Cat Sitting Athol

About: I have spent my entire life surrounded by animals. From childhood pets to caring for my own senior dogs, animals aren't just a hobby for me—they are family. Most recently, I was the proud "pet parent" to a beautiful Weimaraner for 15 wonderful years. While I’m not quite ready to bring a new dog into my home permanently, I have a surplus of love and care to give, and I miss the daily joy that canine companionship brings. My Daily Routine: Integrated, Flexible Care Pet care isn't just a side task for me; it’s a seamless part of my family’s daily life. While I work full-time, I am fortunate to have a highly flexible schedule. My office is located nearby, which allows me to be "on-call" for my furry guests throughout the day. A Typical Day Includes: Morning Kick-off: We start the day with a potty break and some fresh air in my fully fenced yard before I head to the office. Midday Check-ins: I prioritize dropping back home (or to your home) during my lunch break for potty breaks, midday walks, and plenty of head scratches. This ensures no pet goes too long without a stretch and some affection. Afternoon Enrichment: After work, the real fun begins! We spend time outdoors watching the chickens (our favorite "Chicken TV") or playing in the yard with my two young children. Evening Wind-down: Evenings are for relaxing. Whether I’m doing an overnight stay at your place or hosting at mine, your pet will have constant companionship, evening walks, and plenty of couch cuddles. Because of my proximity to home and my flexible hours, your pet will never feel lonely. I prioritize quality time and active engagement during every visit, ensuring they feel like a true member of the family while you're away. Supervised Socialization With two young children (ages 5 and 6) who adore animals, safety is my absolute top priority. My children have been raised to respect a dog’s boundaries, understanding "dog language" like when a pup needs space or is finished playing. All interactions between my children and your pet are 100% supervised to ensure a positive, stress-free experience for everyone. Secure Physical Boundaries My home is set up for safety and peace of mind: The Yard: I have a fully fenced-in backyard where dogs can run freely and securely. The Chicken Safety Zone: My chickens are kept in a separate, double-fenced area. This allows dogs to enjoy the mental stimulation of watching the birds ("Chicken TV!") without any risk of physical contact or prey-drive incidents. Indoor Retreats: I maintain dedicated "quiet zones" where your pet can go if they need a break from the family action. Whether it’s their crate or a specific cozy corner, I ensure they have a place that is off-limits to the kids. Experienced Oversight Having cared for a Weimaraner for 15 years, I am highly attuned to a dog's subtle cues. I work full-time but have the flexibility to be home frequently throughout the day, ensuring the yard is supervised and everyone is following the "house rules." I treat your pet’s safety with the same level of seriousness I apply to my own children’s.

“Emily was the closest Rover sitter to me in a remote location, put she was still about 20 minutes away. She stopped by AFTER a full days work, which was at least another 20 minutes in the opposite direction from me. Despite these logistics, Emily showed up consistently early evening immediately after her work day. She performed all the duties necessary during each visit, plus she performed some special handling for a package that arrived while I was away. I would not hesitate using her again, and would recommend her.”

Derek S.

“Jonathan took great care of our precious Charlie, our 16 yr old cat. We received notice and pictures at every visit. Charlie found a new friend!”

Eileen M.

“This was our first time leaving Buddy under the care of Brandy and she did great. I received photos of him and never had to worry that he wasn't being cared for. I would highly recommend her.”

Susan S.

About: I love animals and have over 20 years of animal care experience from growing up in a home with cats, dogs, horses, and doing lots of pet sitting over the years as well! I have also worked and volunteered at a few animal rescues, including a rabbit rescue, a feral cat sanctuary, and a rescue donkey farm! My elderly dog recently passed and the house has been empty and I would love to board and care for pets at least until I'm ready for another pet of my own! Please note that I have some neck issues and I am currently unable to walk large dogs that might pull hard on the leash. I am able to care for large dogs as long as they have an area they can run around in and I can walk smaller dogs just fine! My own yard is fenced in. I am an artist and yoga teacher so I am home most of the day. I have plenty of time and plenty of love to give to all the furbabies. I have a house and a fenced in yard and live in a nice area to take walks around. My home is clean and dog friendly.

“Lillian was very responsive and reliable. I would highly recommend her and will definitely use her again in the future if needed.”

Caroline & Justin C.

“We just moved to a new area and our dogs were a little anxious, but we unfortunately had a wedding to attend and needed a sitter. Jaimi was great with our two dogs, sending lots of photos, and even looked after our chickens! Our dogs warmed up to her right away. I will definitely be asking Jaimi to dogsit again in the future!”

