April H.
Freeland, WA
Pets are people, just better.
Pet care experience
**PLEASE READ MY WHOLE PROFILE & VIEW $$ RATES UNDER Details BEFORE SENDING A REQUEST; HOLIDAY/SAME DAY &/or ADDTNL PETS CHANGE PRICING** I am fully vaccinated & ask after we have our meet & greet that we not have face to face contact afterwards. I will sanitize surfaces after I leave your home. If your pet CANNOT be left alone crated or in your home for at least two hours please let me know as this will increase the amount. ***You can also contact me with custom pricing requests at petscortofwhidbey@ gmail com*** Daily rate may change if there are additional dogs/animals, your dates include a holiday, you need same day service, your pet has special needs (examples: cannot be left alone for any amount of time, needs injections, not leash or potty trained), or you need me to come earlier than 9am the day of your departure/stay later than 9am the day of your return. Back in the 80's my parents were not very responsible with spaying our English Springer Spaniel (Pepper) so when she inevitably got pregnant, we kept all nine puppies. Most of my dog care experience stems directly from this lapse in their judgment! I helped bottle feed, play, bathe, & supervise. I was also very lucky later in life to have a Shih-Tzu (Tobie) that looked like an Ewok who I felt quite certain could really talk & did when I wasn't around. I also have experience caring for cats, reptiles, fish, wild & exotic birds, llamas, alpacas, some farm livestock, & small mammals. I understand many pets have particular routines that give them comfort & you may have lists of things that need to be done. Many dog sitters charge less & do not follow instructions. I charge what I charge because most of my clients are special needs animals who have separation anxiety, need medication, need specific meal prepping, & have routines that should not be altered. I WILL do the things on your list & make your pet a priority, not an after thought for a side gig. My time has value to me & pricing for my time reflects that. 😊
Reviews
April did a great job with our dogs and was very considerate of our home. She completely cleaned after herself. Will definitely use her again.
April was wonderful! Our dog, Zoey, was very happy with her stay at Aprils place. She also got along well with Aprils dog. April was very communicative and shared photos to keep us updated on how the evening was going. Thanks much, April!
April was fantastic! She communicated with me every step of the way, sending pictures and videos too. She was very knowledgeable about dogs, and did a great job caring for our 6 month old puppy, Pepper. The puppy fell in love with April, which is incredibly cute. She took Pepper to the beach and for walks and kept her company. We came home to a house which was cleaner than we left it, and April even cleaned up after a family member who was also at the house (which was truly above and beyond!). We came home to a bouquet of flowers. Wonderful experience, I highly recommend April.
Freddie loved April! He had a happy and relaxed vacay at her place and when we dropped him off was already happily following her around because of her great energy :)
About April H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
During our meet & greet please tell me any specific care expectations & any activities your dog enjoys, including favorite toys, trails, & treats. It would also be helpful to know about behaviors you would like me to discourage & help reinforce while you're away. Example: staying off the bed/furniture.
Home
Information April H. would like to know about your pet
I enjoy caring for dogs of all shapes & sizes & understand that many dogs are adopted or rescued & may be bringing some trauma with them from before they became apart of your family. If there is anything I can do or not do in order to prevent harm to myself or make your dog feel safer & more secure, I would really appreciate to know, so please be transparent & advocate for your pets -you know them best! I have over 5 years of experience handling & caring for dogs that have high anxiety, special needs, or aggression. I understand it may cause you anxiety to leave your pets for any amount of time & I want you to know that I can & will be able to stay calm & focused. Communication is key & costs may need to be adjusted accordingly so that I am able to give the best care to your pet. I am 100% committed to taking care of your pets, giving them affection, & providing inclusive activities for exercise & fun. Concerning requests through Rover for photos & check-ins over the phone: please understand your request is a request & not something I can guarantee. Dead cellular patches on Whidbey exist & are completely out of my control. Please have a back up method of communication & provide me with access to WiFi. When you book with me, you can be sure you will return to a tidy home after your trip (maybe even tidier than how you left it!). Please let me know if you need any deep housekeeping services (such as laundry, recycling/trash taken) because I'm happy to offer those services at an easy hourly rate.
