5.0

I spent a huge portion of my teenage-hood on a horse farm, surrounded by cats, dogs and horses. Last year a hosted a foster dog (4 y.o. Lab Mix) named Hippo with Redemption Paws (Non-for-Profit dog adoption organization in Ontario), and it was the most wonderful and gratifying experience, it taught me a lot about how dogs with anxiety should be approached and treated (Hippo went from hating his crate to chilling in it throughout the day within the 1.5 months I had him, all through positive reinforcement!). I often do dog walking and dog- and baby- sitting for friends and acquaintances on different occasions, as my love for animals and children constantly pushes me to be closer to them, especially if it helps their families. In Ukraine, where I moved from at the age of 17 back in 2017, I established a student volunteer organization to collectively feed and treat stray animals (gathering donations, etc). Right now in my own household I have two cats, but believe me when I say I am waiting for an opportunity to add a dog to our family pet division. By reading certified books on animal psychology (my favourite: “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?” I've got a complete understanding of animal and pet main needs. The further I go through life, the more I realize how pets should be treated the same as respectful humans treat one another. I treat animals as equal companions, and communicate with them accordingly: with the use of positive reinforcement, physical encouragement like scratches, redirection of attention if needed, and engaging activities. My main goal while taking care of your pet is always to make sure they feel loved just the way they are loved by you, therefore I created a poll for my clients to fill out so that I know the best approach to each animal (provided after we start communication). With my endless energy resources, your pets won’t have the time to miss their beloved owner! Upon connecting, I always prefer to set up a call with my clients in order to talk through their expectations, routines, and any special preferences and notes before the first visit. I am rather flexible when it comes to dog sitting and dog walking, as well as cat care. The most important rule for me before spending time with your furry friend is to know how they interact with other dogs, and any information to note while being outside (squirrel/car reactivity, etc.)