I have mostly taken care of dogs, cats and chickens. When I had my own dogs, I didn’t realize that house and pet sitting was even an option. I would drive them about an hour to a wonderful woman who had converted her former horse property into a place where dogs could run and get plenty of exercise in the horse rink. It was a much better alternative than a traditional kennel but was disruptive to their normal routine and caused anxiety. One trip especially stands out. A snowstorm came through while I was away, and because the property was located at the top of a hill, we couldn’t get to the dogs for three additional days. They were safe and well cared for, but the experience made me realize how much I would have preferred for them to be comfortable in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, smells, and routines.