House Sitting in Hotchkiss

About: I've dog and cat sat since I was a teenager, sometimes staying in folks' homes for periods of time, sometimes coming over several times a day for walks etc. In recent years dogs have been increasingly fun for me to spend time with especially outdoors. I don't currently live somewhere where I can have my own dog, or dog sit at my home, but I have really been wanting to spend more time with them still, since I can't have my own! I grew up with cats too and love all their quirks and special qualities. I work seasonal jobs, and sometimes have more time in chunks, and sometimes closer to where I currently live (out of my airstream trailer) I could do day-time care here and there. Mainly though, house sitting would work for me since I often travel to do photography, or gather herbs to make medicine, since I work with wild plants a lot. I'm a botanist, ethnobotanist and ecology educator so I'm out on the trail and in the field a lot. Dogs could come along sometime if it fits with location, needs etc. I can't host in my home right now because the landowners don't want dogs. If I were in someone else's home, it would be my main purpose to make sure they feel comfortable and their needs met with a stranger who is new to them. Walks, bathroom breaks, food and play! Whatever their schedule usually is, I likely could accomadate.

“Stacie stayed with our 2 dogs for several nights, we felt really comfortable having her in our home and with our favorite furry creatures. It was much better than boarding them. She followed all our directions really well and we appreciated her pictures and updates. We came home to happy pups!”

“Glenn is a total dog lover, I could tell right away Lucy would be not only looked after but loved while I was away. The whole property was fenced in, and the back yard with the grass and shade was perfect so she could run around and use the doggy door that leads to an enclosed area right outside the living room when she was ready to come back inside. There were toys to play with and she had two beds in the house, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. She was well looked after and very affectionate towards Glenn. I definitely recommend him if you want to feel safe about leaving your fur babies while you go away. So nice to know she was in a home being loved and played with and having a human always nearby.”

“She was awesome took such good care of my 2 dogs when I was on vacation for 2 weeks. I'd recommend her to anyone who wants to know there pets are safe at night.”

“Kayla is a very trust worthy & professional person! I recommend to anybody looking to consider hiring Kayla your family and pups would not regret the decision!”

“Tiffany was fantastic! I highly recommend her and her services! My doggies loved having her around!”

“Jan took excellent care of the dogs and gave them a lot of love and attention.”

“Laura was great with my two dogs and cat! She stayed overnight and was kind and loving with them. She sent a lot of pictures and updates. I don’t think they missed me one bit. I highly recommend her!”

About: Hi! I’ve taken care of neighbors and friends pets since I was 8, and have provided multiple extended stays to care for friends pets in the last couple years. I’m currently a full time parent, so I’m very flexible and happy to accommodate. Preferably mornings and evenings work best! I am also available for longer hours if needed! At my home I have a fenced in yard and take our dog out daily for walks with my child. We also like to play fetch in the backyard. I will adhere to any requests a pet owner has!

“Clarissa was SO great with our dogs for the week. We hate leaving our pets and she made it so easy and worry-free. She was great to coordinate hand-off and pick-up with other family mid-trip and sent photos and communicated very well with us. Our pups seemed well taken care of, always tired from fetch at the park, and happy! We will definitely be using Clarissa for watching our dogs in the future - and recommending her to our friends.”

“Matthew is amazing with dogs, special needs kiddos, and video games!!! I would highly recommend him to any of my clients and all of my friends.”

“By far the most conscientious sitter I’ve used. Definitely will use her again.”

“Hope is an outstanding house sitter and dog sitter. She watched my 3 dogs at my house for a week. My dogs can be a bit crazy but hope handled the whole ordeal with professionalism. Highly recommend her to watch over your home and pets while feeling assured all will be watched over and safe.”

“We have had the privilege and blessing in having Christine watch our sweet girl Joy. Christine and Joy took walks, had lots of snuggles and play time. The photos Christine sent to us while we were away were precious. Joy was SMILING! Joy was so happy, content and relaxed with her. Christine is very responsible, experienced and kind. She has been our loving dog sitter for several years. We highly recommend her! Kim W.”

“Stephanie takes great care of our German Shepherds, glad to have her come back and house sit with our pups again!”

About: Hi! My name is Kilynne and I absolutely love animals! So much in fact that I choose a career in the vet field and have over 2 years of experience in this field. I love taking care of animals old and young, big or small. Animals have been my passion, and I have taken care of animals since i was about 9 years old living on a ranch, from horses, cats, dogs, geese, chickens, and ducks. There isn't a better person that you could possibly leave your animals in care of other then me. I am currently a stay at home mom with a 3yo little boy. My schedule is pretty open, and I have alot of time to make sure any animals I watch or take care of get the best care. I have a shaded outside dog run for our two dogs in the summer time with a huge gravity water bowl, and in the winter time, we have heated lamps and lots of blankets in their kennels when they stay out in our garage. We also have a makeshift shed for our newest outside kitties that we took in as strays. All these animals get twice a day care with lots of love.

About: I’ve been living in the Gunnison valley for 6 years now and have taken care of a variety of pets! I’ve spent time with dogs, cats, chickens and bunnies. Throughout high school and college I have house sat regularly for multiple families, become familiar with pets and have been commissioned to do dog/pet walks for people visiting as well as families visiting the valley. I know every animal is unique and requires different attention, so I love working with people to learn more about needs! With school and working part time I usually have gaps in my schedule to go for walks/runs with pets. Since I do this for people I know in and around Gunnison I’m very flexible when it comes to pet care. Safety and trust are important when it comes to pet care! I prefer to have the pets in their own home because this is where they are most comfortable and have their routine. My apartment is an option, but only for brief periods of time throughout the days. With pets that don’t have a yard I’m diligent about harness and leash use. If there are cats, I ensure they’re indoor/outdoor cats and clarify pet routines before letting them out.

“Rachael B. visited with us before our trip, meeting our dog and cats and learning their routines. And she was patient and responsive when our travel plans changed. She sent photos while we were away, which was reassuring. Our high-energy dog was tired when we got home, hooray! We know he enjoyed the walks and playtime. Thank you!”

“Gabrielle was amazing with Athena. I was nervous about leaving her with someone but Gabrielle came to our house twice before we left to meet Athena and make sure she was comfortable. Athena loved her so much and we got pictures every day. We will definitely book again”

“Krisi did a great job taking care of your pups and our house. Would definitely recommend her if you are looking for peace of mind and want to enjoy yourself while away from your pups. She took great care of the house!”