"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ---Anatole France About this sitter: I returned to the Chicago area ten years ago from a long time in Berkeley and three years ago moved to a lovely apartment in Evanston. (It's late September 2016 as I edit this). It's in a dog-friendly building, in a beautiful dog-friendly neighborhood that's just made for lovely walks down tree-lined residential streets. I studied at several universities here and abroad (my dog Fido spent a year in Europe with me!) and my degrees are from UC Berkeley. I taught at a few universities, with periods of time working as a journalist in between, before returning to Chicago. My main activities are reading, following international news (in several languages) and, what I'm most happy and excited about -- studying and playing cello again. Why I love dog sitting I've loved dogs forever! I still remember the German short-haired pointer we had for just a short time when I was about four, and my concern and sadness when he left us. When I was in sixth grade, my father arrived home one wintry night with a tiny miniature poodle puppy we had been longing for for such a long time. I don't think I had ever before felt so excited. Pepe was the first dog I loved. George came into my life when I was in my twenties. He used to spend his days on the Berkeley campus when I was there: visiting friends, swimming in the creek, doing whatever dogs do to keep busy, until it was time to go home. Fido followed George and me home a few times when Fido was very young, and George was in the last year of his life, and soon Fido was part of our family. He spent a year in Europe with me! He was the perfect little traveler, and the most perfect best friend that I could imagine being with. I met Mugri one day when I was out for a walk with Fido, who was already nine or ten. Mugri was especially gentle and caring and loving to Fido at the end of Fido's life. When Fido died I adopted Jake -- my "wild child" -- from the Humane Society. He was very special, too; I liked his independent streak, though at the same time I knew he would definitely be a challenge! Cody joined Mugri, Jake and me the next year. He had spent the first three years of his life with a homeless couple, sleeping in doorways and in parks, and took to his new, comfy life in our happy family immediately. Scout joined Mugri and me at my dad's home (I had moved back to care for my wonderful father in the last years of his life) and learned a lot about being a good dog from Mugri in the year they spent together before Mugri died. (Scout my Beagle was about three at the time; he's now about 10.) My my adopted beautiful, gentle Digger in January 1912. I had known for a while that I wanted to give a senior doggie a wonderful home and huge amount of love in his last years, and and saw Diggie's picture on the Petfinder site. When we met it was love at first sight. Diggie died last January (2016) but we shared so much joy and love for the brief four years we were together. Finally, for about two years I walked dogs at the SF SPCA. Actually, sometimes we didn't walk at all; if there was a dog who was frightened or shy I would sit on the floor, gently talking to him, until little by little, he trusted me and would let me pet him. There's a personal reason why I wanted to volunteer there. When George died, I was inconsolable. My vet urged me to go to a "Pet Loss" group that the SPCA had every month. I was very grateful for that help, and wanted to give something back in return. It seemed that the best way to do that was to give love to the dogs who were there while they waited for families. Meet my pets Scout, a happy, good-hearted Beagle who is now about 10 0r 11. My experience administering medication I am very comfortable administering medication. I've of course taken care of stitches, broken bones, post-surgical needs (for example when Jake had to have his eye removed), and have often given pills.