Cheryl D.
Fairmount-Spring Garden, PA
Experienced Dog Handler
Pet care experience
Animal-Related Work and Volunteer Experience: • Current support staff at a local veterinary hospital. • Former supervisor at Central Bark Doggy Daycare. Prior kennel attendant at Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. • I have volunteered on and off at local Philadelphia animal shelters for over seven years. I currently volunteer with Hand2paw Foundation, a non-profit organization that connects sheltered animals and homeless youth through volunteering, internships, and employment opportunities. • Dog CPR Cert. and familiar with administering many routes of medication. Though I am not certified, I offer basic grooming services and supply limited grooming equipment for toy, small, and medium fur babies. ABOUT ME: • I rescued a long-haired Chihuahua mix named Cauliflower in 2015. I have been vegan since 2014 and practice sustainable living. I am an undergraduate student at a local college, majoring in English under their Liberal Arts program and I plan to attend law school fall 2025.
Reviews
Great communication and experience. Lots of photos.
Cheryl is an incredible pet and house sitter. Having her help has eased our minds so much whenever we need to take a trip away from the fur babies. We couldn’t ask for more!
We were very happy with Cheryl's in-home pet-sitting/care. We have one (mostly) beagle and one senior cat. Cheryl was very attentive to details of their care, including the asthma inhaler med for the cat. Cheryl had introduced her dog to ours before we left town; having another dog to add some enrichment to our little guys while we were gone was quite helpful (I think). We also appreciated the many great pics she sent! In our experience, Cheryl is very personable, totally reliable, very knowledgeable and experienced in companion animal care. We would highly recommend Cheryl if you need an in-home (or other type of) pet care.
Would absolutely recommend Cheryl or rebook her. She was able to accommodate a boarding request at the last minute as our previous arrangements had fallen through. She was attentive and very detail oriented. She had a list of prepared questions to ask during our virtual meeting to determine if she would be a good fit for our 155lb Bullmastiff Ralphie. Shortly after, we were able to arrange for her to meet on-site at our apartment to introduce her dog & ours to make sure they would be able to co-exist with each other during the stay. Cheryl's background is in animal care, and she has a great demeanor with animals. She was very attentive and asked a bunch of thoughtful questions that I haven't even considered prior. While sitting for Ralphie, she sent consistent updates daily with pictures. Couldn't have asked for a better experience on a last-minute notice. Thanks again for everything Cheryl!
About Cheryl D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Emergency and veterinary contact information is required upon confirming a booking. I will provide two detailed updates of your fur baby's day and will include pictures.
Information Cheryl D. would like to know about your pet
Activity level? Are they leash aggressive? Temperament and reactivity towards other dogs or specific breeds? Temperament with or around humans? Phobias and anxieties? Dietary restrictions/allergies? In an emergency or life-threatening situation, will you consent to your pet receiving medical care? DISCRIMINATION: • I do not discriminate against any breed regardless of size or health issues/ conditions linked to their breed or age. • I am generally confident handling dogs with various types of aggression or who have behavioral issues--I ask that you be honest in communicating said details during our first meet and greet.
A typical day
Exercise is paramount for maintaining physical health. That concept is no different for animals. I love hiking and sightseeing. Nothing is more therapeutic than adding a pup or two along for the ride. Walks around the neighborhood a few times a day isn't good enough. With your permission, your pup(s) gets to take a few steps, ( if they're up for it) miles further for some city exploring. Fluctuating scenery is definitely important as one of the most rewarding aspects of dog walking is the attention and enrichment dogs receive from both human and canine interactions. Has your pup been to the Phila Museum of Art? Center City? Penn's Landing? Dream no further! Additionally, if your pup prefers to stay indoors, unlimited belly rubs until both my hands cramp up!
Services
Cheryl can watch in your home
Availability
Please read the below booking requirements before requesting a booking with me. BOOKING: • An overnight stay is equal to 24 hours. Example: You requested an overnight for Friday and would like my arrival time to be 4 PM; my departure time would be 4 PM Saturday. Or, you’re requesting three overnights and would like me to arrive between 7 AM-9:30 AM Sunday; my departure time would be between 7 AM-9:30 AM Wednesday. • If you are unsure of the specific arrival and departure times upon sending me a request, please communicate that during our first meet and greet to avoid confusion around time conflicts. • A half-day of care (12 hours) discount is available for bookings extending a 24-hour window. e.g., you requested an overnight for a Monday and would like me to arrive at 3 PM but are requesting I stay until 2 AM-3 AM Wednesday; you will be given a discount for the additional 12 hours instead of being charged for a full day of care. (This discount is reserved for returning customers.) MEET & GREETS: • I offer two one-time complimentary meet and greets. The first M&G is scheduled virtually, followed by an in-person M&G. A virtual M&G provides an opportunity to see if we are a good fit to move forward with an in-person M&G (i.e., address any behavioral concerns and or expectations for my fulfilling my responsibilities as a caregiver). An in-person M&G allows fur babies to acclimate to my presence in preparation for a stay or reoccurring bookings. • If your companion animal(s) require additional in-person meetings, you can request them under the ‘Drop-in’ or ‘Dog walking’ section, depending on your specific need. • If you live outside the Philadelphia area, e.g., near Phila. Airport or New Jersey and would like to schedule additional in-person meets, there will be an additional $10-$20 travel/commuting fee. SCHEDULING MEETINGS: • Virtual M&G: Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday, 9 AM-7:30 PM • In-Person M&G: Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday, 12 PM-6 PM • Urgent in-person meetings outside the above timeframes can be scheduled upon request (e.g., family emergency needing immediate overnight care.)
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About Cheryl D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Emergency and veterinary contact information is required upon confirming a booking. I will provide two detailed updates of your fur baby's day and will include pictures.
Information Cheryl D. would like to know about your pet
Activity level? Are they leash aggressive? Temperament and reactivity towards other dogs or specific breeds? Temperament with or around humans? Phobias and anxieties? Dietary restrictions/allergies? In an emergency or life-threatening situation, will you consent to your pet receiving medical care? DISCRIMINATION: • I do not discriminate against any breed regardless of size or health issues/ conditions linked to their breed or age. • I am generally confident handling dogs with various types of aggression or who have behavioral issues--I ask that you be honest in communicating said details during our first meet and greet.
A typical day
Exercise is paramount for maintaining physical health. That concept is no different for animals. I love hiking and sightseeing. Nothing is more therapeutic than adding a pup or two along for the ride. Walks around the neighborhood a few times a day isn't good enough. With your permission, your pup(s) gets to take a few steps, ( if they're up for it) miles further for some city exploring. Fluctuating scenery is definitely important as one of the most rewarding aspects of dog walking is the attention and enrichment dogs receive from both human and canine interactions. Has your pup been to the Phila Museum of Art? Center City? Penn's Landing? Dream no further! Additionally, if your pup prefers to stay indoors, unlimited belly rubs until both my hands cramp up!
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Pets
Cheryl D.
Fairmount-Spring Garden, PA