I've been an animal lover, (dogs especially), since as long as I can remember. There have been many times my mother has come home from work, to find me harboring and caring for a stray cat or dog. My family had two cats and we currently have two dogs. I grew up with the cats and when I turned 10, my family adopted our first dog. One of my dogs has hyper-anxiety and the other has aggressive tendencies. I believe in connecting to each dog individually. Being able to understand a dog is important to be able to take care of one, and every dog is different. Animals with behavioral issues act out because of fear and all they need is someone with patience, that's just as stubborn. I find it hard to see this as "work", because taking care of them is therapy for us both. For us, they're the best part of coming home, and to them we're their whole world. They'll always depend on us, not just to survive, but to live their best life. Being able to give them just a little bit of wiggly happiness every time you feed them or praise them, is just a small thanks for all the comfort they provide us. My hope is for every pet owner to be worry free about the care of their animals while they're away. I treat every dog like they're my own! I am willing to travel to Des Moines/West Des Moines and I would love to meet beforehand to make sure everyone feels comfortable in the future!