I’m new to Rover, but definitely not new to animals. I grew up in the South with some kind of animal always nearby, and over the years that has included dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, fish, rescues and fosters. I’ve always been the person friends and family felt comfortable leaving their animals with. I have two rescue cats and a German Shepherd mix named Rocky. Rocky came to me severely underweight with some pretty complicated behavioral needs, so he’s taught me a lot about reactivity, body language, triggers, patience and meeting an animal where they actually are. That’s probably the easiest way to describe how I care for pets. I pay attention. I want to know when they eat, where they sleep, what makes them nervous, what gets them excited and whatever strange little household rule they’ve decided everyone must obey. I’m not coming in to reinvent their life while you’re gone. I want their day to still feel like their day. On walks, that means I’m paying attention to the dog in front of me rather than trying to hit some arbitrary mileage goal. Some dogs want to MOVE. Others apparently need a full forensic investigation of one shrub. Both are fine with me. For drop-ins, I’m happy to handle meals, water, potty breaks, play, medications we’ve discussed and the normal little things that keep their routine intact. With cats, I’m perfectly content letting them decide whether I’ve been invited into their social calendar. I also keep an eye on the things I’d want someone noticing with my own animals: appetite, energy, bathroom habits, behavior and anything that seems different from normal. You’ll get an actual update from me, not just “Simon ate 👍.” I’m also a professional portrait photographer here in Charlotte, so you can expect plenty of good pictures. Fair warning: your dog may end up with a better headshot than you have. More than anything, I want you to be able to leave without wondering whether somebody is actually paying attention. I take being trusted with someone’s animal and home seriously. The rest of it can feel easy. Pet PARENTS! A quick note about pets in my home: I have two cats and a dog of my own, but visiting pets are kept completely separate from them. My cats have their own section of the house, and Rocky is kept separately as well. Your pet will never interact with any of my animals unless we’ve discussed it beforehand, arranged a proper introduction, and specifically agreed that it makes sense. There are no surprise meet-and-greets or shared spaces.