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Colleen O.

City Center West, PA

5.0 out of 5 stars
31 reviews
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Caretaker for people AND pups!

Pet care experience

Hi, I'm Colleen! I'm a caretaker for both people AND dogs: I am studying to be a doctor at Jefferson's medical school, and I spend a lot of my out-of-class time playing with pups! I've been a successful dog-walker and sitter in Center City for a few months now, but my experience goes all the way back to my childhood. As a child, I volunteered at the local dog shelter every weekend until I ~finally~ convinced my parents to get a dog of our own when I was eight. I cared for our English cocker spaniel for sixteen wonderful years. Throughout middle school and high school, taking care of my neighbor's pets was part of my daily routine. Now, as a medical student, I’ve been looking for ways to bring dogs back into my life. Any time I can spend with another pup is a treat! I have no shortage of love and affection to share with your pets: I’ll treat them as my own! Their safety is my number-one concern, so I’m alert for any potential trouble and responsive to the situation. When we go for walks, your dog will always have my full attention. From a day at work to a weeklong vacation, I know that leaving animals at home can cause anxiety for you and your dog, and I'm here to relieve that stress for both of you! Most importantly, I'm here to keep your dog happy & healthy. People notice my compassion and energy right away. I communicate fully and sincerely, and I’m very reliable. I’m fully focused on and available to the people and pups in my life. I take a great deal of initiative, and I've always been a creative person with a passion for problem-solving. Exploring Philly is my latest obsession. Whenever I'm restless from too much studying, I like to walk around and look at the beautiful trees and flowers adorning the neighborhood. One of the reasons I love dog walking is because I always find myself in new parts of the city that I haven't explored before! By now I know many of the grassy, open spaces within Center City, and I've been to just about every dog park in town. Some of my favorite spots to walk are to Penn's Landing or along the Schuylkill River trail. I also spend an inordinate amount of time at Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, Logan Square, and Independence Mall. Dog-sitting is a great way for me to meet my neighbors and to find new furry friends in Philadelphia! Spending time with them is sure to put a smile on my face. I’ve cared for cats, but due to allergies I prefer not to sit when there are cats in the home. I have some experience with guinea pigs, small lizards, and rats. I consider myself an excellent betta fish caretaker (my fish Qwerty loves me!). Dogs bring unconditional love and energy to every relationship. On your best and worst days, your dog is always there to show you affection, and has an uncanny ability to make you smile. Dogs are incredibly rejuvenating and therapeutic. Caring for dogs has brought so much positive energy to my life!

Reviews

Jessica F.
House Sitting • Jul 16, 2018
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We’ve been working with Colleen for 6 months now and she is seriously the best. So responsible and great with our pup. We can truly relax when Colleen is sitting our pup because we know we can trust her. We feel so lucky to be one of her clients!

Jessica F.
House Sitting • Apr 08, 2018
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Colleen is incredible! We look forward to working with her as our pup grows :)

Jessica F.
House Sitting • Apr 08, 2018
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Colleen is AMAZING. Incredibly responsible, thoughtful, and professional. We could not have been happier with our sitting experiences and trust her entirely with our fur baby. I feel lucky to have found her on Rover.com and I am sure our little guy Ellis looks forward to the next time he sees his friend Colleen!

Jay P.
Drop-In Visits • Oct 24, 2017
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She was amazing! Lily had warmed up to her fairly quickly given her shy nature. She was really professional and took great photos of the babies. You can really tell she cares for her job. She naturally will make a great healthcare provider in the future. Would definitely be a repeat customer !

About Colleen O.

Communication

9 repeat pet parents
85% response rate
Usually responds in under half an hour
70% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

15 years of experience
Oral medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Home

Lives in an apartment
Does not have a yard
Non-smoking household
Has 1 dog
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

Information Colleen O. would like to know about your pet

I love all types of dogs, no matter the size or breed! I'm willing to meet any dog, and so far I've gotten along well with every pup I've met. Sometimes, if they’re skittish, it just takes time and treats for them to get comfortable. Before we meet, I'd love to know your dog's age, breed, behavior around other dogs, behavior towards children, any health conditions or injuries, any dietary restrictions, and any triggers that upset your dog. I'd also love to know any special commands you use with your pup so I can use them too! We’ll make sure that your pup is comfortable around me by the end of the meet-and-greet so that we know I’m a good fit for them. I'll be prompt to arrive, and will adhere to their feeding/potty schedules. I'm great at following detailed care instructions, and I'm always open to any special requests you have for your pup and me. Please don't hesitate to communicate them to me! I want the best experience possible for both you and your dog.

A typical day

I'm a graduate student, so I mostly create my own schedule and work remotely. For your pup, that means lots of attention and playtime! We'll go outside for potty breaks as often as needed, and we'll take a nice long walk after each meal. If the weather is nice, we'll probably spend a good portion of the day outside in a local park. There are quite a few dog-friendly parks in Center City that I know well. If you and your dog are comfortable with it, we might also go to one of my favorite dog runs where I can let them play off-leash. Once your pup has had enough excitement for the day, we'll snuggle up together and call it a night!

Services

Boarding
in the sitter's home
AWAY
House Sitting
in your home
AWAY

Colleen can host

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
Takes only 1 client at a time

Colleen can watch in your home

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs

About Colleen O.

Communication

9 repeat pet parents
85% response rate
Usually responds in under half an hour
70% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

15 years of experience
Oral medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Home

Lives in an apartment
Does not have a yard
Non-smoking household
Has 1 dog
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

Information Colleen O. would like to know about your pet

I love all types of dogs, no matter the size or breed! I'm willing to meet any dog, and so far I've gotten along well with every pup I've met. Sometimes, if they’re skittish, it just takes time and treats for them to get comfortable. Before we meet, I'd love to know your dog's age, breed, behavior around other dogs, behavior towards children, any health conditions or injuries, any dietary restrictions, and any triggers that upset your dog. I'd also love to know any special commands you use with your pup so I can use them too! We’ll make sure that your pup is comfortable around me by the end of the meet-and-greet so that we know I’m a good fit for them. I'll be prompt to arrive, and will adhere to their feeding/potty schedules. I'm great at following detailed care instructions, and I'm always open to any special requests you have for your pup and me. Please don't hesitate to communicate them to me! I want the best experience possible for both you and your dog.

A typical day

I'm a graduate student, so I mostly create my own schedule and work remotely. For your pup, that means lots of attention and playtime! We'll go outside for potty breaks as often as needed, and we'll take a nice long walk after each meal. If the weather is nice, we'll probably spend a good portion of the day outside in a local park. There are quite a few dog-friendly parks in Center City that I know well. If you and your dog are comfortable with it, we might also go to one of my favorite dog runs where I can let them play off-leash. Once your pup has had enough excitement for the day, we'll snuggle up together and call it a night!

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Colleen O.'s Neighborhood

Pets

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Colleen O.

City Center West, PA

5.0 out of 5 stars
31 reviews