Home owners, Pet parents…just some of the titles that could be used to describe the same group of people using TrustedHousesitters.
This poll will run for the next two weeks, thanks for your help. 
Hosts works better because not every listing includes a pet.
Prior to 2022 used to be homeowners
I like homeowners too because you can’t spell it without the word Meow but not everyone owns their home.
Definitely hosts for me.
I like and have begun using ‘Hosts’ because it reminds everyone that this is a mutual relationship vs a staff/employer situation, and suggests the element of hospitality as part of that exchange.
Yeah I actually picked homeowner, but in truth I prefer hosts. However playing with semantics does nothing to improve the overall experience 
@Mark_B I’m puzzled as to why you are asking for feedback. Look at the post referenced in @BunnyCat ‘s reply, and specifically Vanessa’s response (#43). For those who don’t know, Vanessa was in Mark’s role at the time. The response she received from marketing clearly sets out why they adopted the pet parent terminology. If this was their true position, then surely there would be no need for the marketing department to revisit this terminology?
In that same post, an overwhelming dislike of the term was shared by forum members. However, as we have repeatedly seen over the years, when TrustedHousesitters decides on a change, regardless of how undesirable it seems to the majority of forum members, or actual TrustedHousesitters members, the company does not backtrack on its position.
Why are you taking this poll? The company sends out endless surveys to members, where they could ask this question. Why are you, as the forum manager, involved?
I sincerely hope this is not an example of one of the “improved” changes (as highlighted by @BunnyCat and @Snowbird that we’ve already had and many did not like) that our booking fee will be supporting!!
I prefer hosts
Thanks for sharing… I never noticed the meow in the homeowner 
This context is really useful. 
Host = person who receives other people as guests.
I agree Host recognises that this is a mutually beneficial exchange . Sitters are guests in your home , not just “free” employees .
It sets the tone that more is needed than just choosing a sitter - a host must also prepare to welcome sitters as guest into their home .
It is inclusive and more accurate because it works for both sits with pets and those without pets . Also for both home owners and hosts that don’t own their home .
“Host”, every time. It’s clear, straightforward and avoids the ghastly cutesiness of “pet parent”.
On that note, I would like the name for sitters to evolve to guest sitters. It will never happen but I believe it would emphasize the exchange and lessen any employer/employee ideas
Definitively hosts.
As @Silversitters mentions, it sets the right tone and is accurate and inclusive, it includes:
And it doesn’t suggest that sitters are not pet or home owners themselves.
But it does to set the right tone and it does help in the long run to change attitudes. Language and thought are intertwined.
“Pet parent” makes me want to barf. I’ve always used “host,” for all the reasons mentioned.
I always refused to use the PP description.
I have always used the terms Hosts & Sitters. These terms are the most inclusive and also more representative of the exchange. (IMHO!)
I agree with @Maggie8K PetParent is a nauseating & stupid term! Also when I read something like this “We are parents to 4 children; 2 human ones and two furry ones”……
…. I scroll on as fast as possible!
@Mark_B I see that you have done two posts to members in this thread, four hours ago. I have yet to receive a response from you to my question. Surely you know why you created this post? I’d appreciate an answer to my question.
Hi @Snowbird
Thanks for the question.
We want to find ways to make things better for our members. Changing how we refer to a group may not be a big change, but as others have mentioned, it may be a step (along with more significant tweaks) that may help how sits are positioned.
Trusted Housesitters won’t be able to engage members on every change that’s explored, but I hope you’ll agree that ensuring that we are hosting polls like this in a public/transparent way is an improvement to how things played out back in 2022 (when the linked discussion took place).
As another example of our teams listening… over the next couple of weeks, I expect to be sharing more information about adjustments to Arrival/Departure times and Pet Care responsibilities (which were rolled out in Dec 2025). Some of those tweaks have been developed as a direct response to the valuable feedback in this forum.
I’m hesitant to overcommit, but needless to say the feedback that’s shared in this forum (when viewed alongside other data points) is really important.
