Brian F.
Brian F.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Shelter-trained dog and cat sitter
I've spent 2 years walking shelter dogs of every temperament, including dogs reactive to people or other dogs, so I stay calm and confident on leash even in tricky situations. I read body language well, and I'm not squeamish about the harder stuff, whether that's an anxious pup or a tricky handoff. I also own two cats of my own, so animals are part of my everyday life, not just a job.
Cat care experience
Brian also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Pets
Safety, trust & environment
In your home, I follow your routine exactly as given, feeding times, meds, and any specific instructions, so nothing feels disrupted while you're away. I lock up carefully and leave things as I found them. With anxious or reactive pets, I move slowly and let them set the pace rather than rushing the interaction, which comes from my shelter experience handling animals in stressful situations.
Ratings and reviews
Besides for being an overall wonderful person and a great caretaker for his own pets, Brian has many years of experience volunteering at shelters taking care of animals in need. My dogs like him better than me! Any pet would be lucky to have him as a caregiver. Owners, likewise, can expect the highest level of professionalism. Can’t recommend him highly enough!
I’ve volunteered alongside Brian at an animal shelter since 2022, caring for both dogs and cats, and he was actually one of the first people who taught me how to safely work with shelter animals when I was new. Over the years, I’ve seen him confidently care for pets with all kinds of personalities, including animals who are shy, fearful, stressed, or more challenging to handle. Brian is patient (very), observant, detail-oriented, and good at reading an animal’s body language and adjusting his approach to what that individual pet needs. He is both genuinely compassionate and highly responsible, and after years of working with him, I would absolutely trust him with my own pets. I would confidently recommend him to anyone looking for an experienced and caring sitter for either cats or dogs.
I have known Brian for several years and through his role as a volunteer at a local animal shelter I have had the ability to observe him working with animals. He is compassionate and caring and is very responsible. I would entrust him with the care of my own pets and feel comfortable doing so.
Since he was a young boy, Brian has always loved animals. Brian fed, walked and spent countless hours playing with Griffey, our family dog; as well as playing with many of the other dogs and cats in our neighborhood. He fed and walked several of these dogs when their owners were away. I don’t have any doubt that Brian would treat any and every animal he came upon with love and respect.
Brian has been a volunteer at the Evanston Animal Shelter for 5 years. He has worked with both dogs and cats and is wonderful with them. He is always willing to assit and help in any activity we are doing, from adoption hours at the shelter to traveling for adotpion funsdraisers/activities outside the shelter. I enjoy working with Brain as do our other volunteers. Great smile and very helpful to our future adopters. He also helps with organizing certain speadsheets (putting together ideas) for our animals (Food, Shelter Luv, etc). You are lucky to have him
Brian is incredibly friendly, personable, and wonderful with all pets. He is trustworthy, timely, and a good communicator. He has experience caring for a wide variety of pets and has great intuition. If you’re looking for a reliable, loving caregiver for your pets, look no further.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
My schedule is really flexible right now, so I can usually say yes to walks, drop-ins, and cat visits, even on shorter notice. I live right in the building, so quick visits are easy to fit in (no commute, no stress!). I'm also happy to do recurring weekly bookings if a routine works better for your pet.
- Cats0 to 15 lbs16 to 40 lbs41 to 100 lbsover 101 lbsBrian can host up to 3 drop-ins per day
- Tell me about any anxiety, reactivity, or triggers so I can plan ahead, I've handled dogs who are reactive to people or other dogs and cats who need extra patience with strangers. Also let me know feeding schedules, meds (I'm comfortable with subdermal injections and oral meds), and anything about their home routine you don't want disrupted while you're away.