My first job growing up was a chicken - sitter in the dead cold of a North American winter. Every few hours I would trudge out in my snow boots to break up the ice in the water dish and chat with the hens. They were talkative but prone to pecking. Since then my mother and I have two rescue chickens - Peeper and Penelope - and five cats between the two of us. Yes, it is a lot of cats, but they are well-loved and well-fed and spend their free time lounging in our farmhouse back in the US. But, here in Germany, I must admit I miss my feather and furry friends. I have pet-sat for several elderly neighbors over the years, many of whom have passed on (or moved to Florida), and I frankly don't want to burden them with an email for a testamony. There have been many stubborn cases, but they tend to warm to me. Even the appropriately named hen, "Bitch" and tomcat turned lapcat, Simon. My cat growing up was blind and became deaf later in life. I also rescued feral kittens, bottle feeding them every few hours and treating them for fleas, earmites, and diarrhea - so I've definitely seen some 💩 and know how to handle it. Admittedly, I am here for selfish reasons. I miss spending time with animal companions like I do back home, and I want to help out my neighbors feel that their pets are taken care of here in Cologne as the summer holidays approach. While I do prefer working with cats and chickens, I am certainly open to caring for dogs - I just have a lot less experience with them!