Barbara & Chris H.
Acton, MA
Pet Lovers’ Home Away from Home!
Pet care experience
We have owned and cared for cats and dogs for over 25 years. From puppy crate training, to medication administration to beloved pet dying in our arms, we have seen it all.
Reviews
Extremely patient with our dog who experienced unexpected separation anxiety. Engaged in creative calming techniques and sought extra advice on their own time. Very active in problem solving and went over and above what would normally expected. Highly recommended!
Barbara is a loving, responsible pet lover and you would be lucky to have her care for your fur babies. While she is currently an owner of dogs (or should I say "owned by dogs"!), she has had both cats and dogs, and is a natural with all animals - who instantly adore her. She has taken care of my elderly kitty Valentine (who is special needs), and helped with foster kittens, and each time she has impressed me with her gentle, yet firm approach. On a personal note, Barbara is incredibly meticulous, caring & trustworthy, and her attention to detail is unparalleled. Highly recommend!
Barbara will take care of your pet with the same love and understanding she shares with her own pets! She is kind, gentle, attentive, responsive and reliable! I trust her completely to provide a safe and joyous experience for your beloved furry family members!
Barbara is a caring lover of animals. Her tender approach to pet-sitting was of great help to me when she looked after Umi, my Maine Coon cat. Barbara listened to Umi’s eating habits and medication routine seriously and clearly showed a real love for animals. She attended to his needs each time he stayed with her. She is patient, playful and reliable. She has hosted my Umi with respect and loving attention and I can certainly recommend her and home environment to other pet owners without hesitation.
About Barbara & Chris H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We own two fun loving, spunky and sweet dachshunds. We recently lost our beautiful cat to old age. Our yard is fenced in a suburban country setting. We live near conservation land and great trails. Because our dog’s breed is prone to IVDD (degenerative disc disease) and our oldest has had surgery for it, we have strategic dachshund proof ramps for sofas and steps. For their safety, we also crate our dogs at night time in the main living room. We prefer to crate guest dogs for their safety and to care for all pets in a fair and similar way. We will accept a guest sleeping in the TV room in soft bedding if crating is not your preference. Cats don’t have to hang out with the dogs if they prefer quiet spaces, the basement and our bedroom level is not for dogs. We encourage our guests to bring a soft toy, blanket or t-shirt with their owner’s scent. We will gladly take regular photos of your pet and share them with you as well as regular updates.
Home
Information Barbara & Chris H. would like to know about your pet
We accept house trained and non-agressive pets. We require a short 30-minute meet and greet session before the sitting occurs to make sure all get along. For boarding, we like to start with one (1) night sleepover to get to know your pet and make sure he or she is a good fit for our home and can sleep independently. Our preference is towards easygoing dogs who are under 40 pounds and enjoy other small dogs’ company. We are not equipped for super large, high energy dogs needing lots of runs. We do walk our dogs once daily and offer lots of outdoor time in the yard. Our guests need to be able to sleep on their own as we don’t take pets in our bedroom. Our dogs sleep in a crate at night and yours will sleep in the TV room either in their bed or crate. Cats are also welcome. We love detailed instructions on how to best care for your baby (pet allergies, breed, particular fears etc) and will ask for printed proof of vaccination and standard heartworm, flea and tick care.
A typical day
The first floor where we both work offers a clean and safe environment for your dogs. They can hang out with us or play with toys. There is a slider with a dog bell to let dogs out regularly in our fenced in yard. We play ball during the day and walk the dogs around the neighborhood daily. Weekends we go to local trails and parks and explore. Pets get lots of snuggles and we talk to them regularly!
Services
Barbara & Chris can host
Availability
My husband and I both work from home and love to play ball or walk our own long haired dachshunds. We have easy access to our yard and have our pets under our watch most of the time except when we go out on occasional meetings or errands. We operate as a tandem and enjoy animals tremendously. Our dogs are not early morning risers. They typically rise around 8:30 or 9 AM and we will feed them twice daily: once around 9 and then at 5 PM. We offer fresh water and fresh veggie treats regularly. Food is always offered in separate spaces for each pet to avoid food fights! Cats can be kept indoors only or can play is our gated yard.
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About Barbara & Chris H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We own two fun loving, spunky and sweet dachshunds. We recently lost our beautiful cat to old age. Our yard is fenced in a suburban country setting. We live near conservation land and great trails. Because our dog’s breed is prone to IVDD (degenerative disc disease) and our oldest has had surgery for it, we have strategic dachshund proof ramps for sofas and steps. For their safety, we also crate our dogs at night time in the main living room. We prefer to crate guest dogs for their safety and to care for all pets in a fair and similar way. We will accept a guest sleeping in the TV room in soft bedding if crating is not your preference. Cats don’t have to hang out with the dogs if they prefer quiet spaces, the basement and our bedroom level is not for dogs. We encourage our guests to bring a soft toy, blanket or t-shirt with their owner’s scent. We will gladly take regular photos of your pet and share them with you as well as regular updates.
Home
Information Barbara & Chris H. would like to know about your pet
We accept house trained and non-agressive pets. We require a short 30-minute meet and greet session before the sitting occurs to make sure all get along. For boarding, we like to start with one (1) night sleepover to get to know your pet and make sure he or she is a good fit for our home and can sleep independently. Our preference is towards easygoing dogs who are under 40 pounds and enjoy other small dogs’ company. We are not equipped for super large, high energy dogs needing lots of runs. We do walk our dogs once daily and offer lots of outdoor time in the yard. Our guests need to be able to sleep on their own as we don’t take pets in our bedroom. Our dogs sleep in a crate at night and yours will sleep in the TV room either in their bed or crate. Cats are also welcome. We love detailed instructions on how to best care for your baby (pet allergies, breed, particular fears etc) and will ask for printed proof of vaccination and standard heartworm, flea and tick care.
A typical day
The first floor where we both work offers a clean and safe environment for your dogs. They can hang out with us or play with toys. There is a slider with a dog bell to let dogs out regularly in our fenced in yard. We play ball during the day and walk the dogs around the neighborhood daily. Weekends we go to local trails and parks and explore. Pets get lots of snuggles and we talk to them regularly!
Location
Acton, MA
Pets
Barbara & Chris H.
Acton, MA