻松,这要看宠物的种类和主人的挑剔程度。猫可能只需要一天喂几次食即可,而狗却需要一天遛好几次。不管怎样,你会接到主人很多担忧的电话,不厌其烦地询问宠物的照看情况。在这节宠物英语课上,看看梅森和格里塔照看宠物的经历。

Dialog

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Mason

Mason

Greta

Greta

Mason:  Is it a bad thing that I look forward to our friends leaving, so we can go watch their dogs?

Greta:  No. I sometimes think about the fact that I have been trying to get them to put it in writing that we can have their dogs.

Mason:  You want to inherit the dogs.

Greta:  I want to inherit dogs. The thing that freaks me out the most about petsitting is that there’s always the random possibility that an animal that you’re taking care of could die.

Mason:  Yes.

Greta:  And then you killed your friend’s pet, even if it had nothing to do with you. It’s a lot of responsibility.

Mason:  Yeah, but the thing is, is it’s also all the benefits of having a pet with none of the responsibility.

Greta:  Except keeping it alive.

Mason:  Well, the best part before, in my single days, was you’d get to watch somebody’s dog, and you’d get to go take it for runs in the park, or walks down the street, and let me tell you, you get a lot of good attention…

Greta:  Oh, I’m sure you do.

Mason:  ...with a handsome young gentleman taking a cute little dog for a walk. Because if there’s one thing that dog walking says, it’s that you’re responsible.

Greta:  It’s true.

 

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Discussion

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Mason and Greta are pleased when certain friends of theirs go out of town, because they get to petsit their dogs. They like the dogs so much, in fact, that they would want to inherit the dogs if the owners ever got rid of them.

Petsitting is not all fun, though. It’s a lot of responsibility. Greta says that she’s always scared of what might happen if the pet she was taking care of died.

Mason agrees, but says it’s not that much responsibility. Petsitting can also just be about walking down the street looking good with a cute dog. And even if he’s not feeling responsible, he’ll look responsible to the people who see him.

Have you ever petsat for a friend’s pet? If you have pets, who takes care of them when you go away?

 

Comments

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southern_star

Mexico

Sadly I don´t have a pet on my own, but I would love to have one.


So, if anyone needs a person to petsitting his pet… give me a call :D

02:06 AM May 20 2013 |

Christianny

Brazil

I’ve never petsat before… in fact i don’t like pets in my house… i prefer they stays at the zoo – no… (lol) i’m just kidding..


My boyfriend practically has a zoo on his house: he has 8 cats, one dog pitbull, 13 little birds and 8 fishes (lol)


I enjoy when i’m at his house, because i amuse myself with his pets, but i prefer they stays at his house…


If one day we decide to get married it probably will be a big trouble…

10:18 AM Feb 05 2013 |

1 person likes this

S&W

S&W

China

I don’t get the opptunity to petsat.I had dogs as i was young ,Having pets means a lot of responsibilities.On opposite,Its can bring much fun for life.Sometimes its also a good topic ,making lpeople more friendly with each other.I’v been watching an TV program nanmed Dogs whisperer.It helps me learn much about dogs

04:17 AM Feb 05 2013 |

marialili

marialili

China

I like dog and i think they are very smart and can understand people well. They are the best friends of human.

08:10 AM Feb 01 2013 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

I agree with Julito, the best conversation to start is to talk about a dog! You see, and you can tell how cute it is, what breed it is and all the possible good questions. Soon you’ll end up with the telephone number where you can buy the same breed dog and that’s it! :)))


Again I love the picture of the lesson! Look, the petsitter can hardly handle the dog, it pulls her into the water. Seiyf, you must have had second sight by posting the cute photo!;)

11:07 PM Jan 30 2013 |

Mahtab.bp

Mahtab.bp

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Julito


Then you have found another benefit for pet owners!!!


:))




09:01 PM Jan 30 2013 |

1 person likes this

Irene Forever

Ukraine

Flyaway, sorry, what kind of English is it? Please, try to use a dictionary.

08:57 PM Jan 30 2013 |

Flyaway

Flyaway

South Africa

nuh i hvn’t petsat, tswana peepz here in Mzansi ain’t doing such a thing!

08:26 PM Jan 30 2013 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

I agree with Jason, dogs act as matchmakers , people walking their dogs are more likely to start a conversation  about the breed , age, vaccines  and how cute the poodle is. What is your name?   Well, see Ya  around !!!:))))    

08:06 PM Jan 30 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

MESS , nor I do think that your brother  will commission you again to  watch over  his pets, once is enough ..     just kidding !!!

07:59 PM Jan 30 2013 |

1 person likes this

ballin25

ballin25

United Kingdom

HI to everyone  I would like to make  frinds or more   if you like to we chat more you can  add me  ? thank you

07:12 PM Jan 30 2013 |

wannicho

wannicho

China

no, never  petsat some1’s pet before, here in my hometown, it’s a small town, every pet knows how to take care of themselves, and the owner usually feed them with leftovers ,so even the owner was a way for few days , they won’t worry about their pets ,generally, pets don’t have many privileges as pets in some big cities or in some developed countries.

12:36 PM Jan 30 2013 |

wannicho

wannicho

China

no, never  petsat some1’s pet before, here in my hometown, it’s a small town, every pet knows how to take care of themselves, and the owner usually feed them with leftovers ,so even the owner was a way for few days , they won’t worry about their pets ,generally, pets don’t have many privileges as pets in some big cities or in some developed countries.

