I worked as an animal welfare professional for over 4 years at Great Plains SPCA, a renowned animal shelter in Merriam, Kan. I left a desk job to first work as an Animal Care Technician at Great Plains taking care of the 50+ dogs at the facility. This was probably my favorite job ever but I decided to start moving up in the company for better pay and to make a bigger impact at the organization. I then became the Animal Care Manager where I oversaw a team of about 15 animal care technicians. My team and I were solely responsible for top to bottom care for the 100+ cats and dogs (and the occasional rabbit or lizard) at the facility. The last two years I was at the shelter I worked as the Volunteer and Foster Manager. Part of this job required specializing in helping pets adjust to new environments, including all the humans and other pets in the home, which is key when having new pets board in my home. I am well-versed in working with pets of all kinds: timid or energetic, humongous or tiny, old or young, scared and defensive or excited and loving - due to my animal shelter experience, it is not an exaggeration to say I've dealt with almost all types of dogs and cats. I feel so lucky to have been able to turn my passion for animals into a profession for a few years. Before working at the shelter, I thought I knew a lot about pets but, oh boy, was I wrong! While there I gained valuable knowledge in caretaking for pets, including how to administer many different types of medications to often non-compliant dogs and cats! I also got to work alongside experienced trainers and helped rehabilitate pets with severe behavior challenges. It was rewarding work but also very demanding. Since leaving the shelter in May 2021, I have enjoyed spending more time at home with my partner David and our deaf dog Nova. I now coach gymnastics part time a few evenings per week but am home most of the time other than that. If your pet (or pets) stays with us, they will be receiving exceptional care from a true animal welfare professional, as well as from my partner David who can be the most gentle human on the planet, but then two seconds later be the best rough-housing buddy ever. Our dog Nova is deaf but has amazing doggie social skills. If your dog wants to play, then she's all in! If they are timid and want to be left alone, she can do that, too. Due to numerous Rover clients and fostering many homeless cats and dogs while working at the shelter, Nova is very accustomed to sharing her home with new friends of all shapes and sizes. If needed, we also have enough space in our home to keep pets separate if any issues arise. We do sometimes have multiple clients in our home at one time. Since leaving the shelter I've decided to finally attempt to pursue a career as a writer. So this means I am home a lot and so is my partner David - a plus for those with some separation anxiety! I also live with my brother but he keeps to himself and will not be caretaking for any of our clients. We send daily updates and photos and treat your pet(s) as our own. If you have questions about our availability, experience or skills, please don't hesitate to contact me. Even if we are not the right fit for you and your pet, I may be able to recommend someone who is. I hope to hear from you soon! *We live conveniently off of I-635 near where it connects to I-35, just over the border from Johnson County. *LGBTQIA friendly *All breeds of humans and pets welcome