I have always had a love for animals, but it was not until 18 years ago that I began to understand the difference between simply liking dogs and having a dog become part of your life. Buddy, a lab/husky mix that we adopted when he and our first child were both 10 months old, was a patient teacher for me and a gentle companion for all four of my children. Although we lost Buddy at age eleven to chronic Lyme disease, we have since adopted three other mixed breed dogs. All three of these dogs (Isaac, Pippin and Mowgli) are currently living with us, a family of six with children whose ages range from 11 to 19 and two cats (Ivy and Ginger). With each new dog that comes into our family, we learn more about breeds, behavior, training, and the differences in their personalities. Our dogs live WITH us, sleep in our beds, and even get away with some occasional begging at the table. They are LOVED and cared for by everyone in the house. When the time comes when all of us must be away from home for long periods of time (like vacation) my pet sitter is my best friend. I could not possibly enjoy being away if I had any doubts about them being well cared for. That is the service I would offer to my clients: peace of mind.