When my best friend told me that there was a way to love on other peoples' pets while freeing my poor husband of the fear of coming home with one for myself, I was instantly intrigued. I've lived my whole life around dogs (and cats, though I have to admit my preference tends to sway towards the canine perspective) and I just happened to marry a man afraid of dogs. For the record, I DID know beforehand, but sometimes the pros outweigh the cons. For a year after college I worked in a Country Club pro shop by day, and house/pet sit for the club members by night. They were the type that spent half the year in North Carolina (where the club is) and half the year at their homes in Florida, usually dividing their time in 2-4 week increments. Loving on their animals while they were gone was the perfect way to get my pet fix in a time of life where I didn't have much of a "home base" myself. I promise to love on your critters like they're my own, if you'll let me!