Claire W.
Claire W.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Animals are my life, dogs at the ❤️
I am a lover of dogs of all sizes and personalities, and animals in general. I grew up being around big dogs my entire life, raised a black lab as a kid, volunteered at animal shelters throughout high school and college, and now am partnered with Gus, a small 6 year old male terrier mix who is mostly a couch potato, and Luna, a large 2 year old female shepherd mix, opposite of couch potato - both very friendly and non-aggressive. Luna reminds Gus to exercise, and Gus reminds Luna that it’s okay to take a break! Before these 2, I was blessed with 14 years with my soul dog, a corgi mix named Butters. I have cared for many different breeds over my 12+ years of experience dog walking and house and pet sitting. I am aware of specific needs for different ages, breeds and sizes, and also have experience owning and caring for cats, small mammals, reptiles, exotic birds and fish, as well as small farm animals like chickens, goats, and rabbits. I also have a keen sense for general household maintenance, having been a homeowner myself and grew up remodeling an old home with my parents. I can take care of everything from a small studio apartment in the city to a large farmhouse out in the country, as I have lived in all types of housing situations, climates, and locations. I am very clean, and always try to leave your home with an extra sparkle! I run my own plant nursery as a small business so I have a superb green thumb, and can keep your plants thriving, your mail organized, your house clean, and most importantly, your animals entertained, fed and loved! A little about me: I am 37, have a degree in photography (I also offer pet portraiture), and am an artist who paints and does multi media collage. I am originally from Pennsylvania but have traveled and lived all over the US, in every kind of climate and location you can think of. Happy to chat about your specific needs and provide additional references if needed!
Cat care experience
Claire also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
We could not have had a better dog/cat/house sitter while we were out of the country for a week. Claire happily met with me more than once before we departed so that I would feel confident about leaving my sweet boys (and my house) in her care. And I have to tell you, I have never felt better about leaving them! She was very competent, capable, and knowledgeable; she communicated clearly and promptly; and she very clearly understood how much anxiety comes with hiring someone to take care of your pets and your home while you're away. She bonded with my Great Dane and my orange tabby quickly, expressed genuine excitement to spend time with them, and promised to keep me constantly updated. While we were away, she sent lots of pictures and updates, and was always happy to hear from me when I reached out. She handled a couple of weird house events (a rogue alarm and a leaky ceiling) PERFECTLY, and I was so grateful she was there. She even cleaned the house before we came home and did all the laundry and remade every bed. But most importantly, she loved my boys and cared for them like I would have done, and they were happy, healthy, and calm the whole time we were gone. They can't wait to have her back, and neither can we!
What can I say? Claire was amazing. Our dogs (all three of them) loved her! I got lovely updates with pictures of them cuddling on the couch and they were so well looked after. it was great peace of mind when I was away on a trip to the other side of the world. We also came home to a house that was cleaner than when we left it! I can't recommend her highly enough and our dogs (ok me!) are looking forward to her return!
Claire is kind and went above and beyond to take care of our house and our dog. We highly recommend her.
Claire did an excellent job staying with our two Westies for five night over Thanksgiving and then adding on unexpectedly a drop in visit when our plans changed. She was great with the boys and our house. We were a little nervous because we’ve never had in house sitting before, only boarding. When we returned, we found Claire left the house in better shape then when we left. What a surprise! Her updates and photos of the boys throughout the stay also helped calm our nerves. This was a great first time experience w Claire and Rover!!!! Thank you.
This is the second time we've had Claire stay at our house and watch our two dogs and two cats. She's great! I can't say enough good things. She's communicative, punctual, caring, respectful of our space. All the things you want in a house/pet sitter. We always come home and the house is in great shape and the animals seem just a little sad that she's no longer there. I highly recommend Claire for your next trip away without the furries.
Claire was so attentive to our shy pup - she made her feel welcome and gave her space to come out of her shell. She is very well versed in reading dogs and allowing them space and time as needed. She is also great at keeping in touch and sharing lots of videos and pictures! Would definitely recommend her and will use her again!!
Calendar and availability
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Schedule
I work from home running my little cactus and plant nursery (formerly with Etsy, currently shifting gears to more local markets) so I’m at the beck and call of any pet anytime! My schedule is totally adaptable and I don’t mind late nights, early mornings, or whenever you need me :)
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
In my home, they are allowed on all the furniture unless otherwise instructed not to allow them to maintain training. Everything in my home and on my property is pet proofed to be completely safe - plants, food, medications, cosmetics, etc all are stored securely out of reach. In a client’s home I tend to play it safer with the furniture, unless I’m told they are allowed on it, I try to maintain the most well kept home and provide any exercise and entertainment outdoors, being mindful of the heat and keeping them hydrated during hotter seasons!
Pets
A typical day
When boarding, we will go outside for a good run around the yard and some fetch with toys while it’s still cool out. When visiting clients, I love walking dogs around their neighborhood where they are most familiar, or if the owner is comfortable with it, to some of the parks in the area. I love to practice any training or tricks the owner may be working on or needing to enforce, and I always have plenty of my own poop bags, treats, and fresh water on hand for dogs I am caring for. A splash pool is set up in my yard when boarding in hotter months for any water loving pups.
Prices include all fees.