Catherine D.
Arlington, MA
Your Pets New Best Friend !
Pet care experience
Known by my friends for picking up stray dogs and finding their owners by whatever means possible, I am a true animal lover! I've had a dog of my own since I was 7 years old (she's now 15 and going strong!), and that's when I first knew I was meant to work with animals. I'm kind, patient, and caring to my core. Plus, I just LOVE em'! About 4 years ago I picked up a stray on the side of the road and never was able to find her owner, she's now a 185 pound mastiff who I love with all my heart. Both these dogs live with my parents currently because of the large backyard they have. If this doesn't totally convince you I'm the right fit for your pooch, let's set up a call or a meeting and I'm sure you'll see by the end that I'll care for your pup as if it was my own! I unfortunately can’t board dogs at my apartment however I can absolutely have a cat come hang out! I work remotely so when house sitting I can stay with your pet 24/7 to make sure they get all the love and attention they need!
Reviews
Cat did a great job taking care of my dog. I hired her for check-ins and walks while I was away on vacation or 2 weeks. I received plenty of text updates and pictures which I loved. Ruby looked so happy in all of them. When we had our meet and greet Cat showed she knows how to deal with animals well by letting Ruby get accustomed to her first. Ruby can be skittish around new people so Cat let her take her time warming up to her which I really appreciated. Would definitely recommend and will be hiring her again in the future.
Catherine is an absolutely amazing sitter and dog walker! I hired her for one week as a house sitter and she went absolutely above and beyond in her care for Molly (my spunky black lab). I received texts and pictures as requested everyday of their walks together, and a few videos of Molly sprinting around happily at the park, and snoozing peacefully in Catherine's lap. Molly seemed really at home with her from the second they met. During the meet and greet Catherine was immediately attentive to Mollys needs and sat down with her letting her sniff her and get comfortable. From there it was smooth sailing. Molly also needs heart medication twice a day and I received text updates when those were completed as well! I had peace of mind that my girl was in good hands and I'd absolutely recommend Catherine as a care-taker.
About Catherine D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
If I’m staying in your home or doing drop ins for a longer period of time I’d like to know the vets contact info. However I have the 24/7 animal hospital/ER in Woburn on speed dial if needed. If I’m staying in your home then let me know the rules and I promise to follow them! I respect that this is your space and I genuinely appreciate you letting me stay so that your pet can have someone to take care of them. I always clean up after myself in any way. Since I work from home (or I can bring my laptop and work from your home!) I can be there 24/7. My work has busy moments during the day but I find myself with down time where we can play/go for bathroom breaks (and I do have set breaks throughout the day for walks). If you’re interested in boarding your cat at my apartment I can send you photos! It is a small space but I’ve found that cats seem to like that as they’re less overwhelmed. It also allows me to keep an eye on them without invading their space (if the kitty makes it clear they’re warming up to me I’ll let them be) - I have a large window that looks out onto the street with a big window sill that even older cats can comfortably stand on. My bed is next to it so there’s no risk of them falling. I have a cat tree and scratching posts and plenty of kitty toys. If you have any questions I’m happy to answer them!
Information Catherine D. would like to know about your pet
I think it’s always important to know first what might trigger a dog or cat to become aggressive or feel frightened. I’ve worked with tons of animals and plenty of them had the ability to be aggressive, but if I know what to avoid we’ll have a fantastic time. If you’d like to do a meet and greet just let me know how they typically are around strangers, I’ll change my approach to make them comfortable! And if there’s anything that makes them anxious (loud noises, thunder, traffic, etc ) just so I know what to avoid! I cover the negative stuff first because besides that, is all the adorable fun stuff! Any special favorite toys, treats, belly rub techniques- anything to make your furry friend more comfortable. And trust me nothing is weird. My cat loves when I sing a specific song during thunder storms and my dog likes a blanket put lightly over her head when she feels scared. Please feel free to be particular about your pets care, they’re you’re family and I want them to be happy! I have no breed preferences, I love them all! I always like to say directly I’m absolutely fine with pit bulls and large dogs since sometimes people seem to have problems with them. Some of the sweetest pups I’ve ever met! But truly any breed is okay with me :)
A typical day
For walks I enjoy taking dogs around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, or to the Fells Woods in the Winchester area! I avoid walking in the city because most dogs seem anxious with all the traffic, however I'm open to it if your pup is! Depending on where you're located I'm sure we can find somewhere fun to play. I also love going to the park and playing fetch and tug of war, or having fun little sprinting races to tire them out. There are a few different parks in the Arlington area I enjoy, but like I said, wherever you are, I'm sure we can find a spot that works. I’ve lived all over this area so I know lots of places! During the summer if you’re dog likes to swim or splash around please let me know! The lakes in the fells are great, and additionally on hot days my family has a large fenced in back yard with a kiddie pool / hose to let our dog cool off (happy to keep the two separate if you’d prefer!) And if you’re pet it cuddly please don’t worry. I tend to just naturally hangout with them wherever they are so they’ll be getting lots of ear scratches and belly rubs even when I’m working! If your pet prefers their space that’s fine too. Animals are wonderfully clear about what they want in this area so I let them take the lead, haha.
