Heather S.
South Barrington, IL
Heather S. has Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Responsible Cat & Dog Lover
Pet care experience
My experience with animals is much more than the typical “I grew up with animals”. Yes, I had a wide variety of pets growing up, but there are two additional things that have really taken my animal knowledge to the next level. The first is years of volunteering in the rescue world. This has included mostly hands on experience with fostering and training, but also many hours in the city at Chicago Animal Care and Control. Along the way I’ve been exposed to a wide variety of both cat and dog breeds, including all of their unique behaviors and temperaments, which has ultimately made me more knowledgeable and prepared. The second is my personal journey of owning a reactive dog. Almost 7 years ago, we adopted an adorable terrier/dachshund mix, who little did we know, was terrified of basically the entire world. Our journey has included working with behavioral trainers and veterinarians, conducting massive amounts of research, tons of training and enrichment to help build his confidence, and sometimes using medication along the way to help ease his diagnosed anxiety and global fear disorder. In the process of trying to make the world not so scary for him, I’ve learned so much, not just about training, but also things like animal body language, trigger stacking, animal thresholds, and both mental and physical enrichment. And it’s really given me a better understanding of animal behavior in general, not just around reactivity. On the feline side, we had more cats than dogs growing up (my mom adored Siamese cats, so we always had several) and my last cat had some medical issues, including being diabetic, so beyond normal feline care, I’m also very familiar with insulin injections and administering medication. While I’m not a certified trainer, I’ve taken many classes on enrichment, behavior, and fear-free training, simply because I’m curious and want to understand any animal I’m interacting with the best I can. I’m nerdy like that :) My love for animals runs deep, I believe in kind, compassionate care, using positive reinforcement only, and I can promise you that your animals will be in good hands with me.
Reviews
Heather did a great job walking my dog Daniella. in the rain my dog doesn’t like to go for a walk so Heather took extra time to help get her in the mood for a walk. She did s great job!
Heather is very experienced with timid dogs like mine. she was very patient and kind
Heather was wonderful. The care and daily updates put my mind at ease while traveling.
Heather is so kind & goes above expectations when caring for Gilly - she’s so thoughtful & I know I’m leaving my senior lady in great hands while I’m away.
About Heather S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
When caring for someone else's pet, I take care of them with the same high level of care that I would want for my pet. Obviously this includes things like lots of love, cuddles and playtime, but also things like making sure they are always supervised outside, or securely leashed when I am walking them, or that medicine is given on schedule. And I provide lots of updates and pictures so that you can feel comfortable that your pet is being well taken care of and actually enjoy your time away.
Information Heather S. would like to know about your pet
It’s always good to know about any personality quirks, reactive behaviors, situations that can be stressful for them (doorbells, thunderstorms, fireworks, etc.), if they get along with other dogs while we are out on walks, and especially any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medications required. Also, where they prefer to hang out in your house, and if there are certain places that are off limits (no pets on certain furniture, etc.)
A typical day
I love to provide both mental and physical stimulation for your dogs by making sure they get plenty of time outside exploring new smells, and incorporating enrichment activities and puzzles into their feeding schedule. I also want to make your time away as stress free as possible for them, by providing consistent care and keeping them on their normal schedule/routine. I believe cats need enrichment and playtime as well, so if I’m sitting for your cat, they will get the same treatment, minus the outdoor walks ;) And if your pets prefer cuddles over playtime, that’s perfectly fine too!
Services
Heather can watch in your home
Availability
I work full time but work remotely, which allows me to incorporate drop-ins and housesitting into my schedule even during the week. Additionally, my working hours are flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate unique feeding/medicine schedules.
About Heather S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
When caring for someone else's pet, I take care of them with the same high level of care that I would want for my pet. Obviously this includes things like lots of love, cuddles and playtime, but also things like making sure they are always supervised outside, or securely leashed when I am walking them, or that medicine is given on schedule. And I provide lots of updates and pictures so that you can feel comfortable that your pet is being well taken care of and actually enjoy your time away.
Information Heather S. would like to know about your pet
It’s always good to know about any personality quirks, reactive behaviors, situations that can be stressful for them (doorbells, thunderstorms, fireworks, etc.), if they get along with other dogs while we are out on walks, and especially any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medications required. Also, where they prefer to hang out in your house, and if there are certain places that are off limits (no pets on certain furniture, etc.)
A typical day
I love to provide both mental and physical stimulation for your dogs by making sure they get plenty of time outside exploring new smells, and incorporating enrichment activities and puzzles into their feeding schedule. I also want to make your time away as stress free as possible for them, by providing consistent care and keeping them on their normal schedule/routine. I believe cats need enrichment and playtime as well, so if I’m sitting for your cat, they will get the same treatment, minus the outdoor walks ;) And if your pets prefer cuddles over playtime, that’s perfectly fine too!
Location
South Barrington, IL
Pets
Heather S.
South Barrington, IL