House Sitting in Apple Mountain Lake West

“We were on vacation with our high-anxiety pup and Carissa was happy to help us out - she's a great communicator and we appreciate her willingness to come up to our Airbnb in the mountains!”

Leslie H.

About: What sets me apart is my personal experience with dogs of all sizes, temperaments, and life stages. I’ve raised and cared for five dogs throughout my life, including Labs, Golden Retrievers, Chihuahuas, and German Shepherds, so I understand the very different needs of small, medium, and large breeds. I trained my own puppy from 8 weeks old, teaching her a wide range of tricks and good behaviors, which gave me a lot of patience and training skills. I’m also comfortable handling more challenging dogs as one of my Chihuahuas was very aggressive, which taught me how to read body language and safely manage reactive pets, from a young age. In addition, I have extensive experience caring for senior dogs. I’ve helped raise multiple dogs into old age, including a German Shepherd that lived until 15, and a Labrador Retriever that lived until 17! I understand the gentleness, and care older dogs require. Overall, I bring a lot of confidence to this role because of my genuine understanding of dogs at every stage of life. I just finished my undergrad and plan to be home all summer. I begin graduate school in the fall online and will practically have no big everyday commitments. I have a few vacations planned but besides that I am an open book willing to work anytime. When caring for pets in a client’s home, I prioritize keeping their routine as consistent as possible. (Dogs know their schedule!) I follow all instructions closely and carefully for any specific care needs. I make sure pets get plenty of attention, exercise so they feel comfortable while their owner is away. I have cared for dogs that experience extreme distress from their owner being gone and I have developed my skills to better care for dogs experiencing this. I’m also very attentive to behavior and health, so I can quickly notice if something seems off. I respect my client’s home by secure and exactly as I found it. My goal is to make both the pet, and the owner feel completely at ease, just as I would want if my dog was being watched.

About: I have had dogs since I was a toddler and have grown up caring for them. I currently have one of my own (8yrs) who is my entire world. I currently work full time for a consulting firm but I am looking to do pet care part time. My weekends are usually open and weeknights are also pretty flexible. Pet sitting is my way of stopping myself from getting another dog. I love spending time with all animals, but especially in places where they feel comfortable. Each visit will involve a walk and some play time and a lot of love. I try to get my own dog out as much as possible so I would aim to do the same for yours as well.

“Clare is The Best! As tempting as it is to gatekeep someone this amazing, it would be a disservice not to share how incredible she is. Clare is everything we could ask for in a dog sitter, kind, trustworthy, responsible, experienced with large and small dogs, and is someone dogs naturally gravitate toward. She asked thoughtful questions about our dogs’ routines and followed every detail to a tee. While we were new to house sitting versus boarding, Clare made the entire experience seamless. She arrived right on time, asked what we were comfortable with, stayed longer to keep the dogs company, and even gave our energetic dog a nice, long walk. Our older dog isn’t the easiest to care for these days. He’s grumpy, wears a diaper, and needs a little extra patience, but Clare handled it all with compassion and grace. Our younger dog ate grass before we left so she wasn’t eating and threw up a couple times. We were grateful Clare told us what happened and handled the situation. It’s comforting to know we can trust her judgement and she will tell us if something is going on in the future! She truly cares for animals and treats them as her own. Having just moved to the area, we were nervous about finding the right person we can trust and count on. We’re thrilled to say Clare is now our go-to sitter, as long as she’s around and will have us! 🧡 Thanks Clare! Loki, Leia, and the Hayes fam”

Sylvia C.

“We can’t recommend Sara enough! She recently cared for our two dogs, Frankie and Lulu, as well as our fish, and went above and beyond by making sure the bird feeder was stocked for the wild birds. Her attentiveness and thoughtfulness were evident from day one. She sent us daily updates and plenty of pictures of Frankie and Lulu, which kept us reassured and connected while we were away. It was clear Sara treated our home and pets as if they were her own. Frankie and Lulu were happy and relaxed when we returned, and everything in the house was spotless. Knowing our pets were in such good hands made our time away completely stress-free. We’re so grateful for Sara and would absolutely trust her again in the future!”

Jill B.