Services
Catherine can watch in your home
Availability
I work from 11 AM - 7:30 PM M-F and I work remotely. I can do drops in before 11, on my lunch break at 3, and after work. I can provide walks before 11 am or after 7:30 pm. The distance factors in but I love to drive so I don’t mind a little bit of a cruise to go hang with your furry friend.
About Catherine D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
If I’m staying in your home or doing drop ins for a longer period of time I’d like to know the vets contact info. However I have the 24/7 animal hospital/ER in Woburn on speed dial if needed. If I’m staying in your home then let me know the rules and I promise to follow them! I respect that this is your space and I genuinely appreciate you letting me stay so that your pet can have someone to take care of them. I always clean up after myself in any way. Since I work from home (or I can bring my laptop and work from your home!) I can be there 24/7. My work has busy moments during the day but I find myself with down time where we can play/go for bathroom breaks (and I do have set breaks throughout the day for walks). If you’re interested in boarding your cat at my apartment I can send you photos! It is a small space but I’ve found that cats seem to like that as they’re less overwhelmed. It also allows me to keep an eye on them without invading their space (if the kitty makes it clear they’re warming up to me I’ll let them be) - I have a large window that looks out onto the street with a big window sill that even older cats can comfortably stand on. My bed is next to it so there’s no risk of them falling. I have a cat tree and scratching posts and plenty of kitty toys. If you have any questions I’m happy to answer them!
Information Catherine D. would like to know about your pet
I think it’s always important to know first what might trigger a dog or cat to become aggressive or feel frightened. I’ve worked with tons of animals and plenty of them had the ability to be aggressive, but if I know what to avoid we’ll have a fantastic time. If you’d like to do a meet and greet just let me know how they typically are around strangers, I’ll change my approach to make them comfortable! And if there’s anything that makes them anxious (loud noises, thunder, traffic, etc ) just so I know what to avoid! I cover the negative stuff first because besides that, is all the adorable fun stuff! Any special favorite toys, treats, belly rub techniques- anything to make your furry friend more comfortable. And trust me nothing is weird. My cat loves when I sing a specific song during thunder storms and my dog likes a blanket put lightly over her head when she feels scared. Please feel free to be particular about your pets care, they’re you’re family and I want them to be happy! I have no breed preferences, I love them all! I always like to say directly I’m absolutely fine with pit bulls and large dogs since sometimes people seem to have problems with them. Some of the sweetest pups I’ve ever met! But truly any breed is okay with me :)
A typical day
For walks I enjoy taking dogs around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, or to the Fells Woods in the Winchester area! I avoid walking in the city because most dogs seem anxious with all the traffic, however I'm open to it if your pup is! Depending on where you're located I'm sure we can find somewhere fun to play. I also love going to the park and playing fetch and tug of war, or having fun little sprinting races to tire them out. There are a few different parks in the Arlington area I enjoy, but like I said, wherever you are, I'm sure we can find a spot that works. I’ve lived all over this area so I know lots of places! During the summer if you’re dog likes to swim or splash around please let me know! The lakes in the fells are great, and additionally on hot days my family has a large fenced in back yard with a kiddie pool / hose to let our dog cool off (happy to keep the two separate if you’d prefer!) And if you’re pet it cuddly please don’t worry. I tend to just naturally hangout with them wherever they are so they’ll be getting lots of ear scratches and belly rubs even when I’m working! If your pet prefers their space that’s fine too. Animals are wonderfully clear about what they want in this area so I let them take the lead, haha.
Location
Arlington, MA
Pets
Catherine D.
Arlington, MA