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KayMaria D.

Nob Hill, CA

5.0 out of 5 stars
•28 reviews
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Compassionate Care

Pet care experience

When I was eleven years old, neighbors were already trusting me to care for their dogs, cats, and fish in their homes while they were away. I have been joyfully caring for dogs, cats, lizards, geckos, bearded dragons, hamsters, pet rats, fish of multiple varieties, rabbits, tortoises, and African grey parrots all over the world ever since. I have cared for animals throughout California, as well as in England, Greece, Italy, New York, North Carolina, and Peru. I am just as adept at providing excellent care for puppies and kittens as for elderly dogs and cats who may require insulin injections or other medical attention. Likewise, I am equally comfortable with 4-pound dogs, 120-pound dogs, and every size in between. I always prioritize the safety and wellbeing of the animals in my care, even when it is neither convenient nor easy for me to do so. When I care for an animal in their home, I follow all instructions their human family members give me to ensure the animal family member's best possible staycation. I work remotely, part-time, and according to my own schedule, so I am able to provide more time and attention to most of the animals for whom I care than their own human family members are typically able to offer. I do travel often, however, so I cannot be any animal's daily or weekly caregiver over an extended period of time. Each assignment is booked on a case-by-case basis for a specific date/date range. For instance, I cannot commit to be someone's walker or caregiver every Monday for six consecutive months. Unless you book me to engage with more than one animal family member at the same time, your animal family member will get one-on-one time with me for the duration of the sit and/or walk and/or drop-in visit. I give focused attention to each animal for whom I care. For the past twenty-three years, my family has included large dogs who are triggered by other dogs, mail carriers, skateboards, scooters, and more. If they see cats, squirrels, skunks, opossums, or any other small four-legged creatures they will throw all their weight into chasing and hunting those innocent little creatures. I am accustomed to being perpetually alert while walking dogs and proactively prevent chase-and-hunt types of situations. I am fastidious and if I dogsit or catsit for you in your home I will do my very best to leave your home as clean and tidy as I found it. When I care for your animal family member(s), I prioritize their needs first and then build the rest of my daily or weekly schedule around them. When I care for your animal family member(s) in your home, I stick to the routines you lay out for me to follow, only adding to them with your explicit permission. For instance, maybe you would like to take your dog for trail hikes or to the beach but your current work schedule does not allow for that and you would be happy for me to take your dog on such adventures. Or perhaps you like for your cat to sleep on the bed but your partner doesn't go for that, so you are happy for me to let your cat sleep on the bed while you and your partner are away. Maybe your hamster, pet rat, or rabbit loves to explore the kitchen but rarely gets the chance because of your dog, so while you are on a road trip with your dog you are happy for me to let your hamster, pet rat, or rabbit explore the kitchen to their heart's content (supervised by me at all times, of course). As a single, middle-aged woman who has lived in the heart of cities such as San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Savannah, and Athens (Greece, not Georgia) and who has done extensive international travel alone, my default state of being is one of alertness. Add to that my protective nature when someone's wellbeing and safety are my responsibility and suddenly I become hyper-alert when caring for an animal family member. You can count on me to remain aware of your animal family member's wellbeing and safety at all times while they are in my care.

Reviews

Anne F.
Drop-In Visits • Jan 06, 2023
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KayMaria is the BEST Rover I think anyone could ever have. She develops a great bond with your pet! My fiancé and I joke that our cat is probably upset when we come home from trips because he doesn’t get to see her daily. Would recommend KayMaria to anyone looking for someone to not only take care of their pet while they’re away, but to ensure they feel loved, happy and fulfilled the entire time!

Marianne M.
House Sitting • Jan 06, 2023
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Kay Maria brings the highest attention to detail of how you want your dog treated (and in my case how to handle medical needs). She brings the highest excellence because she operates from love.

Nancy W.
House Sitting • Dec 29, 2022
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Fabulous experience. Can only hope to have KayMaria on our next trip to SF.

Marianne M.
Dog Walking • Dec 22, 2022
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Just the most loving & conscientious person!

About KayMaria D.

Communication

5 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in under an hour
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

25 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

I give animals my undivided attention when I am walking them or visiting them. This means that I will never be among the Rovers who respond to message in a few minutes, but I am perfectly fine with that because my primary concern is the wellbeing of the animals in my care.

