PET CARE

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED AS OF 9/5/2012: NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR PET-SITTING AND OVERNIGHT STAYS -- TILL FURTHER NOTICE

I'VE GOT A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT, AM 62 YEARS OLD IN GOOD HEALTH AND LOVE WALKING. I THINK YOUR DOG WILL BENEFIT FROM EXERCISE WITH ME AND WILL BE WELL CARED FOR. SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED DOGS WILL BE COMFORTABLE HERE. GIANT DOGS WILL DEFINITELY FEEL CONFINED. ALL DOGS MUST BE TRAINED.

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED: AS OF 9/5/2012, I AM UNABLE TO TAKE ON ANY PET-SITTING ASSIGNMENTS DUE TO NOT HAVING A "PET-FRIENDLY" APARTMENT FOR STAYOVERS

I am 62 years old, semi-retired, and live alone in a one-bedroom city apartment and am dog friendly and love walking alone or with a dog.

I can best accommodate one (1) small dog or (1) medium-size dog (though not at the same time), up to a maximum number of five (5) consecutive days and nights.

The best chance of a connection for pet-sitting service with me is to provide at least 24-hour notice (a guy's got to do laundry and grocery shopping alone!) Starting Fridays and ending Monday nights (or Tuesday nights) petting-sitting assignments are great and welcomed.

:-)

I've always been a dog lover but had my biggest love experience with one dog from childhood until the age of 22. Now at 62 and looking toward retirement, I have undertaken dog sitting only recently and have completed three pet-sitting assignments to complete satisfaction.

I need to know if your dog has health issues, is sick or old or arthritic or hyperactive. I need to know if your dog has recently been bathed and whether it has been recently made tick free and flea free and if it has been trained. I also would like to know what level of exercise your dog requires or would enjoy -- an hour of walking twice a day or four times a day . . . ?

I do not have private transportation in the event of an emergency other than public transportation and cab. It would be good to have the owner provider an emergency number to telephone.

I am punctual and observant of time and events, and keep a daily planner. I am comfortable administering medication so long as I know the frequency and the amount of the dose.

Your dog's time is pretty much my time, with the exception of 20 minutes here or there to run a personal errand should that be necessary. I try to arrange things so that my pet-care is not interrupted by external demands.

I do not have a backyard. Instead, I take the dog to the Huntington Park or the Lafayette Park, to Alta Bates Park or the Presidio Park, all of which are within a few blocks or within good dog-walking distance from my apartment. I can walk the dog to the beach on Beach Street, too, which is also a pleasant adventure for any dog.

Your dog will sleep in my bedroom or in the hallway just outside my bedroom, whichever the dog prefers. I also have a rather empty and spacious front room if the dog prefers complete privacy or to capture some warming sun rays, but usually the dog chooses to sleep near or by me.

I am a daily walker myself by nature, so your dog will accompany me. You set the limits. I will take the dog to the Huntington Park or to Lafayette Park either of which is only a few blocks distance from my apartment. Or I can walk the dog to the beach on Beach Street which is also a pleasant adventure for any dog. I can limit long walks to strictly around the block if this is made explicit to me.