Dawneen G.
Rogers, AR
House mate & walking pal.
Pet care experience
Hello!! /* Update •• NO dogs that are or may be cat aggressive. We are currently fostering kittens•• Rufus prefers slow introductions- he thinks he is a human and tends to ignore pups once they are here. */ I know what it is like to have to travel and to leave my pet at a kennel- A cold 3-5 cement cell, usually left in the dark. I'd like to offer my home, my time, and a family to comfort your loved one. (I am so grateful that we now have options like Rover where our pets can stay with families in a home setting!) We have a large fenced yard. We are a very active family that enjoys taking our dogs for hikes, walks, car rides, and spending time with them as they are a part of the family. I grew up with all sorts of animals. My mom was a wildlife rehabilitator and has rescued animals for as long as I can remember. As an adult, I have had a small rescue farm and have a lot of experience with different animals. We mainly took in horses, but I had everything from turkeys, chickens, guineas, goats, and even lizards. Due to my experience with rescuing neglected and abused animals, I'm truly grateful for people who genuinely care for their pets and who use services like this. I was a certified veterinary assistant. I decided to take courses to become one after finding out my dog needed both her knees replaced. (Zooey, "blue" & tan GS, who has since passed.) I felt by doing so, I could better tend to her and help other animals that we might take in. I have worked in veterinary offices and I did my externship with Spay Arkansas (another awesome program, located in Springdale, AR). I currently work in a more corporate environment but work from home. I have had dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds, growing up. My longest-lived pet was my 18-year-old Border-collie-mix, named Saidy, who passed on my 27th birthday- she used to go everywhere with me and was my best friend growing up (there's a picture of her, me, and a barn cat in one of my photos when I was about 8). I know it sounds crazy to some, but to me, she was my guardian angel. I am pursuing my second degree in computer science, so sitting home with pets while coding and reading books seems like a pretty good deal- plus they encourage me to take a break from the hours of coding/reading, stretch our legs, and go out for a walk! I also do have a 19-year-old son who enjoys having the extra company around. We do have 2 cats and I occasionally foster cats for our local cat rescues- so I'd prefer dogs that are not cat aggressive. My son's dog Rufus is a doodle of sorts who is 8. He is neutered. Rufus takes a few minutes to sniff and get used to new pups and allow them to sniff him, so we like to introduce slowly and allow both to get comfortable- introducing a new dog to an unfamiliar home can be scary for them on top of having a big dog come over and sniff them, which is why I like to do introductions with leashes on. I require any dog that we watch to be up to date on vaccines and parasite-free. This is for my pet's protection as well as your own and other pets who come to visit. Please, even if you decide to go with someone else, check their policy on vaccinations. Parvo stays in the environment for a while and is hard to rid of. It is exceptionally dangerous to younger pups. Distemper is another concern, there is no cure for it. I have personally seen animals pass from these two preventable diseases, it is not a good way for them to go- so please, make sure that your sitter checks that all dogs coming into the environment are vaccinated. For more info. on parvo.: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/baker-institute/our-research/animal-health-articles-and-helpful-links/canine-parvovirus Info. on distemper: https://www.vet.osu.edu/about-us/news/frequently-asked-questions-about-canine-distemper I also request that you provide food; as it helps prevent an upset stomach. If your pet has a favorite blanket or toy, please bring that along as well- I find sometimes it helps comfort them- this can be especially important for senior dogs. ID tags, collars, and a leash are also always a good idea. I prefer to only take on 1 family pet(s) at a time (unless an emergency arises with one of my regulars and it is ok with both parties) and do not sit multiple peoples pets at a time- I would prefer for the experience to be as stress-free for all parties.. my pets and yours. This is not a competition for clients for me, I know we live in a very sell-yourself time, but pets live in reality- and they know who they do and don't mesh with-- I encourage meet and greets to ensure that everyone is a perfect fit! Just like people, all dogs are different and not everyone is a perfect match- pick someone who you and your pet feel comfortable with, whether that's me or someone else, that's what is important. Our pets are like family, although I am awesome, it's ok to be choosy (and you should be). I do have a large dog, and some dogs are scared of large dogs. I also have a cat and at times, foster cats. My "regulars" usually get priority so no hard feelings, many of them I have sat for years and their pets are like family too. At this point, I primarily only sit for my regulars who keep me pretty booked up- not all days are listed on the calendar so reach out to me if needed. I love meeting new people, especially meeting people who love their pets as much as I love mine, love watching, and being around animals, and I enjoy feeling like I'm able to provide a much-needed service- that I too can utilize with my own pets- but at the end of the day, go with your gut. :) I offer 10% off rate if you are a senior, veteran, or student (with ID). Discounts for my regular clients. I try to remain affordable, I know people are falling on hard times right now- so if you have a situation, I am willing to lower cost and try to work out something that is affordable to you, especially with longer stays which add up quickly.
Reviews
Dawneen sent pictures every day. The dogs seemed well taken care of. I would use Dawneen again!
Dawneen did an excellent job taking care of Max while we travelled! She and her son made our pup feel at home. We really appreciated that she stayed in contact with us and even sent pictures of Max enjoying his stay. We will definitely call Dawneen for our next trip and highly recommend her!
My dogs had a great time. They were treated good
This is for the second time I am leaving my little one with Dawneen and no surprise he enjoyed staying there. Dawneen is so warm and welcoming that you will feel that your puppy is in safe hands. Thank you Dawneen and your entire family for taking care of Messi. You guys are amazing and your love towards the pets is 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
About Dawneen G.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We treat pets as if they are own pets and how we would want our pets to be treated if we were out of town.
Home
Information Dawneen G. would like to know about your pet
I like to know about their personality. Every dog is a different individual and reacts their own unique way in different situations. Medical history. Feeding schedule. Dietary restrictions. Excersise needs.
A typical day
We have a very large yard and we like to go on walks and hikes together my family and I tend to go on 5 to 7 mile hikes 4 to 5 times a week.
Services
Dawneen can host
Availability
I work from home. We treat anyone's pets as they are our own and as they are family. We try to make it a fun stay for them and if it's OK for them we take them on walks.
About Dawneen G.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We treat pets as if they are own pets and how we would want our pets to be treated if we were out of town.
Home
Information Dawneen G. would like to know about your pet
I like to know about their personality. Every dog is a different individual and reacts their own unique way in different situations. Medical history. Feeding schedule. Dietary restrictions. Excersise needs.
A typical day
We have a very large yard and we like to go on walks and hikes together my family and I tend to go on 5 to 7 mile hikes 4 to 5 times a week.
Location
Rogers, AR
Pets
Dawneen G.
Rogers, AR