Keith V.
Keith V.
Contact for Drop-In Visits
from $25 per visit
Highlights
Pet care experience
Dog walker and carnivore expert
I've been obsessed with animals since I was a kid. I especially love dogs, and I am fascinated by their complex social lives. I've worked with animals during every stage of my life. In college, I watched after a farm and worked at a kennel. In grad school, I looked after dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks. Since then, I've published a thesis project on conflicts between urban coyotes and domestic dogs. I worked for two years at a wolf sanctuary, and I'm currently looking for additional work to supplement my other forms of income. I understand dogs and cats from both evolutionary and behavioral perspectives. By now, research is unanimous that punishment creates anxiety and tense relationships between people and dogs. Positive reinforcement is effective and much more enjoyable for both dog and owner, so this is how I approach pet care. I love taking dogs on lengthy walks, and I'm happy to feed, walk, and house sit animals!
Qualifications
Pets
Safety, trust & environment
When bringing a new animal to my home, I always introduce them to my dog, Mina, carefully. This means that I start with two people holding both animals on leashes. If the animals show no signs of aggression, I transition to a watch period. If this works, then I relax the rules a little. When I go to someone's house, I feel out the environment and take necessary precautions to keep all pets safe. I never assume that two strange animals will get along. My experience in the wildlife sanctuary world tells me that this can be very dangerous. Still, I am happy to carefully introduce my dog to yours if you think it might be a good fit. Playing animals burn far more energy than walking ones.
Ratings and reviews
Keith was on time and professional in general. He was great with my dog too and there were no issues with anything whatsoever
Keith was great with my dog and very accommodating despite the short notice.
Keith was great! He showed up on time and clearly is good with animals. My dog loved him. Would highly recommend.
Keith really cares about dogs and wildlife in general. He even volunteers at a wolf dog rescue! I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my fur baby :)
I have known Keith for 9 years, and for 5 of them I have had my dog, Snacks. He has been eager and willing to petsit for Snacks when I am out of town, and is a natural companion to a dog. He makes it a priority to not only take good care of my dog, but also to ensure that he gets a significant amount of activity, which is what he needs as a terrier breed. I always receive detailed updates and photos while I am away. Keith always insists that I bring Snacks on hikes or walks to get coffee, which further demonstrates his genuine love for dogs. Finally, he understands his unique characteristics and triggers (e.g. hates long-haired dogs and skateboards), which makes me at ease that he can handle some of the challenging situations he may encounter with my pup.
Keith is a very responsible person. He will show up on time and is highly motivated. As an animal lover, I feel very confident in his ability to provide the best care for my pets.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I'm currently a professional writer. This is flexible work, so I can take on three to four walks a day. I am unavailable most weekends.