Like many people, I am increasingly concerned about the Internet. Can we believe what we read? Where is the balanced viewpoint? Lurking in its dark corners, greedy people are profiling you to sell you something that is, more often than not, bad for you either physically or mentality. So it was exciting this week to find just what I was looking for in, “Trusted Homesitters”. Joyfully known to me as a dating site for dogs.

Trusted Homesitters is a website of vetted people, worldwide, who love animals and are searching for a holiday abroad with free accommodation ( they buy their own flights and food). You open your home to them in return for looking after your beloved animals and so affording you guilt free travel. I suddenly love the Internet.

It is amazing how quickly and efficiently some things happen. One minute I am just browsing, the next minute I have invited two total strangers from Northumberland, UK in to my home in March 24. In my last blog I spoke of my impulses only to reflect on them later. Here is another example.

It’s an interesting process. You start off by writing a profile of yourself, home and animals, with photos and a slogan to draw people in. The old me would have never exposed myself to the world in this way, but today’s challenge was of subtle marketing. Enough to draw people in, but not to reveal all.

Filling the profile was – for me- like a business challenge. It’s not so much about how you see yourself, your home, life and animals, but thinking more about what, in your life, would most appeal to other people?

I chose the same picture of myself used in the blog : recent, a bit smarter than normal straight hair cut, bespectacled to look mature and a little more intelligent (ha), and a fleece jacket to look …accessible.

Pictures of the house were simple and formulaic, “ please post pictures of where your sitter will : sleep, eat, cook and sit to watch TV”. Easy one.

Now for the animal pictures. In this area I couldn’t / shouldn’t hold back. Like a proud parent I posted all my favourites pictures. No holds barred.

Their ages errr? Their weights, oh my…..I have no idea. 2 mixed breeds, 1 thoroughbred and a mottley crew of feathery beasts. I was embarrassed to describe their feeding and walking habits, none of which seemed consistent. Do I tell people that one of the cats will take your eyes out if you touch her? Suddenly, I am wondering if anyone will be interested in us.

So, with my own review written, and the scant ( I thought) requests of the type of sitters we are looking for, completed ( solo, couple, do you want to meet beforehand? ) and ping! The profile is out there.

The biggest shock was to come. By the time I had made a cup of coffee and sat back down at my computer, five couples had already answered my calling. Not only by pressing a button to show interest, but writing lovely personalised messages telling me how beautiful the animals look ( so, the pictures worked a treat!), how Turkey was on their wish list, how many pet sittings they had already accomplished and their amazing references. Five couples : two from the UK ( Northumberland and Ipswich), one from Munich ( doing Masters degrees and can work from anywhere), a Canadian couple (working their way around the world and currently looking after a pooch in Melbourne) and lastly a couple from Poland looking to escape the Polish winter and saviour’s of 5 rescue dogs from Georgia.

Wow, all these amazing people, living amazing lives, and the website telling me that if I didn’t like any of these ( What!? All are from the All Stars of pet sitting!) there were five more interested couples, ‘waiting in the wings’, and their profiles could be sent on to me.

How to chose from the five? All seemed equally qualified to manage the job in hand. My gut instinct was to consider March weather in Bodrum. It can be rainy and ten degrees, unexpected by most, who think that we bask in glorious Aegean sun all year round. In the end though, my thoughts turned to River, our 4 year old mixed breed female dog. Of all these people, who would be her favourite? If this was a dog dating site which would she give a paw to?

This whole process gave me such a high. A reminder that there are lots of great people out there living kind, honest, interesting lives, and through the amazing Internet, and this wonderful website, our like-minded wanderlust dreams can be realised…