Joanne W.
Raleigh, NC
Delighted to meet your furbaby!
Pet care experience
Ever since I was a child, my parents had a variety of pets in all shapes, sizes, and breeds. I don't remember a time when there wasn't a cat or dog in the picture. As I grew up, I realized how over the moon I am being surrounded by furry friends. As my Mom would say, I am simply a true animal lover. When caring for other animals, I make sure to treat them with the same respect, care, kindness, and devotion as I would my own dogs, Sox and Lucy. Each animal's personality, habits, and story is incredibly different; thus, needs to be treated with great care, compassion, and affection. As I own my own business, my schedule is incredibly flexible to manage drop-ins and dog walking for your pet. I am very active, so dogs of all energy levels can definitely be accommodated! My work with animals goes further through the time I spend at the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh as a Fido Fitness volunteer. I get to walk, interact, and play with the adoptable dogs at the shelter who are looking for their forever homes. I also help to market the animals through my photography work at my side business, Five Freedoms Photography. In the past three years of volunteering, I have walked, worked with, cuddled, and spent time around hundreds of dogs of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. I have also been privy to spending many weekend mornings at playgroups where groups of up to 10 dogs gain enrichment at the shelter. This is to further my study and understanding of dog body language and behavior. Last year, I gained my certification through Wake Technical Community College as a dog trainer to better appreciate and gain insight into how dogs communicate and interact. This knowledge has been incredibly helpful for me to understand how to work with, train, and avoid enabling negative habits while positively reinforcing good ones. Lastly, I am PetSaver trained and current as well as fully insured and bonded. If you have any other questions about my experience or qualifications to walk your pup, feel free to reach out! I look forward to hearing from you!
Reviews
Joanne has such a huge heart for animals, she never misses an opportunity to say hello to a furry friend. If it was up to her she would take all of them home with her. She takes care of our dog like he is our son. You can trust that if she is looking after your pet that they are being treated like one of the family!
About Joanne W.
Skills
Information Joanne W. would like to know about your pet
Ideally, I'd love to know if the dog or cat has any separation anxiety issues. I'd also love to be informed of any questionable behaviors (i.e. getting into the trash, drinking out of the toilet, etc), so I can ensure none of that occurs on my watch! Most importantly, I just want to have a really solid idea of their daily routine. Dogs are creatures of habit, and while you are away, it's important to maintain their patterns to reduce stress, anxiety, and negative behaviors.
A typical day
I'll cater activities to the energy level and preferences of your furchild. I, in particular with my own pup, vary activities from day to day to encourage mental stimulation, enough exercise, and overall anxiety or stress relief (dogs need it, too!). These activities include: walking, running, hiking, wrestling with the pup (i.e. with their own toy ropes, tug toys, etc), hanging out in the sunshine, laying on the couch, walking around the yard, throwing a Frisbee or Chuck It! ball, going to the dog park (if allowed!), taking them to the lake or nearby water to swim (again, if allowed!), spending time with other fur friends, or simply resting.
Services
Joanne can watch in your home
About Joanne W.
Skills
Information Joanne W. would like to know about your pet
Ideally, I'd love to know if the dog or cat has any separation anxiety issues. I'd also love to be informed of any questionable behaviors (i.e. getting into the trash, drinking out of the toilet, etc), so I can ensure none of that occurs on my watch! Most importantly, I just want to have a really solid idea of their daily routine. Dogs are creatures of habit, and while you are away, it's important to maintain their patterns to reduce stress, anxiety, and negative behaviors.
A typical day
I'll cater activities to the energy level and preferences of your furchild. I, in particular with my own pup, vary activities from day to day to encourage mental stimulation, enough exercise, and overall anxiety or stress relief (dogs need it, too!). These activities include: walking, running, hiking, wrestling with the pup (i.e. with their own toy ropes, tug toys, etc), hanging out in the sunshine, laying on the couch, walking around the yard, throwing a Frisbee or Chuck It! ball, going to the dog park (if allowed!), taking them to the lake or nearby water to swim (again, if allowed!), spending time with other fur friends, or simply resting.
Location
Raleigh, NC
Pets
Joanne W.
Raleigh, NC