PetCloud vs Pawshake: Which Is the Safer Choice for Australian Pet Owners?
Weighing up PetCloud and Pawshake for pet sitting in Australia? Both platforms let you find local carers for your pet — but the standards each platform holds its sitters to are different. When you are trusting someone with your pet and your home, those differences are worth understanding.
Here is a straightforward, honest breakdown.
At a Glance: PetCloud vs Pawshake
| Feature | PetCloud | Pawshake |
|---|---|---|
| Police check required | ✅ Yes — live biometric, ACIC-accredited | Verification process (details not publicly specified) |
| Identity verification method | ✅ Biometric ID-linked — physically confirmed | Not publicly specified |
| Vet-endorsed training | ✅ Developed with RSPCA Vets & Dr Mandy Paterson | Not specified |
| Vet partnership | ✅ Active partnership with Greencross Vets | Not specified |
| Meet-and-greet | ✅ Built into booking flow — formally requestable | Available |
| Walk route sharing | ✅ Google Maps screenshot after each walk | Photo updates available |
| Canstar recognised | ✅ Listed #1 in Canstar’s best pet apps guide | Not listed |
| Booking fee | Small fee capped at $40 | Service fee applies |
| Base in Australia | ✅ Australian-owned and operated | International platform operating in Australia |
Table reflects publicly available information at time of publication. Always verify current policies directly with each platform.
Sitter Verification: The Most Important Factor
The question every pet owner should ask before booking through any platform is simple: how do I know the person coming to my home is who they say they are?
How PetCloud answers that question
Every pet sitter on PetCloud must pass a live biometric identity-linked police check through an ACIC-accredited provider before they can accept a booking. This means:
- The sitter’s face scan is matched to their government-issued ID to confirm who they are
- That confirmed identity is used to run a full criminal history check through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
- The check is tied to a specific, verified body — it cannot be faked, shared, or forged
This is the gold standard for identity verification in Australia. It is the same standard used by banks and healthcare providers. No other major Australian pet sitting platform requires it as a universal condition of joining.
Why weak verification is a real risk
Many platforms accept self-uploaded police checks, basic name searches, or photo ID submitted by the sitter themselves. None of these methods confirm that the person submitting the document is the same person named on it. Biometric, identity-linked verification is the only method that closes this gap.
In January 2026, A Current Affair on Channel 9 broadcast a story about a man whose pet sitter allegedly stole thousands of dollars of belongings while caring for his pets. It is not a rare edge case — it is the predictable outcome of platforms that accept shortcuts on identity verification. Read our full guide: How to Find a Safe Pet Sitter in Australia.
Training and Veterinary Standards
A clean criminal record confirms who someone is. It does not confirm they know how to care for your pet safely.
Pet sitters on PetCloud can complete animal care training developed in collaboration with registered Vets — specifically with Dr Mandy Paterson, a board-registered veterinarian who served with RSPCA Qld for many years. The training covers recognising stress signals, safe animal handling, basic health assessment, and responding to signs of illness or distress.
PetCloud also holds an active partnership with Greencross Vets, Australia’s largest veterinary network — giving the platform ongoing veterinary expertise that shapes care standards across the platform.
An Australian Platform Built for Australian Pet Owners
PetCloud is Australian-owned and operated — built specifically for the Australian pet care market, with an understanding of Australian regulations, conditions, and the needs of Australian pet owners and their pets.
When you book through PetCloud, you are booking through a platform built for Australia — with Australian government-accredited police checks, Australian vet partnerships, and a team that understands the Australian context.
What Canstar Says
Canstar — one of Australia’s most trusted independent comparison services — included PetCloud in their guide to the five best pet apps in Australia, listing it first ahead of all other platforms. Pawshake was not included in the list.
Canstar noted that PetCloud offers a comprehensive range of services and that all sitters and walkers receive RSPCA-accredited pet care training and are thoroughly vetted before signing up.
Services Compared
Both platforms offer the core pet sitting services — boarding, house sitting, dog walking, home visits, and day care.
PetCloud additionally offers:
- Pet Maintenance — a 7-point P.E.T. S.C.A.N.™ preventative health check performed in your home
- Puppy Socialisation & Desensitisation — a structured 6-week course for puppies in the critical developmental window
- Special Needs Pet Care — for pets with ongoing medical needs or recovering from surgery
- Fish Tank Maintenance — fortnightly aquarium care visits
- Pet Taxi — distance-based transport to vets, groomers, and airports
- Dog Grooming and Washing — in-home grooming services including full clip, wash, and brush
See the full list at PetCloud’s services and prices page.
The Bottom Line
If your priority is the highest standard of sitter verification, vet-endorsed training, and a platform purpose-built for Australia, PetCloud is the stronger choice. Live biometric police checks through an ACIC-accredited provider, pet sitter safety and care training developed with Board registered Vets, an active Greencross Vets partnership, and Canstar recognition — these are the reasons over 100,000 Australian pet owners trust PetCloud.
Find a verified pet sitter near you on PetCloud →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PetCloud better than Pawshake?
PetCloud requires all sitters to pass a live biometric identity-linked police check through an ACIC-accredited provider, offers vet-developed training for pet sitters in collaboration with RSPCA Vets, holds an active Greencross Vets partnership, and was listed first in Canstar’s guide to the best pet apps in Australia. It is Australian-owned and operated.
Does Pawshake do police checks on pet sitters?
Pawshake has a verification process for sitters. PetCloud requires all sitters to pass a live biometric identity-linked police check through an ACIC-accredited provider — physically confirming each sitter’s identity before their criminal history is checked.
Is Pawshake safe for my pet?
Pawshake operates in Australia and has a verification process. For the highest level of assurance, PetCloud requires biometric identity-linked police checks through an ACIC-accredited provider and offers vet-developed training for all sitters on the platform.
What is the difference between PetCloud and Pawshake?
Key differences: PetCloud requires biometric ACIC-accredited police checks; PetCloud offers Vet-endorsed training, Web Vet Support at affordable rates and a Greencross Partnership; PetCloud is Australian-owned; PetCloud offers additional services including Pet Maintenance, Puppy Socialisation, Special Needs care, and Pet Taxi; and PetCloud‘s booking fee is capped at $40.
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