Julie G.

About: I have grown up with several dogs and cats that I have taken care of. My dad is also a dog trainer, so I often go out on walks and play with the dogs he cares for. I am very active, so your pets will never be bored! My schedule varies biweekly, so I am home every other week. The weeks I am off i have lots of free time, so I can be very flexible. The weeks I do have to work, I work nights, so I can be free during the afternoons for walks or drop-ins. I live without children, so your pets will be my priority. I have a fenced in yard for your pets to play in! I do own two cats and share my mom’s small dog part time, so i prefer pets that are friendly with other animals! If your pet needs to be crated I can accommodate that, but I also allow pets on furniture and on the bed if that is what they are used to at home. I am very flexible and am willing to accommodate most things to make your pets feel comfortable.

“Emma is so sweet and very efficient! She is very prompt with her communication. I will look forward to using her again in the future!”

Bonnie C.

About: Hi! For the past 10 years, I've been the go-to pet sitter for my family and friends, and I genuinely love getting to know every new furry friend. I'm an ER nurse working three 12-hour shifts each week, which gives me a flexible schedule and plenty of availability to care for your pets. My nursing background has made me calm under pressure, highly observant, and an excellent communicator. While I hope emergencies never happen, you can feel confident knowing I'm able to think quickly, troubleshoot problems, and keep you informed if anything unexpected arises. My priority is always building trust and making your pet feel safe and comfortable, and to keep them on their daily routine. I let each pet set the pace, paying close attention to their body language and energy level so I can adapt to what they need. Whether that's playtime, a relaxing walk, or a quiet afternoon. I'm very active and love being outdoors, so if your dog enjoys adventures, I'd be happy to take them on nature walks, hikes, or trips to a local park. During house sitting, I provide at least three walks per day and tailor activity to your dog's individual energy level. I live in Somerville and am often around exploring the area, which makes me a reliable option during busy times like summers, weekends, and holidays. I'm also comfortable caring for multiple dogs at once, as that's been the majority of my experience through years of pet sitting for family and friends. My goal is simple: provide dependable, attentive care so you can have peace of mind while your pet is happy, safe, and loved.

“Thank you for coming to take care of them with such short notice! We are up here at least one e a month and will be rebooking g and referring to our friends.”

Ellen E.

“Meghan was great! The last time we hired a walker, one of our pups didn’t walk. He wouldn’t leave the house and we had to call in a favor from family. We asked Meghan to meet the dogs and cat before her first walk, and we found her to be calm, polite, and very pleasant around the dogs. They warmed up to her immediately. While we were gone, she walked the dogs twice a day, including the one who was socially anxious. Our house looked great when we got home and the animals were in very good spirits. We will definitely use Meghan again!”

Paul S.

About: Over the last 7 years I have worked for many veterinary hospitals, including general practice and emergency medicine. With an associates degree in veterinary science, I’m well rounded to meet the needs of your fur babies! Working with animals Is what I love to do. Do you have special medical needs for your pet? No problem! I am very experienced with all forms of medications. Working for two veterinary hospitals, medicating animals is a daily need to know skill! Have a high energy pup that loves the outdoors? Rest assure they will be tired after some fun play time outside! I am very active and would love to bring your pup for a walk around the block/trails/dog park or play ball in the backyard! Need someone to stop by while you’re gone? I’m a great comfort friend and would love to help pass the time with your pet while you’re out for the day! I'm also very accommodating to those pets that may have more specific requests (anxious, does not like other dogs, food aggression, behavioral concerns, etc) I want to make sure each pet has fun but is also safe! I’d be happy to stop by before and after work (7am-5pm). I am fully available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday's. Of course I can accommodate and work around schedules as well. Small fenced in back yard along with daily walks over 30 minutes. Just a short drive away from multiple trails / parks in the area!