A typical day
The areas we will walk to will depend on your neighborhood if I am housesitting for you. With your permission, I will sometimes take my new friends to Off Leash Dog Park at Double Bluff or parks in the Freeland and Langley area. *PLEASE COMMUNICATE THE DATE/TIME OF YOUR RETURN PRIOR TO BOOKING* Please note, booking overnight is not the same as booking for a full 24 hours & there may be an additional charge for the day of your return if you need me to stay past 9am. I may be able to accept a flat weekly rate if you need housesitting that lasts more than 3 days but please be aware Rover takes 20% from my earnings & whatever you propose needs to compensate me adequately for my time. *IN CASE OF EMERGENCY VET CARE* While Rover offers veterinarian care insurance, on Whidbey island, most emergency vets are located on the mainland. This proves difficult during ferry off hours. My rates reflect the standard of care & level of engagement I have with your pet. I am also acquainted with the only 24 hour emergency *on island* veterinarian & have personal vet acquaintances to contact if your pet becomes ill or injured on my watch. Many other sitters might leave it up to Rover to sort out but it’s my understanding that if an animal obviously needs vet care, there is no time to lose. I will take action & do everything in my power to make sure your beloved pet gets the assistance & care they need right away.
Services
April can host
April can watch in your home
Availability
I occasionally work part-time as an Early Childhood Educator or Autism Companion Caretaker for no more than 4/5 hours a day. I have pet care for my cats. Please let me know how many hours you are comfortable with your pet being alone or crated. I will not leave pets alone for more than 7 even if you say that is okay.
About April H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
During our meet & greet please tell me any specific care expectations & any activities your dog enjoys, including favorite toys, trails, & treats. It would also be helpful to know about behaviors you would like me to discourage & help reinforce while you're away. Example: staying off the bed/furniture.
Home
Information April H. would like to know about your pet
I enjoy caring for dogs of all shapes & sizes & understand that many dogs are adopted or rescued & may be bringing some trauma with them from before they became apart of your family. If there is anything I can do or not do in order to prevent harm to myself or make your dog feel safer & more secure, I would really appreciate to know, so please be transparent & advocate for your pets -you know them best! I have over 5 years of experience handling & caring for dogs that have high anxiety, special needs, or aggression. I understand it may cause you anxiety to leave your pets for any amount of time & I want you to know that I can & will be able to stay calm & focused. Communication is key & costs may need to be adjusted accordingly so that I am able to give the best care to your pet. I am 100% committed to taking care of your pets, giving them affection, & providing inclusive activities for exercise & fun. Concerning requests through Rover for photos & check-ins over the phone: please understand your request is a request & not something I can guarantee. Dead cellular patches on Whidbey exist & are completely out of my control. Please have a back up method of communication & provide me with access to WiFi. When you book with me, you can be sure you will return to a tidy home after your trip (maybe even tidier than how you left it!). Please let me know if you need any deep housekeeping services (such as laundry, recycling/trash taken) because I'm happy to offer those services at an easy hourly rate.
A typical day
The areas we will walk to will depend on your neighborhood if I am housesitting for you. With your permission, I will sometimes take my new friends to Off Leash Dog Park at Double Bluff or parks in the Freeland and Langley area. *PLEASE COMMUNICATE THE DATE/TIME OF YOUR RETURN PRIOR TO BOOKING* Please note, booking overnight is not the same as booking for a full 24 hours & there may be an additional charge for the day of your return if you need me to stay past 9am. I may be able to accept a flat weekly rate if you need housesitting that lasts more than 3 days but please be aware Rover takes 20% from my earnings & whatever you propose needs to compensate me adequately for my time. *IN CASE OF EMERGENCY VET CARE* While Rover offers veterinarian care insurance, on Whidbey island, most emergency vets are located on the mainland. This proves difficult during ferry off hours. My rates reflect the standard of care & level of engagement I have with your pet. I am also acquainted with the only 24 hour emergency *on island* veterinarian & have personal vet acquaintances to contact if your pet becomes ill or injured on my watch. Many other sitters might leave it up to Rover to sort out but it’s my understanding that if an animal obviously needs vet care, there is no time to lose. I will take action & do everything in my power to make sure your beloved pet gets the assistance & care they need right away.
Location
Freeland, WA
Pets
April H.
Freeland, WA