If you need a dependable, experienced, drop-in-visit caretaker for your dog or cat (or other pet) in the comfort & safety of your own home - whether for a day, or for longer - I will provide your pet with the best possible loving care. For shy pets I'm happy to have an extra meet & greet, if needed, to help them acclimate to a new person. I understand how stressful new people and situations can be, and want to make sure they feel safe while you are away. After 10 years of experience sitting for friends & acquaintances (and over 10 years of pet ownership), I feel ready to expand & help more people and their pets & am thrilled to be offering my services through Rover! Why I love petsitting: My family always had pets while I was growing up, and interactions with them at an early age fostered my lifetime love of animals. Learning to be responsible for family pets got me interested in animal care work, and during my teen years I volunteered at Reedy Creek Nature Center, where part of my duties involved feeding & maintaining the environments of the reptiles & amphibians on display. Later, after high school, I spent a summer working at a small kennel for dogs & cats, where I learned the art of professional pet care, including administering medications & caring for elderly dogs. In college, I continued to expand my animal care knowledge & skills by petsitting for professors & friends of the college, and by volunteering for 2.5 weeks at a zoo/rescue center in Costa Rica, where I got to assist with caring for the parrots, agouti pacas, and tapir. I was also lucky enough to help out from time to time with pig feeding on the college farm. Housesitting services: I am happy to provide general housesitting services in addition to pet care, such as taking in the mail, watering plants, turning lights on & off, etc. Just let me know what you will need. Unusual pets: I'm willing to take care of lizards, snakes, geckos, small parrots, small pigs, etc. as long as I feel I am able to handle them safely. Please send me a message if you're looking for someone to watch your tree frog or other unusual pet, so we can determine if I am the right sitter for you.