Holly J.
Victoria, BC
Experienced with Dogs, Cats, & Buns
Pet care experience
Greetings! I have been educated and approved, by the Toronto Humane Society, to be a Foster Parent for animals (including dogs, cats, and special species like bunnies). Some of the training modules I completed through the Toronto Humane Society include “Fostering Pregnant/Orphaned/Immature Dogs,” and “Palliative Foster Care Module (Applies to Dogs, Cats, and Special Species).” In my education, I learned many skills, such as how to socialize dogs, from birth up until the 12 week point. I have been a sitter for cats, bunnies, and up to three dogs at a time. I absolutely love animals, and I love going for walks. I also deeply miss having a bunny, and I would absolutely love to bunny sit too! I know how to rabbit-proof an apartment, so that the bunny is safe from harm, and I am aware of their specialized diets and their need for affection, mental stimulation, in addition to many hours of supervised free roaming exercise time.
Reviews
Holly was tremendous. Rosie was totally relaxed with Holly, and I loved the photos. We will definitely use Holly again.
Very accommodating, kind and easy to communicate with. We'll definitely have Holly take care of our baby again.
Holly is highly communicative, sending videos and pictures and questions and updates. She was my first dogsitter/housesitter through Rover so I did not know what to expect. She provided references which gave me some sense of security.
Another great stay with Holly! Louis is so comfortable with her and has really formed a bond. Thanks Holly :)
About Holly J.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I can crate your dog if needed, but I am also comfortable not doing that, if your dog is house trained. I am comfortable giving medication to dogs, so long as the dog is used to the routine and the owner is willing to show me the exact steps for what needs to be done. I’m also comfortable with bathing animals when needed. I love playing fetch with dogs, and going for walks together, in nature. I am super keen to help socialize young puppies too, and I would be happy to refresh myself with the course material I learned from the Toronto Humane Society: which taught me how to socialize dogs from birth age to 12 weeks old. In the case that you need a bunny sitter, I would also be very happy to adjust my apartment to make it rabbit safe, if you are able to loan me the necessary items to do so (such as fire resistant covers for electrical cables, so that the bunny does not try to chew through any cables, etc. if your rabbit is a chewer.) I have been lucky enough to have had two awesome rabbits as pets, in my life, so I am highly aware of their desire to chew things that could hurt them! And, I understand a bunny’s need for a minimum of 4 hours of free roaming exercise time per day. I used to let my last bunny free-roam, and exercise outside of her cage, for an average of 12+ hours every single day. She had the privilege of living a super relaxed, fun, healthy life, in my care. And, she was my best friend. I know that most humans who have not cared for a rabbit do not know how to meet a bunny’s specific needs, so I really want to make it clear that I know my bunny stuff: your bunny would be super happy, healthy, and safe with me too! My initial reason for applying to do this though, is because I am super interested in dog walking. Elderly and/or disabled, lower energy dogs, who just need a very slow walk (with some nice pets along the way) are also welcome in my care. High energy dogs are great too! I can be accommodating to meet the needs your dog has, and will do my best to learn how your individual doggy can live its best life, while in my care.
Home
Information Holly J. would like to know about your pet
Is your dog… Microchipped? Spayed/Neutered? Friendly with children? Friendly with other dogs? House trained? Does your dog have a strong prey drive (would it try and catch wild bunnies or squirrels)? Let me know if your dog has any unusual behaviours, patterns, health problems, anxieties, or aggression problems, that I should know about. Thanks! Note: I have received COVID-19 Vaccinations 5 times (including the Bivalent vaccine and the most recent vaccine which targets the Omicron variant XBB.1.5).
A typical day
I love socializing puppies, and also really enjoy walking dogs of all ages. I like throwing a ball with a dog, and going for walks, hikes, and running too. I am a friendly and warm natured person (I look after a group of 10 and 11 year old youth, and have been told by other people that some of my assets are patience, compassion, and an ability to be flexible and adaptive when it’s helpful). I have a huge love for animals. Providing pets with a healthy amount of exercise, while showing them love, respect, and care, is really important to me. I go between living in Victoria BC, Toronto ON, and Berlin, Germany. In Victoria, Beacon Hill Park, Fairfield, and James Bay, are my favourite places to walk. I really enjoy going to the beaches along Dallas Road. Let me know if your dog would enjoy a swim! (Otherwise, I’ll play it safe, and do my best to keep your dog out of the salty ocean). In Toronto, I love walking around most neighbourhoods in the city. I enjoy exploring new places and finding new details in the sights while walking around Toronto, so if your doggy likes to go on new routes (not always sticking to the same walking routes) then we’ll have the greatest time! I’m consistent in my high level of care and attention for animals, but I’m not a creature of comfort, so I don’t find myself sticking to the same route ever with a dog, even when I have walked with them in the same neighbourhood routinely. Change keeps life experiences more interesting, and it’s often good for both the human and the canine brain, because it teaches adaptive flexibility behaviour. In Berlin, I am happy to work just about anywhere, but my preference would be near Bergmannstr. Berlin 10961 BONUS: I am a Pro Photographer by trade; thus, you can expect better photos of your pet, taken by me. I know how to compose a good iPhone camera shot; however, I also love shooting animal photos with my detachable lens, DSLR camera. Normally I’d charge a much higher price for pet photography, but if you find any additional photos (of your pet) that I’ve taken and posted online, I don’t mind at all if you screenshot and save the photos for your own personal use. :)
Services
Holly can host
Holly can watch in your home
Availability
I work part-time, as an on-call Substitute Child & Youth Care Worker. I’ve only been taking a few shifts a month though, because I’ve been doing so much more animal care lately. When I do work the Child and Youth Care job, I am at home until 1:30pm. And, I am usually finished at 5:30pm or 6pm (and I can make myself available soon after that). I tend to leave the summers open for me to do non-Childcare work (such as photography, more dog walking, and housesitting: and I am very open, with different locations, during the summer months). I'd be happy to fly to another part of Canada to housesit and care for animals if the location seemed like a nice place to spend time, and if the stay was long enough to cover the cost of flights. If you look through my photos, you will also see that I am a Pro Photographer, with a love for animal photography. I do photo editing in the evenings, working from home, and I have a very flexible nighttime schedule. I am a very physically active person, and with the long hours required sitting in front of a computer (digitally editing photos), dog walking is a field of work that can support me in my desire to get up and move, and not have to stay stationary at a computer desk for too many hours without a break. Walking dogs is a wonderful way for me to incorporate more physical activity into my evening work routine. My preferred hours, on weekdays, to book dog walking jobs, are between 1pm and 1am. I am a natural night owl, so I am available to walk dogs later than almost any other dog walker around. Hire me, and you may also wind up with some of the best photos of your beloved doggy, as an extra perk!