Home

Lives in an apartment
Does not have a yard
Non-smoking household
Has no pets
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Information KayMaria D. would like to know about your pet

You know your dog best. Tell me what their triggers are, what makes them feel calm and at ease, where they like to go, what excites them, how/if they like to play, whether they should stay on leash at all times or can go on adventures off leash -- everything that will support your dog having a doggy wellness-spa-retreat-like staycation. I'll take it from there. You know your cat best. Tell me what makes them feel calm and at ease, what they like to do for fun, when they tend to have the most energy and when they tend to like to be left alone, whether they are denied access to any areas of your home, and everything else that will support your cat having a kitty wellness-spa-retreat-like staycation. I've got it covered it from there.

A typical day

I have a hammock over the back seat of my car for dogs' safety and comfort. Depending on what you tell me is permissible with your dog while I dogsit, I may walk your dog on frequent, on-leash, neighborhood walks or I may take them on outings to Ocean Beach, Marin Headland trails, the Embarcadero, and other fun places for on- and off-leash adventures. After a full day of outdoor exploration and naps, I will cuddle with your dog wherever they are allowed in your home and watch a movie or read a book. If your dog is allowed on the furniture and the bed, great; if your dog is not permitted on your furniture, I will cuddle with them on the floor. Take a look at my photo gallery for examples of outdoor adventures, naps, and cuddle sessions I've had the opportunity to share with dozens of canine friends these past few years. Cats who like to play will find an avid playmate in me. One human for whose cat family members I sat told me after watching a video I sent him, "I couldn't tell who was having more fun -- you or the cats!" I love to play games with cats and engage them in playing with their toys. I will also cuddle with them as much as they like, let them sleep on the bed with me if you permit that, and keep my lap available for them at all times, even while I am working on my laptop. Check out my photo gallery for examples of play time and cuddle sessions I've had the opportunity to share with dozens of feline friends these past few years.

Services

Boarding
in the sitter's home
AWAY
House Sitting
in your home
AWAY
Drop-In Visits
visits in your home
AWAY
Doggy Day Care
in the sitter's home
AWAY
Dog Walking
in your neighborhood
AWAY

KayMaria can host

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs
Takes only 1 client at a time

KayMaria can watch in your home

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs

Availability

I work remotely (and have done since 2016) and part-time, so I am able to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the animals in my care.

About KayMaria D.

Communication

5 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in under an hour
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

25 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

I give animals my undivided attention when I am walking them or visiting them. This means that I will never be among the Rovers who respond to message in a few minutes, but I am perfectly fine with that because my primary concern is the wellbeing of the animals in my care.

Home

Lives in an apartment
Does not have a yard
Non-smoking household
Has no pets
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Information KayMaria D. would like to know about your pet

You know your dog best. Tell me what their triggers are, what makes them feel calm and at ease, where they like to go, what excites them, how/if they like to play, whether they should stay on leash at all times or can go on adventures off leash -- everything that will support your dog having a doggy wellness-spa-retreat-like staycation. I'll take it from there. You know your cat best. Tell me what makes them feel calm and at ease, what they like to do for fun, when they tend to have the most energy and when they tend to like to be left alone, whether they are denied access to any areas of your home, and everything else that will support your cat having a kitty wellness-spa-retreat-like staycation. I've got it covered it from there.

A typical day

I have a hammock over the back seat of my car for dogs' safety and comfort. Depending on what you tell me is permissible with your dog while I dogsit, I may walk your dog on frequent, on-leash, neighborhood walks or I may take them on outings to Ocean Beach, Marin Headland trails, the Embarcadero, and other fun places for on- and off-leash adventures. After a full day of outdoor exploration and naps, I will cuddle with your dog wherever they are allowed in your home and watch a movie or read a book. If your dog is allowed on the furniture and the bed, great; if your dog is not permitted on your furniture, I will cuddle with them on the floor. Take a look at my photo gallery for examples of outdoor adventures, naps, and cuddle sessions I've had the opportunity to share with dozens of canine friends these past few years. Cats who like to play will find an avid playmate in me. One human for whose cat family members I sat told me after watching a video I sent him, "I couldn't tell who was having more fun -- you or the cats!" I love to play games with cats and engage them in playing with their toys. I will also cuddle with them as much as they like, let them sleep on the bed with me if you permit that, and keep my lap available for them at all times, even while I am working on my laptop. Check out my photo gallery for examples of play time and cuddle sessions I've had the opportunity to share with dozens of feline friends these past few years.

Location

San Francisco, CA

KayMaria D.'s Neighborhood
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KayMaria D.

Nob Hill, CA

5.0 out of 5 stars
•28 reviews