“Virginia was able to take care of our pooches for us during a recent overnight camping trip. As soon as she came over to meet the dogs before our trip, we knew they'd be in perfect hands. They both immediately loved her and I am definitely one of those people who trust my dogs' instincts when it comes to people :-) Both of them immediately start vying for her attention and I knew there was no way they'd even notice we were gone. We were so happy to have Virginia close by and able to watch our pups. We'll definitely be working with her again!”

Chantharaphon V.

“Was gone for about 3 days. Jessica was able to provide me with a morning and afternoon report on how my pets were doing and sent me plenty of pictures. I was so grateful and was able to enjoy my trip knowing that they were in good hands. My 2 cats and pup were so comfortable with her. Definitely recommend and will rebook again!”

Jessica N.

“Megan did outstanding her first time with Crosby and Luna! We were in contact daily and she made sure that everything went smoothly which is always a concern for me since Luna is a rescue still figuring things out. Communication leading up to the stay was above and beyond and my house was perfectly the way I left it and she even went the extra mile to wash and dry the towels and sheets. A girl after my own heart!!!! I would. highly recommend!!!!!”

Kathy R.

“Sierra took great care of our dog Stella! We returned home to a happy dog. Highly recommend and will definitely be reaching out again.”

Samantha B.

“Thank you so much! Darian was great with the pups and took care of both them and our house with the utmost care. She was also very responsive and really helped out us out of a jam, our sitter cancelled at the last minute and she stepped up and made it work!”

Patrick W.

About: Hi, My name is Reina, I recently retired and love to care for pets. I have a lot of time and dedication to care for yours. Flexible with schedules. I am currently retired, so I have a lot of time to play and properly care for your pet. I do not have pets anymore since my sweet dog passed away.I am ready to give the same kind of love and attention to yours. I have a fence yard and a very clean environment.I do not have pets anymore since my sweet dog passed away.I am ready to give the same kind of love and attention to yours.

About: Dogs and cats love me. And I love them. I recently relocated from the West coast to East. have volunteered at Laguna Beach Animal Shelter in California the past nine years. There are many pets in my household ( one dog, 4 cats)). I thoroughly enjoy pet/home sitting and am grateful for your trust. I am flexible and can easily adjust my schedule accordingly. Overnights are my specialty. I have no pets or children of my own thereby emplyment is my only commitment. My household has pets and roommates travel extensively so I feed, love and whatever other pet needs arise. I am and happy to accommodate as it takes a village with pets!

“She is awesome. Did a great job, knowledgeable, very nice. Will definitely use again sometime.”

Elliot A.

“Jocelyn did a fantastic job looking after my fur babies. Easy to work with and good communication.”

Donald H.

“Katherine was absolutely great with Donner and Murphy during the storms we had yesterday. Played with them cuddled with them to comfort them. We’ll definitely have back as needed.”

Pamela T.

“Julia was very patient with our dog while he needed to be on Benedryl the first few days and wasn't quite himself. She kept us updated, left our house clean upon leaving, and our dog loved snuggling and watching tv with her.”

Brooke H.

“Kristine is a warm and caring individual and my dogs picked up on that immediately. She was fantastic with our three German Shepherds. She took great care of our dogs and our home while we were away. She was respectful of our property, cleaned up after herself and the dogs, and went above and beyond by mopping up after a rainstorm and even throwing linens in the wash before we returned. It gave us so much peace of mind knowing everything was being handled so thoughtfully. Great communication, too. I would absolutely book Kristine again and highly recommend. Kristine, if you’re reading this, thank you so much for putting up with all the shedding, the Shepherds were dropping their coats like crazy.”

Alesha R.