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About Holly J.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I can crate your dog if needed, but I am also comfortable not doing that, if your dog is house trained. I am comfortable giving medication to dogs, so long as the dog is used to the routine and the owner is willing to show me the exact steps for what needs to be done. I’m also comfortable with bathing animals when needed. I love playing fetch with dogs, and going for walks together, in nature. I am super keen to help socialize young puppies too, and I would be happy to refresh myself with the course material I learned from the Toronto Humane Society: which taught me how to socialize dogs from birth age to 12 weeks old. In the case that you need a bunny sitter, I would also be very happy to adjust my apartment to make it rabbit safe, if you are able to loan me the necessary items to do so (such as fire resistant covers for electrical cables, so that the bunny does not try to chew through any cables, etc. if your rabbit is a chewer.) I have been lucky enough to have had two awesome rabbits as pets, in my life, so I am highly aware of their desire to chew things that could hurt them! And, I understand a bunny’s need for a minimum of 4 hours of free roaming exercise time per day. I used to let my last bunny free-roam, and exercise outside of her cage, for an average of 12+ hours every single day. She had the privilege of living a super relaxed, fun, healthy life, in my care. And, she was my best friend. I know that most humans who have not cared for a rabbit do not know how to meet a bunny’s specific needs, so I really want to make it clear that I know my bunny stuff: your bunny would be super happy, healthy, and safe with me too! My initial reason for applying to do this though, is because I am super interested in dog walking. Elderly and/or disabled, lower energy dogs, who just need a very slow walk (with some nice pets along the way) are also welcome in my care. High energy dogs are great too! I can be accommodating to meet the needs your dog has, and will do my best to learn how your individual doggy can live its best life, while in my care.
Home
Information Holly J. would like to know about your pet
Is your dog… Microchipped? Spayed/Neutered? Friendly with children? Friendly with other dogs? House trained? Does your dog have a strong prey drive (would it try and catch wild bunnies or squirrels)? Let me know if your dog has any unusual behaviours, patterns, health problems, anxieties, or aggression problems, that I should know about. Thanks! Note: I have received COVID-19 Vaccinations 5 times (including the Bivalent vaccine and the most recent vaccine which targets the Omicron variant XBB.1.5).
A typical day
I love socializing puppies, and also really enjoy walking dogs of all ages. I like throwing a ball with a dog, and going for walks, hikes, and running too. I am a friendly and warm natured person (I look after a group of 10 and 11 year old youth, and have been told by other people that some of my assets are patience, compassion, and an ability to be flexible and adaptive when it’s helpful). I have a huge love for animals. Providing pets with a healthy amount of exercise, while showing them love, respect, and care, is really important to me. I go between living in Victoria BC, Toronto ON, and Berlin, Germany. In Victoria, Beacon Hill Park, Fairfield, and James Bay, are my favourite places to walk. I really enjoy going to the beaches along Dallas Road. Let me know if your dog would enjoy a swim! (Otherwise, I’ll play it safe, and do my best to keep your dog out of the salty ocean). In Toronto, I love walking around most neighbourhoods in the city. I enjoy exploring new places and finding new details in the sights while walking around Toronto, so if your doggy likes to go on new routes (not always sticking to the same walking routes) then we’ll have the greatest time! I’m consistent in my high level of care and attention for animals, but I’m not a creature of comfort, so I don’t find myself sticking to the same route ever with a dog, even when I have walked with them in the same neighbourhood routinely. Change keeps life experiences more interesting, and it’s often good for both the human and the canine brain, because it teaches adaptive flexibility behaviour. In Berlin, I am happy to work just about anywhere, but my preference would be near Bergmannstr. Berlin 10961 BONUS: I am a Pro Photographer by trade; thus, you can expect better photos of your pet, taken by me. I know how to compose a good iPhone camera shot; however, I also love shooting animal photos with my detachable lens, DSLR camera. Normally I’d charge a much higher price for pet photography, but if you find any additional photos (of your pet) that I’ve taken and posted online, I don’t mind at all if you screenshot and save the photos for your own personal use. :)
Location
Victoria, BC
Holly J.
Victoria, BC