** I am still offering pet care during COVID-19. Feel free to contact me so we can discuss sanitation precautions and how to keep everyone safe and healthy during this time. As of 4/5, I have been fully vaccinated. Dog Walks: I am currently accepting 5x weekly recurring weekday dog walks. If you are interested in scheduling walks, please let me know what time frame works best for my arrival and any information I should know about your pets (dog reactivity, allergies, bite history, etc). I always ask for a meet and greet with everyone beforehand. Long-term, I only accept 5x recurring weekday walks. Short-term, I can sometimes accommodate as-needed walks in my schedule, but 5x recurring weekday scheduling is required to reserve and guarantee your spot. I am usually not able to reserve a specific time slot for dogs who are not on a strict puppy potty break schedule or do not have medication needs. My Background: I used to live on a hobby homestead, and my job was round-the-clock care of horses, cats, dogs, goats, chickens, ducks, and ferrets. I’ve rescued and boarded several dogs, cats, and horses. I have also had my own pet-sitting business since 2010, and my families choose me for my dependability, attention to detail, accessibility, flexibility, and, most importantly, my love of animals! I have saddled up a 2000lb draft horse and cuddled a skittish 5lb chihuahua, and I can confidently handle your dogs of all sizes, breeds, ages, and health conditions. I have experience with animals who have been at the very beginning of their life through those who have been near the end of life due to age or illness, and I have worked with pets who were abused and might, understandably, have some trouble warming up to new people. My goal with every pet is to help them feel safe and nurtured and to keep their routine as consistent as possible while their family is away from home. I also appreciate and welcome families of all genders, sexual orientations, races, religions, and other backgrounds. I’ve done long-term overnight sitting for farms (1000+ animals) and also sit for professional dog breeders (9+ adult flat-coated retrievers in the home at once), so please feel free to reach out if you have the equivalent of a small zoo. I grew up in Alexandria, VA and went to school at James Madison University for English + Media Arts and Design. I am currently earning my professional dog trainer and dog first-aid/CPR certification and am operating my pet care business full-time. In my free time, I can usually be found gardening, biking, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, riding horses, playing my electric guitar, playing games with friends, brewing kombucha, candlemaking, or crocheting. My Policies: I have no problem administering injections or medications, handling incontinence, or lifting animals less than 120lbs. If your pets are special needs and require extra TLC or have behavior issues, I may ask to discuss a higher overnight fee (usually an extra $5-10/day) or higher visit fee (+$2-5/visit) to compensate for extra work. I want to reach a price that feels fair to all, and I don’t believe in taking advantage of people just because their pets are special needs. In return, you’ll get a sitter who will stick to your routine, will be accessible, and will go over any written directions you leave with both a pen and a highlighter. I do not charge for the first meet and greet or key pickup/dropoff, but I do charge for additional meetings together and trips that I’m asked to make to your home, no matter the distance from our homes. I often overnight sit in VA, MD, or DC, so a short distance between our homes listed here on Rover is not indicative of the distance I may actually need to travel to you. Overnight bookings include one 30-minute walk each date of the booking. Additional walks during non-peak hours (10:30am-3:30pm) are available starting at $20/walk for one dog. I work full-time as a dog walker during the day, so it is important that your pets are able to comfortably be alone for around 6 hours at a time if we book together. Thank you, and I'm looking forward to earning your trust with my gentle and reliable pet care!