by Rowena Mills
Photo courtesy of Lyndsy Paulick
Going on adventures … visiting magical places … sharing life with animals….
Joe and Lyndsy Paulick of Owasso have figured out how to have it all. Known as Upstanding Sitters, they combine travel with house-sitting and pet-sitting in the state, around the nation, and overseas. The Paulicks have cared for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish, chickens, even hermit crabs.
On the Go
I asked the Paulicks some questions.
Why did you decide to become traveling sitters? We chose early retirement to travel together, experience new cultures, and connect with others. It has been a great way to explore new places while keeping lodging costs down. It also lets us enjoy pets without the long-term commitment — perfect for our travel-focused lifestyle. Pet-sitting is a great way to blend adventure with purpose.
How long have you lived in Owasso?
We moved to Owasso from Wisconsin eight years ago. We purchased a house across the street from our son and his family. We travel back to visit our daughter and son-in-law as often as we can. We are very close to our two children and three grandchildren.
What were your earlier careers?
Joe worked for 32 years as an investigator for the state of Wisconsin and is a former U.S. Marine and Air Force reservist. He retired in 2017. Lyndsy ran entrepreneurial ventures, including mural and faux-finish painting and a manufacturers’ representative agency in the metalworking industry.
Have you also done sitting locally wherever you were living? Yes, we’ve occasionally provided daily care for neighbors’ pets and have sat for friends and family in Wisconsin.
How do you find clients? We arrange all our sits exclusively through reputable, subscription-based house-sitting platforms. We don’t advertise or accept private or direct requests. These platforms offer structure, accountability, and important protections.
Do all the assignments involve staying in the client’s house? Yes. That’s part of the mutual exchange — by caring for their pets, homeowners invite us to stay in their space. It allows us to keep the pets comfortable in their familiar environment, provide consistent care, and maintain a lived-in presence that helps protect the home while the owners are away.
Did you have your own animals when you were growing up and/or earlier in your adult life? Joe grew up in a big family with six siblings and a lovable springer spaniel. Lyndsy was raised with a variety of dogs — including mutts, a Samoyed, and an American Eskimo — so animals were always part of the family.
When we met as adults, Lyndsy had a rescue cat named Presley. Presley wasn’t thrilled about Joe “invading his territory,” but Presley and Joe became best buddies. Presley lived to the ripe old age of 19 and was our favorite pet.
When we started our own family, animals were always part of the household — dogs, cats, fish, and more. After our last family pet passed, we decided not to adopt more so we could travel freely.
Have you worked in equine sports, dog training, etc.? Joe worked as a racing official for the state of Wisconsin in the greyhound program during the 1980s. Lyndsy has occasionally helped neighbors and family with pet exercising and sitting.
How do you find assignments in Europe? We use a website that has listings all around the world.
What is the typical length of your assignments? The length varies depending on our travel schedule and the location. Occasionally, we take on a shorter sit — typically one to three days — as a stopover between destinations. Other times, we commit to longer sits that can last several months, especially if it’s a place we would like to explore more thoroughly.
Tell me about one of your memorable pet-sitting locations. Staying at a manor house in England was nothing short of magical. We came across a listing in Warminster, near Salisbury. The homeowners needed someone to care for their three dogs and chickens. We had no idea it was a seventeenth-century house that was part of a grand estate. It was an unforgettable experience.
Have you had any interesting wildlife experiences? While pet-sitting in Hatfield, Arkansas, we often spent time fishing along the shoreline of the property. One day, a male Canadian goose quietly approached us. We saw his wing was injured. He lay beside us with his eyes closed, clearly seeking comfort.
We contacted Tommy Young — the Bird Man of Arkansas — who came to rescue the goose and transport him to his wildlife facility in Mena. A few weeks later, Tommy shared wonderful news. He had repaired the goose’s broken wing with a titanium pin and paired him with a rescued female. What began as an unexpected encounter turned into a touching story of recovery and companionship.
What other animal adventures have you been involved in during your work? During one sit in Medford, Oregon, a bat managed to get into the woodstove — not once, but twice! Smokey, the cat we were caring for, was baffled by how the elusive bat kept evading capture through the glass door. Joe isolated the cat and removed the bat from the stove with a gloved hand.
Any advice for people who might like to try this type of lifestyle?
Although it sounds like a dream gig, house-sitting and pet-sitting come with serious responsibility. You’re being entrusted with someone’s home and beloved pets — sometimes while the owners are thousands of miles away. You need to read animal behaviors, adapt to various homeowner expectations, and know when to reach out.
Preparation is everything. We invest time in video calls with homeowners, ask detailed questions, and encourage them to do the same. Once everyone feels confident, we commit — and we take that commitment seriously.
