I’ve grown up around dogs my whole life, including two Labrador Retrievers named Maverick and Goose, and a Beagle that I cared for over 10 years, so I’m very comfortable with daily routines, exercise, and understanding different personalities. I’ve also done several overnight house-sitting and dog care jobs, working with a wide range of breeds, from small dogs like pugs to larger, high-energy dogs like huskies. I’ve always had a genuine love for animals and caring for them. The first animal I really fell in love with was a manatee when I was about 5 years old living in Florida, and that kind of stuck with me. My time as a kid was spent at the beach boogie boarding out into the ocean hoping a dolphin would find me and become my friend. Growing up, I loved going to the aquarium and the zoo to learn about different animals, and I’ve always been especially drawn to red pandas and stingrays. That curiosity and appreciation carries over into how I care for pets—I really enjoy getting to know each animal’s personality and making sure they feel safe and happy. In addition, I have a lot of hands-on caregiving experience through taking care of my brother who has special needs, as well as working with special needs youth. That’s taught me to be patient, attentive, and very in tune with individual needs, which I bring into how I care for animals as well.