House Sitting in Amherst

About: I’ve been an animal lover for as long as I can remember! Growing up with cats, dogs, birds, and even turtles, I was always surrounded by furry (and feathered) friends. My love for horses led me to the pony club, where I learned how to care for them and even competed. In the early 2000s, while living in Austin, I had the unique privilege of house- and cat-sitting for the dean of liberal arts at UT. He had eight cats, and every year when he traveled to the UK, I happily moved in as their temporary but devoted caretaker. Over the years, I’ve jumped at any chance to look after friends’ pets—both cats and dogs—because, honestly, hanging out with animals never feels like a chore. These days, my husband and I are often asked to house- and dog-sit for friends in Halifax, which is always a treat. I love keeping a tidy home, making sure pets get plenty of exercise (extra walks if they’re up for it!), and ensuring they get all the love and care they need. I’m also experienced with administering medication and even whipping up special homemade meals for pups with refined palates. Caring for animals has always been a joy, and I love the connections I’ve made along the way—both human and four-legged. Fun fact: As a kid, I tried to start a dog-walking business and passed out hundreds of flyers in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, dog-walking wasn’t really a thing back then, and the only call I got was from a lady… who had a cat! I work part-time remotely from home, so I have plenty of time to care for house pets, go for walks, and I am up at the crack of dawn most days. I love a healthy routine, and keeping things organized and tidy. Whether I'm caring for a pet in my home or anyone else's, I like to follow the routine that works for everyone when it comes to exercise and feeding. When it comes to dealing with emergencies, I'm pretty chill, and I always check-in with the pet/home owner before any major purchases or vet visits.

About: I've grown up with animals and have taken care of friend and family pets over the course of my life (am now in my 40s). And I've been taking care of cats and dogs professionally for a few years now, from young to old, healthy to less healthy. I'm very good at bonding with the animals, adjusting to their own pace and ways of being and so making them feel at ease. I work from home, so I'm around the animals a lot. Being a freelancer, I make my own schedule and this flexibility makes it easy to attend to the pets' needs. I'm also an early riser so it's no problem to take care of them early on in the day. I only offer house-sitting so I'll be in your home and will work with that configuration as per your instructions to ensure the pet's safety and well-being.