Hi there! I have previously been a professional dog runner and dog walker in New York, Florida, and Colorado. I am a perfect match for those who want a sitter who will take their pet on lots of walks, runs or play dates in the park. I can ensure plenty of one on one attention and affection so that your pup is completely at ease while you are away. My love for animals started in childhood when I aspired to be a vet. I spent the majority of my time running around with my black lab, Duke. When I got older I began volunteering at animal shelters and farms in Upstate New York and quickly learned to love everything from kittens to goats to cows. Since I have worked on numerous organic farms where I learned to tend chickens, alpacas and cows, fostered dogs both big and small ( Boxers and Bassets!) and worked with injured exotic animals abroad (monkeys mainly) where the human jungle population has negatively impacted the lives of these wild creatures. Overall, I am an animal lover through and through. I really enjoy the “work” I do and couldn’t imagine having more pleasant “coworkers” than my canine friends. ☺ About this sitter: I have phenomenal references and have also worked as a nanny, housekeeper and landscaper. In addition to being a dog walker and/or runner, I can perform other basic tasks while you're away to keep your home up and running in pristine condition (general cleaning, watering plants, etc.) My love for animals started in childhood when I aspired to be a vet. I spent the majority of my time running around with my black lab, Duke. When I got older I began volunteering at animal shelters and farms in Upstate New York and quickly learned to love everything from kittens to goats to cows. Since I have worked on numerous organic farms where I learned to tend chickens, alpacas and cows, fostered dogs both big and small ( Boxers and Bassets!) and worked with injured exotic animals abroad (monkeys mainly) where the human jungle population has negatively impacted the lives of these wild creatures. Overall, I am an animal lover through and through. I really enjoy the “work” I do and couldn’t imagine having more pleasant “coworkers” than my canine friends. ☺ Over the past few years I have volunteered with the Humane Society, worked in elephant sanctuaries and farm animal sanctuaries abroad and have been an active foster parent for the Basset Hound Rescue, Boxer Rescue and A Puppys Voice. I have also volunteered abroad in both India and Costa Rica with injured animals. In India my time was mostly spent with buffalos and cows who had ingested too much trash. In Costa Rica I worked with monkeys who had been injured from swinging on electrical wires. Why I love dog sitting Just about as long as I can remember. Nearly all of my baby pictures are of me sitting near, underneath or on top of my family dogs. As a child, one of my dogs was accused of being "vicious" by a very fickle neighbor of mine who wanted to have her put down, and went as far as taking my parents to court over the matter. My parents then presented a picture of me on top of our dog Gypsy, pulling both her ears back trying to ride on her like a horse while she grinned a big sloppy dog grin. The judge immediately ruled that there was no way the dog in the picture could possibly be a threat to anyone and the case was thrown out. Gypsy lived another six, very happy, years with me. :)