Pet Sitting & Drop Ins in Columbia Forest, Arlington, VA

“Esther came by every Monday and Wednesday around 1 PM for 30-min drop-in visits to spend time with our two Labs, Bailey and Dakota. During each visit, she let them out in the backyard to potty, gave them their pre-prepped lunch, refilled their water bowls, and then stayed to be present with them petting, playing, and keeping them company. Because I’m in school and my parents come home later, we were very selective about choosing a sitter. We don’t like our dogs to be alone for more than 3-4 hours, and from the moment we met Esther, it was clear she was the right fit. Esther has a genuinely warm, affectionate energy with dogs that can’t be faked. When we first met her, her focus was immediately on the girls….touching them, playing with them, and engaging with them naturally. It never felt like “just a job.” She clearly loves being with the girls, and that showed from day one. She was always reliable and honest. Esther consistently showed up on time, and on the rare occasion traffic delayed her, she let me know immediately with an exact estimate then stayed the extra time to make up for it. She followed all instructions exactly as shown and prioritized the most important tasks like water, lunch, and potty breaks, which gave me tremendous peace of mind while I was away. Her honesty really stood out to me as well; she once took responsibility for a broken light bulb, even though I was fairly sure the girls had caused it while playing. Her willingness to take responsibility, even for something small, spoke volumes about her character and made me trust her even more. Esther was also excellent at respecting the girls’ boundaries and communicating clearly. She always checked in if something unusual came up and asked before taking action. For example, when Bailey tried to steal Dakota’s Kong, Esther asked if it was okay for Bailey to have it. When I said no, she calmly handled the situation, told Bailey to leave it, and removed the Kong, later explaining exactly what she did. That kind of attentiveness and follow-through mattered a lot to me. I noticed positive changes in the girls while Esther was caring for them, especially Bailey, who seemed calmer and less anxious. The girls clearly grew attached to her; on one day when I canceled a visit because I stayed home, they waited by the window around the usual time Esther would arrive, clearly expecting her. She also consistently sent photo updates and let me know how the visits went, flagging any issues rather than glossing over them. She was always responsive when I checked in. Esther was professional and respectful of our home, and she was also very understanding when plans changed. Even when I had to cancel a visit on short notice due to an unexpected vet appointment, she was gracious and kind, simply responding that it was no problem. I would absolutely rebook Esther and plan to do so next semester in January. I sincerely hope we fit into her schedule after winter break. She earned my complete trust, and I would confidently recommend her to anyone looking for a dependable, caring, and genuinely thoughtful dog sitter. Thank-you, Esther!”

STEPHANIE B.

“first time using shannon and she was wonderful! came over for a meet and greet and she was super friendly and prompt. she sent us lots of pictures and updates while we were gone. will be using her again”

Liz B.

“Dominique helped me a lot by caring for my dog while I was away. He was punctual and always provided updates. Will definitely be my go to dog sitter!”

Jamario L.

“My cat Hannah was well taken care of and in good hands while I was away! Lisa gave great drop-in visits and left Rover cards to keep me updated. Thanks for a reliable service!”

Bryce J.

“Yannira was friendly and very responsive. She sent pictures, provided updates and feedback. She asked questions, took interest and made sure my pup was taken care of. I recommend Yannira and will use again.”

Alexander M.

“Tara was a great sitter, attentive and communicative. We appreciated that she was available last minute and would use her again in a heartbeat!”

Elise B.

“Daniel has been an awesome drop in sitter. Extremely reliable and a great communicator. I am happy to have his services for the duration of my stay in NOVA!”

Lucas S.

“I’m never using anyone else! Tyler has a genuine love and passion for animals that shows in her visits and when she hosts. You won’t just get pictures of your dog playing in backyard - she actually spends time with your pup”

Andrew B.

“Keira was great with my little monster. Missy really took to her quickly and got lots of attention. Everything was left tidy and got great photo updates. Would definitely rebook with Keira”

Adriana A.

“Laura is an amazing cat sitter!! My cat was comfortable with her right away. She made sure to follow all of my instructions to provide the best care possible for my pet. I will definitely be contacting Laura again the next time I’m going out of town!”

Meghan D.

“Aimee took great care of our shy kitty while we were out of town, giving him his space and plenty of treats. She even met with us before we left to review necessary details. We would 100% use her again!”

Miranda L.

“Jeanine was so kind and great with our 4.5 month puppy! He seemed to love his time with her and felt so safe he fell asleep after the drop in. would highly recommend!”

Tony N.

“Jennifer is such a thoughtful and responsible pet sitter. Excellent communication and updates. I always know my cat is in good hands with her!”

Mary D.

“Margaret did a let out of our pups while we were away for the day and did an amazing job. We had not even met her and she was able to handle everything perfectly through written instruction. We will definitely use her again.”

Rebecca M.

“Juliana was extremely caring and loving with our older kitty. She was very commutative and always made sure she had everything she needed”

Antonio V.

“Spencer and Julia kept me posted throughout the weekend, provided several pictures, and spent a lot of quality time with my cat. Really appreciate their help and communication, and would recommend them to others.”

Aandal S.

“Absolutely loved having Marcela as my cat sitter! She totally understood the assignment, took great care of everything, and was super flexible when I needed to add an extra day last minute. Came home to happy cata and a clean, tidy place — highly recommend!”

Catharina W.

About: I’ve cared for dogs since I was a kid, both my own and those of friends and neighbors. I have cared for puppies through senior dogs and understand the needs of various ages and breeds. My own rescue dog recently died at age 15 after 14 years together. Prior to him, I grew up caring for rescue dogs of a variety of breeds and mutts. I have intimate experience working dogs of various needs, quirks and wonderful personalities and can’t wait to meet yours. I am a public school teacher so during the school year, I am gone much of the day during the week. For the past 14 years I had my own pup and am used to (and love) early morning, afternoon and nighttime long walks. On weekends, I am around much more and can easily adapt my schedule to your dog’s needs. I live in a pet-friendly condo building near Four Mile Run. There are ample trails for walking and a large dog park just under a mile from my home. In my home, I am fine with pets on furniture but will also follow your preferences.

“Lily is great with Pumpkin! She quickly adapted to Pumpkin's quirky behavior. When go out of town, we can rest assured that Pumpkin is well taken care of.”

Maze M.

“Rachel was incredibly helpful and responsive when I needed last-minute care for my cat. She sent photos and details every day and was extremely friendly and easy to work with over the last few days. I would definitely book with her again!”

Manisha I.