Cat Sitting in 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.

“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.

“Rebecca was an excellent dog sitter! She went above and beyond for my dog, bringing an extra lomg leash for him, and treats. She sent awesome pictures and videos, and kept us very well informed during our time away. Oakley was very happy. Thank you so much, we would definitely hire again!”

Lisa M.

“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.

“Tara-lynn was wonderful with our babies!”

Donna W.

“Jaimi dropped in with little notice to take care of our dog. She stayed longer than necessary and gave Colden lots of love. I would definitely recommend and will request her again.”

Kim H.

“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.

“She’s the best! Whit and Larry love her.”

Kathleen N.

About: I have cared for pets, primarily dogs, for 11 years. I have two dogs, Simon (19) and Maggie (4). Simon is deaf, mostly blind, and has arthritis, and I am experienced in caring for dogs with these conditions. Maggie is an emotional support animal and service dog in training. I enjoy socializing, caring for, and accommodating all pets! I am able to walk and care for animals on an as needed basis. As of now, I am regularly free in the evenings and weekends. I am flexible and we can figure out a good time together. I am unable to participate in care taking place within my home as Simon does not take well to strangers. I will come to you!

“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: I’ve had a family dog my entire life, so caring for dogs has always been a big part of my life. I also have experience watching and walking dogs for other people, including strangers’ pets, and I’m comfortable with different personalities and energy levels. I’m active, reliable, and genuinely enjoy spending time with dogs, whether that’s going on walks, playing, or just making sure they feel comfortable and cared for while you’re away. I’m available throughout the week and have a pretty flexible schedule. While I have an internship on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I still have plenty of time for pet care, walks, and check ins. I’m happy to work with your schedule and make sure your pets are well cared for! I’ve been around animals and loved them my whole life, so being around pets comes naturally to me. I’m patient and understand that not every animal is super outgoing or likes new people right away. I’ve had experience with pets that can be more stand offish or take time to warm up, and I’m good at being patient and letting them get comfortable at their own pace. I always want pets to feel safe, comfortable, and cared for while their owner is away, and I’ll treat them like they’re my own.

“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.

“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.

“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: 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: I've been around animals all my life, but I've been working with animals for 10 years. One of the first dogs that I worked with, was very difficult around other dogs--I bring her up because she taught me patience, determination, and strength. She was very special. From there, I've continued to learn with every other dog I've met, but she is in my mind. I specialize in senior care, aggressiveness, and "pullers" on a leash. I am currently a stay-at-home mom, I'm very flexible with my schedule. I'm available when you need me. I ask as much notice as possible. I am available anytime with a short notice. I need ample time to secure a sitter for my children. I will always update my schedule for no availability. I have a fenced in yard, and plenty of toys for play! We will be doing our grooming outside when weather permits. Your pets are like my family.

About: I’ve spent over 20 years in professional pet care, including raising four Guiding Eyes for the Blind dogs, three who worked successfully until retirement and one who was selected for advanced training as a bomb sniffing detection dog. That level of responsibility requires patience, structure, keen observation, and an ability to read and respond to animals with clarity and calm. Beyond dogs, I’ve provided over 15 years of attentive cat care, often for multi-pet households, senior cats, and cats needing medication or extra reassurance. I’m comfortable handling all daily care needs, maintaining clean living spaces, and respecting each animal’s unique personality and routine. I’ve also worked with animals internationally and adopted three rescue dogs from Costa Rica, giving me a deep appreciation for animals from many backgrounds and temperaments. I’m confident caring for pets of all sizes, ages, and energy levels, and I’m known for having a grounded presence that animals trust quickly. Clients choose me not just for experience, but for peace of mind, knowing their pets are cared for with professionalism, consistency, and genuine compassion while they’re away. Pet care fits naturally into my daily and weekly routine. I work online running my own e-commerce brand called Upstate Clothing Company. I also work part-time as a massage therapist. This flexible schedule allows me to structure my days around the needs of the animals in my care. Because I have ample free hours throughout the day, I’m able to provide attentive care including regular walks, check-ins, feedings, playtime, companionship, and any special care needs, rather than squeezing visits into a tight schedule. I prioritize consistency, presence, and making sure each pet feels comfortable, cared for, and relaxed. I tailor my care to each pet’s individual needs, routine, and comfort level. Whether I’m caring for pets in my home or in their own home, my priority is maintaining consistency, safety, and a calm environment. In a client’s home, I follow established routines, feeding schedules, walks, litter maintenance, medications, and any special instructions provided. I’m attentive to behavior, energy levels, and subtle changes, and I make sure pets receive not only physical care but companionship and reassurance while their owners are away. If caring for pets in my home, I provide a calm, structured, and clean environment with plenty of supervision, regular potty breaks or walks, playtime, rest, and affection. I’m comfortable caring for pets of all sizes, ages, and temperaments, and I ensure their routines and comfort come first. Across all services, I emphasize clear communication, respect for the pet’s boundaries, and consistent updates so owners feel confident and informed.

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.

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: 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