Antonina M.
Auburn hills, MI
Pet Sitting on Rover since 2013
Pet care experience
I was inspired to become a pet sitter after the passing of my dogs--three toy poodles that I had known since I was a child. After they passed, my family moved into an apartment and did not adopt any other pets. I have now been pet-sitting on Rover for over five years and have found it to be a fantastic way for me to care for all kinds of pups and continue my dedication to animals after regular work hours. Animals are my life and I’m not kidding. I have bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in animal science. I am very interested in studying the psychology and behavior of dogs and have developed a deep understanding that every dog has unique personality traits, just like humans. I currently work at a veterinary hospital as an animal caregiver where I care for and groom all types of ages and breeds of pups, from German Shepherds to Shih Tzus, puppies to 15 year olds. I have also worked on horse farms and have volunteered at shelters—my experience has been proven very useful when interacting with pups I meet on Rover. Whether it’s boarding, house-sitting or drop-ins, I have never had an issue with any dog in my care. Most dogs open up to me naturally. If they are timid, I give them space, offer them a favorite treat or toy and give them room to get to know me in their own time. I understand that each dog is different and some just take a bit more time to open up than others. My job requires me to be fear free certified, so I know when to tell if a dog is anxious or in distress, and can take appropriate steps to handle it and make them feel better. I work full time so while I can’t take on dogs that require 24 hour care, I am able to take care of dogs before and after work. I am flexible, reliable and patient, and when I say I’m available, I mean it…I don’t ever back down once I say yes. I know how stressful it can be to not only plan a vacation, but also figure out pet-care, and I want to make that process as easy as possible for you. I also promise to treat your dog as if he were my own. That’s what I would expect in a pet-sitter and that’s the kind of service I deliver!
Reviews
Antonine was AMAZING! I am a first time user of Rover, I was so nervous ? but everything from start to finish was such a good experience! we had our meet and greet and Lulu liked her, she had so much fun, my pup came home pooped! I got updates before I could even ask how she was doing, my baby girl had a blast and can’t wait to go back! we will deff be using her again for our next trip! Thank you again so much girl, my lulu was in amazing hands! 5 stars ⭐️
I’m surprised to write this about someone with so many good reviews but I cannot ignore my experience. My dog stayed 4 nights and upon his return he began vomiting multiple times, he vomited a considerable amount of human food (pasta); definitely in quantities more than what casually may have “fell on the floor”. He had diarrhea for the next 4 days. Because of this, I couldn’t go to work and spend money taking care of his illness. Also, when I picked him up, his nose was really red; i thought it was a symptom of the food poisoning but as it healed into a scab, I realized that it was sunburn. I don’t know what happened during his stay, not saying this was done on purpose but definitely was not under good care. Additionally, there were some surprises such as the house on the pictures not being the same as the one on the profile pictures.
I think the dogs enjoyed staying with Antonina and she kept sending is photos of them playing and feed them. We even video called. She is nice.
Antonina is an amazing! My pups love her. She genuinely cares for my animals.
About Antonina M.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I always pay attention when leaving. If I’m taking the dog out they will always be leashed unless it’s in a fenced area. My home has a mud room so I’m lucky to have several doors before getting to the front to leave. If a pet is used to being crated I have a medium and large crates at my home. If they are used to roaming they will be allowed to do so. I like to treat them how they would be at home so it’s not too much change.
Home
Information Antonina M. would like to know about your pet
Please let me know your dog’s scheduling needs, diet needs, temperament, usual activity level, favorite walks, personality traits and anything else that will help me provide the best care possible.
A typical day
I live in a very relaxed, cozy mobile home with an open floor plan that allows dogs to have room to play. My favorite thing to do is take dogs on walks in the park and I love my area because there are tons of dog-friendly parks nearby. I have two cats of my own who are very friendly and do not bother the dogs. While I do prefer house sitting over boarding, I am open to molding my care to suit your needs and am happy to chat about it. Send me a message and let’s get started!
Services
Antonina can host
Antonina can watch in your home
Availability
I am a dog groomer full time. I work at a small shop in Rochester. I work Tuesday- Saturday 9am-3pm. If enough notice is given I can arrange my schedule to be shorter if needed. I am able to bring dogs into work with mead well since we are a small private shop. I do have a daughter that goes to her grandmas which is by my work so don’t need a lot of extra time to drop her off. If staying at your house depending on your dog; she usually will stay with me or stay at home with my roommate. We are very flexible, and haven’t had any issues.
About Antonina M.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I always pay attention when leaving. If I’m taking the dog out they will always be leashed unless it’s in a fenced area. My home has a mud room so I’m lucky to have several doors before getting to the front to leave. If a pet is used to being crated I have a medium and large crates at my home. If they are used to roaming they will be allowed to do so. I like to treat them how they would be at home so it’s not too much change.
Home
Information Antonina M. would like to know about your pet
Please let me know your dog’s scheduling needs, diet needs, temperament, usual activity level, favorite walks, personality traits and anything else that will help me provide the best care possible.
A typical day
I live in a very relaxed, cozy mobile home with an open floor plan that allows dogs to have room to play. My favorite thing to do is take dogs on walks in the park and I love my area because there are tons of dog-friendly parks nearby. I have two cats of my own who are very friendly and do not bother the dogs. While I do prefer house sitting over boarding, I am open to molding my care to suit your needs and am happy to chat about it. Send me a message and let’s get started!
Location
Auburn hills, MI
Pets
Antonina M.
Auburn hills, MI