About: Common courtesy and communication is paramount. **Willing to travel up to an hour away. Just because Rover says you are outside my service area it does not always mean you are. I have clients an hour North and South of me. **Necessary update as of 6/21/23** I will require current credit card info be on file at your vet or provided for me in your pet write up ONLY in case of emergency. In the event of an emergency and I could not get a hold of the human, puppies have no pockets to hold a card, the vet required me to pay. I have raised 3 separate RESCUE Rottweilers to be exceptional ambassadors of their breed. I currently do not have any pets since my big boy passed away in 2016. I hope to again one day have my own dogs. Until then I will love YOUR pet. **I DO NOT board animals at my home. Only repeat clients would MAYBE be possible for a very short amount of time.** Clients pets have included many breeds, species for days, weeks. Many Golden Retrievers, Doodles, mixes aka Heinz57s, Old English Sheep dog, lots of kitties, a chameleon, turtles, a bearded dragon, a small bird, fish, Rottweilers, a very challenging but lovable English Bulldog and Huskies one of which was very reactive. Oh and a LOT of house plants! PLEASE NOTE: I am deathly allergic to horses which I am very sad about. Any type of animal requiring LARGE amounts of hay would also be a problem i.e, goats, cows, alpacas I am sorry to say. Small rodent animals requiring hay for food or bedding has not been a big deal. My personnel dogs were very public dogs, parks, events etc. With the ever present fact in mind that as good as my animal was it is still an animal. Never purposely putting them in a situation to be loose (unless at home or a fenced park) or get into anything that could harm them. Read quite a few books/manuals by military working dog trainers in hopes of training a service oriented Rottie. Came very close to passing the Good Citizen certification but my dogs never liked the “stay” part when I had to walk away with my back turned. They just had to be next to me. So close. PLEASE NOTE: I have my preferences set to NOT to show any photos of YOUR pet publicly. I would ask permission first to share. Photos only NEVER infomation of course. My schedule allows me to be available to be in YOUR HOME, with your pets all day/night, unless noted ahead of time and of course trips to the store. I have many types of animals that insist on sleeping in bed just like they do when their people are home which in fine by me. Just take some Benadryl and snuggle on in. I try to stick closely to how the home runs normally so the pets do not have any surprises that can make them anxious. Sleep, food, walks, play time etc. I supervise dogs in their own yard fenced or not. I am very organized and like an outlined idea of their schedule to be written down for me to follow as closely as YOU would.

About: From the excited, to the reserved, to the elderly, I have a depth of experience to care for your animal kin. I've helped care for senior dogs when they struggled to walk down stairs, when food requirements changed on a whim, when the house has to be changed to reduce trips on tiles, and even when they can start wandering past bed time. It was not easy to care for them as puppies and it's not easy when they are elderly. But if one loves enough when they are babies, then they love enough to do the same as they are seniors. I'm between jobs and actively looking, so I have plenty of time to care for all your animal family members beyond a stop to fill bowls and empty boxes and the like. It all comes down to the first meeting. Not the first job. I want to know what you, your pets, and your house is like so I can do my very best to be attentive and observent in caring for them. This includes setting up a person emergency plan for common emergency care should it arise. Preparedness beats panic after all!

About: Hi my name is Paige! I have had 10 dogs over the course of 21 years! I have been taking care of dogs since I was 10 years old. I’m very experienced with caring for animals. I’m very gentle and kind to each and every animal I encounter and treat them like they are my own. I ensure you that your dogs will feel safe and loved when they are in my care! I will love your fur babies like they’re my own! Please consider me as I am extremely experienced in so many different aspects in taking of many different types of dogs! I’m currently working another job but I am still open to morning and afternoon visits! I’m super flexible so please don’t be afraid to ask questions! I prefer to come to your home to keep your fur babies comfortable in their environment where they feel safe. I also have other dogs at home so this allows me to focus all my attention on your pet.

“Caitlynn is the absolute best. I have 3 crazy pitbulls and she handles them beautifully. They are not easy dogs to keep safe, but Caitlynn makes it look effortless. It’s been years since my husband and I have been able to travel, but now that we have Caitlynn in our lives there are many things that we can look forward to knowing we can count on her. She stayed for over 2 hours getting to know us, our home, and furbabies before we had her over. She really made sure we were all comfortable and we are so grateful for that. We love Caitlynn and can’t wait to have her back💖”

Sam S.

About: I am a pet owner and animal lover. I have experience caring for cats, dogs, horses, birds, fish, and rodents. I have worked with many animals and am comfortable grooming, walking, feeding, playing with and caring for your pets. I also have experience in medication administration I have been a volunteer at the SPCA and have participated in their pet care summer programs. I've spent most my life caring for all different types of animals and would love to help families out by doing the same for them. I am an energetic undergraduate student with a flexible schedule and look forward to meeting and loving your pets! Animals are truly a humans best friend. Please feel free to contact me to discuss my services. Yours truly, Michelle

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Calen S.