12:36 PM Jan 30 2013 |

MESS

MESS

Turkey

Like everyone, I also like animals, but of all animals that I do not like is cats. I do not like the look in their eyes. It seems wild and ungrateful, like “Once you turn your back, I might stab you. Watch your back now.” :D Speaking of cats, we even have a term in eye make-up, cat eyes. The catlike look is my favorite and it is hot. :) 


My youngest brother has a gold fish. He has had many gold fish since he was 3, but they die very soon. When his first fish died, he cried all day long. He is very emotional by his nature. :) I think fish are nice pets. They have their own world inside the water and they do not make a mess in the house. 


I do not like petsitting, though, not because I do not like animals. No, never. I am busy most of the time and have to be out of the house because of my job, so I generally forget the feeding time. 2 years ago, my family had to be out of the town for a few days and my youngest brother asked me to take care of his fish. He told me about about how to feed the fish in details, and also, reminded me that I had to change the water. We agreed and they left. I fed the fish on the first day, and in the morning of the second day, I forgot feeding it, following the evening. I do not know how it happened but it just slipped my mind. I recalled it next evening, and when I looked at the glass jar, it was too late. The fish was swimming on the surface of the water. :( I felt terribly bad remembering how disappointed my brother would feel. When he was back home, I was on tenterhooks, and saddened. The first thing he did was to look at the glass jar and see it empty. I bowed my head like a guilty kid, and said, “Sorry.” He took it very maturely and replied, “No problem. He lived long enough and they die too soon. I will get another one and in another color, not orange this time.”


So my petsitting story did not end very well, but I do not take the responsibility of any pets since then. 


:)))

11:50 AM Jan 30 2013 |

friendlover

Turkey

I like animals. Animals are cute. But petsitting isn’t for me.

10:58 AM Jan 30 2013 |

maruko0505

maruko0505

Viet Nam

My family had 2 dogs, they were very cute. We take care of them and they take care us from the thieves. They have perfect ears and eyes so if have any noise or who stranger go to my home, they will bark to tell us.


But one of my dog died last month and the left ones is very sad, it lost friend to play with. So althrough i’m busy i try to spend time to play with it (my dog really like to play with my ball, it runs follow the ball like a football – player).


My family has 5 people so the responsibility to take care it is share to all. So it is no problem with my family.


08:07 AM Jan 30 2013 |

1 person likes this

samansa_zhang

China

Well ,it is really good and necessary question for me ,cause the Chinese Spring Festival is coming soon on the 10th of Feb.2013. So I have to leave my two cats alone in beijing in my rental apartment.


For chinese people we will go to hometown to accompany their parents and celebrates with them the family member during the chinese luner year.


But for me it is really difficult to leave my cats away .That’s why i just go home twice or 3 times a year.I treat my cats as my kids. and I also do not want anybody come to my private place during the few days i am leaving as well as i do not trust anyone can take care much better than what i do for them .


The only way is that to try to short my holiday to be my hometown,even if i have 10 days off , but i just buy the train ticket for 4 days including the departure day and returning day ,but anyway the distance between beijing and my hometown is really short like just 310km be spended on the railway just 2.5 hours. 


The preparation in my beijng place is like that i will leave enough food and water for them and put them under the table just in case the dirty hair and dust will drop on the surface of them ,i just try to keep the clean and fresh as long as they can . As wel as the cats sand ,I will leave the enough cat’s sand for them and seperate them in many big basin just prevent  too much shits and cat’s pass water ,and the dirty shit and water sand balls will stain the other clean sand in one basin.


For the psychological side, i will wispher to them like that i will leave for the next coming 4 days ,and donot miss me and do not look forward to see me during my workfinishing time and do the comfortable massage for them .


then the farewell time is coming on the early morning of the leaving day , i will say good bye many times and show a big smell to them also say that do not miss me , i will come back soon and enjoy your day without me!

07:44 AM Jan 30 2013 |

1 person likes this

Mahtab.bp

Mahtab.bp

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I cant accept to care of others’s pets because my family don’t like that and it’s a serious responsibility for me!


I really love all kind animals specially cats but I dont have any pet because I don’t have anyone to care of my pet when I’m in travel!


Petsitting is very useful for people who have my problem but we don’t have that here as a job!

06:22 AM Jan 30 2013 |

Bruce_zhou

China

this article let me miss my dog so much ,before i have a cute dog ,he is papillon,not big ,small dog actuall ,and know what i think ,even know when i back home in advance ,so wizardly,sience my wife have a baby ,I sent my dog to my friend and hope my friend can help me fed it,due to my dog really cute and love,long time later,the created a good realtionship ,and my friend like it very much ,so my friend asked me,can sent the dog as gift to him ,due to my baby very small ,it’s not good to live with dog each other in the same home and also my frined treat my dog very good ,so i allowed it,but actually ,i like my dog very much and take my baby go to my friend’s home ofter to see my dog.i c ,infuture ,when my baby finished his childrenguard life ,i will feed another cute dog for him,due to he know how to take care the pet and not hurt pet anymore then.

05:53 AM Jan 30 2013 |

1 person likes this

rona_malau

rona_malau

Indonesia

I hate cat to be my pet just because its fur isn’t good for health. it falls down its fur anywhere it stay at, then it’s so disgusting and make inconvenient as same as the dog, my belief doesn’t allow us to maintain it.

05:41 AM Jan 30 2013 |

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