About: I work full time at Shenandoah University and am joining Rover to formalize my side hustle, which Ive largely managed through word of mouth thus far. I’ve lived with dogs for about 25 of my 30 years of life - mostly hounds (most recently 2 bassets). And I’ve watched dogs of all sizes, the smallest being a chihuahua mix and the largest a Great Dane. Over the last 5 years or so, I’ve dog sat for friends, family, and connections in the Winchester area. The longest engagement was 6 weeks, but I normally do long weekends or week long jobs. All animals are different and I respect you, their owner, to tell me what’s best for your furry friend. I also will be transparent and over communicate with you so we both can be confident your animals have everything they need. I’m comfortable dispensing medication - including to the really picky ones (I can take a pill/pill pocket and sculpt it pretty much exactly the same shape and size as any mainstream kibble brand). I have experience with puppies and with our senior citizens, who both just need a little extra care and attention. I feel comfortable listening to animals and getting to know their personalities, which are all so different yet equally endearing. If they are trying to say something, though, I feel pretty confident I will notice it - especially after we’ve spent a few hours together. And, if they’re trying to say something and I don’t understand? I’ll reach out just to make sure. I just really, really love animals. I most often watch dogs but have also cared for cats, lizards, bunnies, chickens, and horses (although horses were largely just feeding and brushing/attention). I also have a rescue cat of my own, Luna, who has made me certain I’m equally a dog person AND a cat person. I work 9-5 M-F, and occasionally am tied up on weekends with happenings on campus. I can take an hour lunch (and flex a bit beyond if necessary) to visit the animals for attention and potty breaks. I am single, sober, and genuinely grateful for the work and the company. Animals have so much love to give, and i try to reciprocate that love indiscriminately. Thanks for your consideration and please let me know if I can answer any questions, hop on a zoom call, or speak to any specific needs you find important. No request is too small and I’m grateful for any and all details I can use to keep your animals feeling secure, loved, and cared for in your absence. I work full time at Shenandoah University as an Administrative Assistant in the Office of Global Engagement. My role is in-person on the main campus in Winchester. My routine hours are 9-5 with an hour lunch around 12 or 1. But, there’s a lot of flexibility, especially over the summer when the students are back home. My team is small and I am able to shift my hours when I communicate with them in advance (I.e. I’ll take 2 hours midday but clock in at 8, etc). Outside of work, my schedule largely centers around community and service work. I’m really involved with the recovery community and attend several meetings and events a week, although I can be flexible there too. Most days I’m up no later than 7 am and asleep by 11. But all these things can flex, depending on your and your pets needs. I live alone with a stray-turned-adopted cat named Luna (who I’m preparing to spay, which is part of my need for a more stable second income!). My place has a small fenced area in the back, enough room for a pup to potty but not much more. But I’m also about a half a mile from Jim Barnett Park and I love their walking trails and their dog park. I’d prefer to house sit at your house, but I’m open to certain scenarios if I can ensure your animal is comfortable in my space. Let’s talk about the details!

About: I love dogs and have worked with several families walking dogs in the mornings, afternoons amd lunch breaks. I have a 4 year old Pomeranian named Milo. He’s 5 pounds. He won’t be with me on walks or staying over at your house dog sitting. I’m very passionate about animals and love everyone of them like they’re my own. I will love on your babies and we’ll have a great time together. I love playing fetch and giving snuggles. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me. I’m not working at this time so I’m available Monday thur Saturday for walks. I can do walks or let out your pet if you perfer in your yard. I’m also available for sleepovers with your fur baby. I live on almost 4 acres now and a fenced in yard. I have my Pom. My mom is also living with me now in a basement apartment and she has two smaller dogs that are very friendly. They will be kept in the basement if I’m watching other dogs or having sleepovers. They will also be let out at separate times to put everyone’s mind at ease.

About: I’m a certified Physician Assistant with a strong medical background and CPR certification, so your pet’s safety is always my top priority. I’ve cared for pets for years, including dogs and cats of all ages, and I’m comfortable with feeding, walking, playtime, medications, and general care. I’m reliable, attentive, and love spending time with animals, whether that’s keeping them active or giving them extra cuddles. I treat every pet like my own and will always keep you updated so you feel comfortable while you’re away. I currently have a very flexible schedule, which allows me to provide consistent, attentive care throughout the day. I’m available for drop-ins, walks, and extended visits during weekdays and weekends. I can easily accommodate your pet’s routine and provide frequent check-ins, playtime, and companionship so they’re never left alone for long periods. Your pet’s safety and comfort are my top priorities. As a certified Physician Assistant, I’m trained to stay calm, attentive, and responsive in any situation. I carefully follow all care instructions, including feeding schedules, medications, and routines. I respect your home and your pet’s environment, and I take time to build trust, especially with shy or anxious pets. I’ll always keep you updated so you feel confident while you’re away.