Petme · Chicago

Find a vetted pet sitter in Chicago, 0% owner fee

0% owner fee. Up to 5% cashback on every booking. $20,000 vet protection included.

Verified dog and cat sitters across Lincoln Park to Hyde Park in Chicago. No service fee for pet owners, up to 5% cashback on every completed booking, $20,000 vet protection included on every stay.

Find a sitter

Owner service fee on Petme

$20,000

Vet protection per booking

Up to 5%

Cashback on every booking

4.9 / 5

Average sitter rating

The cashback maths

What you actually save on a typical booking

Worked example: a 5-night dog-boarding stay in Chicago at $65 per night. The sitter sets the same rate either way — the difference is what each platform stacks on top.

	Fee-charging platforms	Petme
Sitter rate (5 nights × $65)	$325	$325
Pet-owner service fee (~11%)	$35–$50	$0
Booking subtotal	$360–$375	$325
Cashback earned	—	−$16
Effective cost	$360–$375	$309

Competitor column reflects platforms that charge pet owners a service fee on top of the sitter rate (Rover, Wag, Care.com). Petme charges pet owners 0% and credits up to 5% cashback automatically into your Petme balance.

Comparison

Petme vs other US platforms

Other platforms

Pet owners pay a platform service fee on top of every booking (typically 5–11%).

No cashback. Repeat bookings cost the same as the first.

Limited or paywalled vet protection. Some platforms cap medical reimbursement at $1,000–$5,000.

Sitter matching rotates you through whoever is available. No same-sitter guarantee.

Petme

Pet owners pay 0% on Petme. The sitter sets the rate, you pay only the rate.

Up to 5% cashback on every completed booking, paid into your Petme balance instantly.

$20,000 in vet expenses included on every booking, no deductible, no upcharge.

Search and rebook the same sitter directly. Most Petme owners stick with one preferred sitter after the first 2–3 bookings.

Protection and cashback

Protection and cashback, automatic

$20,000 vet protection on every booking

Every booking on Petme includes up to $20,000 in vet expenses if something happens during the stay. The protection is automatic, has no deductible, and applies whether you book one drop-in visit or a two-week boarding. No claim form to fill out before the vet visit: open a ticket from inside the booking and Petme support coordinates with the clinic.

Automatic cashback, no signup, no opt-in

When a booking completes, up to 5% cashback is credited to your Petme balance straight away. Use the balance toward your next booking, no expiry, no minimum. The more you book, the more comes back.

How it works

Search your neighborhood

Pick your dates, choose a service, and browse verified sitters in your part of the city. Read profiles, reviews, and house rules before reaching out.

Message in chat, meet in person

Free meet-and-greet with any sitter before you commit. Hand over keys, share your pet's routine, and confirm any medical or feeding needs.

Book inside the app, get cashback

Confirm the booking, the sitter is notified, and up to 5% cashback lands in your Petme balance automatically when the stay ends.

Local context

Booking a sitter in Chicago: what to know

December through March brings sub-zero wind chills, lake-effect snow, and heavy road salt along the Lakefront Trail. Chicago sitters rinse salt off paws between blocks, keep walks short during a polar vortex, and switch to indoor enrichment when the wind chill turns dangerous. Boarding peaks over the winter-holiday travel window and the June-to-August vacation stretch; daily lunchtime walks run steady year-round for downtown and North Side commuters. Lollapalooza weekend and the October marathon lift short-notice demand.

Pet care services in Chicago

Pet Boarding

Overnight stays at a sitter's home with personalized care and attention in Chicago

Dog Walking

Scheduled walks to keep your dog active, happy, and well-exercised in Chicago

House Sitting

In-home care where a sitter stays at your place with your pet in Chicago

Drop-in Visits

Quick check-ins for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks in Chicago

Doggy Daycare

Daytime supervision and socialization while you're at work in Chicago

Related Petme pages

Related pages for Chicago

Become a sitter in Chicago True cost of pet sitting in Chicago US pet-sitter directory Pet sitters near you in Chicago

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are pet sitters in Chicago really vetted?

Yes. Every Petme sitter in Chicago passes identity verification with a government ID and a background check before their profile goes live. First bookings are tagged so you can see whether a sitter is new or established, and reviews are open and unfiltered.

What does the 0% owner fee actually mean in practice?

Other US platforms (Rover, Wag, Care.com) charge pet owners a service fee on top of the sitter's rate at checkout — typically 5% to 11%. Petme charges pet owners 0%. You pay the rate the sitter sets, nothing else. On a $325 5-night boarding, that's $35–$50 you don't pay.

How does cashback work for Chicago bookings?

When you complete a booking with a sitter in Chicago, Petme credits up to 5% of the booking value back into your in-app balance. The balance applies to your next booking with no expiry and no minimum. New customers see the credit within hours of booking completion.

What happens if my pet needs a vet during a stay in Chicago?

Every Petme booking automatically includes up to $20,000 in vet expenses if something goes wrong during the stay. The protection has no deductible and applies whether you book one walk or a two-week boarding. Open a ticket from inside the booking and Petme support coordinates directly with the Chicago clinic.

Can I cancel if my plans change?

Yes. Each sitter sets their own cancellation policy and it's shown clearly on their profile before you book. Cancellations made inside the sitter's free-cancel window are refunded in full to your original payment method.

What about Chicago-specific rules I should know?

Illinois requires no state pet-sitter licence. Chicago enforces a citywide leash-and-waste ordinance, and the Park District restricts off-leash play to permitted Dog Friendly Areas that need an annual tag. Pet-sitting income is self-employment income on a federal Schedule C, with a 1099-NEC from Petme past $600 a year plus the flat Illinois state income tax.

Is Petme an app or a website?

Both. Search and read profiles on the website. Booking, messages, payment, and cashback all run inside the iOS and Android app.

Get Petme

Find a sitter, message in chat, book inside the app. Cashback lands automatically when the booking is done.

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