Having grown up around dogs — family, friends, neighbors — I have developed a deep love and appreciation for them. I have experience with dogs of all kinds, from Australian shepherds, to golden retrievers, to Shih Tzus, and all sorts of mixed breeds. I know caring for a dog isn't always as fun and glamorous as going on great walks or runs; I've done the poop-scooping, the hair-brushing, the baths that seem torturous to some. Because my priority is the health and well-being of the dog, I don't mind doing the nitty-gritty tasks involved with caring for a dog. My love and appreciation for dogs really comes out when I'm away from home at college in Boston, where I don't have my dog or my friend's dogs around to care for. Because of this, I'm eager to have the opportunity to be around dogs while I'm away from home — be it dog walking, house visits, or dog sitting. As a college student, I have the flexibility on weekdays to be available, normally before 1pm and after 4pm. On weekends I'm also very available. I miss being around dogs so much while I'm at school, that I would take any chance to care for them in any way! From May to September I am in the Bay Area, and I'm at school in Boston from September to mid-December, then home until mid-January, then back to school until May.