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April M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
3 repeat clients
Profile image

April M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
3 repeat clients

Contact for Drop-In Visits

from $30 per visit

Highlights

Basic background check
20 years of experience
Can administer medication
Special needs experience
Senior dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Pet care experience

Experienced Dog Walker + Pet Sitter

Hello! Thanks for checking out my profile! I am a former elementary teacher turned professional dog walker, dog trainer, + pet sitter for over 20 years + counting! I am excited to provide services in my hometown of South Berwick + nearby towns such as Eliot, The Berwicks, Dover, + Rollinsford. Please take the time to read through the details + ask any questions! References are readily available at every Meet & Greet for your peace of mind. What sets me apart is that I have more than just experience as a "pet lover" + dog owner. I have a wide range of hands-on experience with not only dogs but also cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, + more! 👉 My availability is open on Tuesdays + Thursdays as well as Friday morning late afternoon & evening. Open on Saturday & Sunday. My professional pet sitting + dog walking company "Teacher's Pet Sitting Service" began in 2006 in Manchester, NH, + moved to the seacoast serving a client base of countless pets + I'm broadening my services on Rover to reach more clients. My greatest strength is dog walking + dog training. I have been mentored by top respected dog trainers which has helped me ensure that dogs stay engaged, safe, calm, & well managed. No behavior, size, or breed is too challenging for me due to my understanding of dog body language + calm management that have helped dogs feel confident + comfortable. I can even help you troubleshoot common behaviors such as chronic barking, pulling, etc, + do private training in your home! When we meet we will review all of the details for their care, take a tour of your home to learn where their food, bowls, litter boxes, etc, are located & we will review their routine. With me, I will not rush through the visits. In fact, you'll likely learn that I will stay a bit longer if your pets need extra TLC! I know how important & reassuring it is to have ongoing communication & detailed notes & multiple pictures so that is prioritized for your peace of mind! Please note that I do not board pets in my home. Please reach out if you have any questions! I look forward to hearing about your pets! P.S. Due to 22 years of experience + travel expenses, my BASE rate for ONE dog is $35.00 if clients live outside of South Berwick. Rates will be calculated on your location.

Cat care experience

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Experienced Cat Whisperer

April also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.

Qualifications

3 repeat pet parents
92% response rate
Usually responds in under half an hour
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
First aid/CPR

Pets

Safety, trust & environment

✔️When your dog is triggered by other dogs, people, etc, I will reverse directions or cross the street to avoid any reactivity. ✔️ Under NO circumstances, I will not take your dog to "say hi" to dogs or people including the mailman for safety + liability. ✔️Dogs must be indoors in between visits for safety reasons. ✔️Slow & safe exits out of doorways to ensure that dogs do not escape. ✔️I do not take dogs to the dog park for liability and safety reasons. ✔️I do not leave dogs out in the yard in-between visits due to possible injury, escapes, weather concerns, anxiety, etc. ✔️ All cats must be indoors

Ratings and reviews

5.0
stars
4 ratings
kayla r.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog Walking • May 31, 2026

April is wonderful! Tchotchke is a full throttle puller and she helped to get him walking more with us instead of ahead of us. She handled our mastiff with care and the stern correction he needed. I felt as though our grumpy old man was just as well taken care of with April as I would care for him myself!

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Zayda C.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog Walking • Apr 16, 2026

April is wonderful with our pup Carlos. She’s very thoughtful and updates me while on the walk. She responds very quickly when communicating with me. I’ll be booking her again.

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Zayda C.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog Walking • Mar 13, 2026

April, Was amazing with my pup Carlos. She helped us out at the last minute. She really took her time at the meet and greet. It was clear from the start she is passionate about caring for animals. She is very knowledgeable when it comes to how pups react to situations. Carlos was at ease with her. We definitely wound have her walk Carlos again.

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Gabby D.
Feb 10, 2023

I lucked out in finding April at the last minute to look in on my newly adopted kitten, Maggie, last month. She was reliable & very sweet to my girl!

Abigail M.
Feb 09, 2023

Highly recommend! I'm retired so my Italian Greyhound, Joey, is used to having me home almost 24/7 so I was worried how he'd do with only 3x a day visits. April promised that if he acted needy she would stay longer than quoted & she did that many times! Joey looked happy & rested upon my return!

Rob P.
Feb 07, 2023

I was looking for a sitter for my beloved golden retriever mix, Sandi. I had a sitter that I had been using previously and I was satisfied with their services at the time but they were unavailable, so it was off to find a replacement. I elected to contact Teacher’s Pet Sitting Services after a review made me rethink what I had considered “satisfactory” service. I contacted April and she scheduled an interview. This was different than I was accustomed to. Typically, said interview (if one happened at all) consisted of handing the keys and the check over and pointing out the notes on the refrigerator. In this case, it truly was an interview. Instead of me doing all of the talking, April asked poignant questions about what she needed to know. I left feeling confident that Sandi was in good hands. I referred above to services offered that go above and beyond what I had expected. For one, April has a true love for all pets whether they are furry, finned, feathered, or what have you. As such, she will do so much more than ensure your pet’s basic physical needs are met. She will do what it takes to make your pets happy. How does she do this? I can’t really answer this for certain but she just has this uncanny ability. I have called her the Dog Whisperer before. I told her before she began her assignment with Sandi, to be careful because she hated other dogs. Every time I would walk her, if she saw another dog, she would growl, bark, and pull on the leash. Imagine my shock, when she texted me to advise that Sandi was showing none of that behavior but was actually walking with another dog! She even sent me a photo as proof. This leads to another aspect of her service that goes above and beyond what would be expected. Typical communication from a sitter involves a daily log which you would get when you arrived home which may state something as follows: “Took Sandi out, pooped and peed, filled food bowl, and water.” April will provide you with daily texts, photos, even phone calls if you wish. How much communication is up to you. After my dear Sandi passed and I eventually was able to bring myself to allow another dog into my heart, I selected a Boxer mix from the shelter. Enter Jilly. She had been there for 9 months total. Those at the volunteer instructed to keep her away from other animals as she had not only growled and barked at other dogs but had actually attacked some. I didn’t hesitate enlisting April’s services. Once again, she worked her magic. She showed that Jilly wasn’t aggressive as she had been portrayed. How does she do this? No. It isn’t magic. She just understands. This is a bonus. Not only are you getting a superior sitter, you have access to her many years of experience and knowledge which she is more than happy to share. Everyone must be thinking by now that if she does all of this, she must certainly charge a premium fee for her services. The answer is no. Her fee is comparable to other services that provide a much lower standard of services. Leaving your pet for an extended period of time can cause anxiety for some. If you are looking for someone that will just provide the basics for your pet, select any of the sitters that come up in your search. I am sure that they will all at least do that. If you truly love your pet and are looking for someone who will care for them as if they were her very own, will go above and beyond in providing comfort for your pet in what could be a difficult time for them, and will keep in contact with you as frequently as you wish, make an appointment with April. You will not be disappointed, neither will your pets.

Calendar and availability

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Schedule

Providing service in my South Berwick hometown, Eliot, Rollinsford, + Dover but there may be exceptions to travel further so please ask! I adjust my schedule according to your pet's schedule as closely as possible.

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
Dogs over 1 year old
April can host up to 3 drop-ins per day
What are your pets names, ages, + breeds? What is their routine? What are their favorite activities? Does your dog have full access of the house when you leave or is he/she contained? Do your pets have certain accommodations due to age?
Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.