Kimberley K.
Austin, TX
Love, consistency, safety
Pet care experience
When I was in 6th grade, I started a dog walking business, and I've been hooked on pet care ever since. My approach is always love first, meet their needs, and reinforce positive behaviors. My dog experience spans a number of areas, including volunteering with myriad shelters (most recently I've been a foster care provider for Austin Animal Center for 7+ years, fostering underage puppies, mamas and their babies, and high-need dogs who are desperate for a shelter break); training my own dogs for obedience/companion dog and agility; behavior mod work with rescues; and walking, feeding, and fostering the pets of terminally ill patients so that they could keep their beloved support for as long as possible. I've also been a loving kitty mom all my life, and I've been fostering for Austin Animal Center for about 7 years. I mostly take care of underage kittens, mamas and their litters, and occasionally a "desperate housecat" who just needs a break from the stresses of shelter life. I've done a lot of reading on behavior, communication, and psychology of cats, and I certainly have had a lot of varied opportunities to learn from the myriad fosters we've had. The one thing they all need is love and patience!
Reviews
Kimberley was great! I joked that it was like my dog had gone to the doggy spa for all the care and attention she got at her house. We would definitely book with Kimberley again
My kitty is always happy to stay with Kimberley and I get lots of photos of their cuddle and playtime. I would definitely recommend!
Kimberley was a savior for me on the last minute booking. My Gus loved her and her Donut and I’m pretty sure he didn’t want to come home after his two nights there. Her communication along with pics were incredible! I had some separation anxiety and she absolutely erased it. I will be forever indebted!
Always attentive and caring to our senior dog. Kimberly has been a great help to us when we have to leave town.
About Kimberley K.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
With all my years of foster care, I've learned a lot of tricks for introducing animals to a new environment and to new friends. It's always safety first, keep it slow and steady, read the cues, don't pressure anyone. I have dedicated rooms for fur-babies to hang out in while they adjust to the smells and sounds of my home in a safe, non-threatening way. My pets are accustomed to the comings and goings of new animals, and are happy to hang out or ignore your pets, as social cues dictate. ;) Once my guests are feeling more confident, I adjust our interactions and the level of oversight based on your wishes and guidance, and my experience. I am happy to follow your house rules around furniture, beds, leash work, command cues, feeding habits, etc. My pet guests are always kept completely separate from one another for feeding, as well as any time I am not actively supervising. I never leave pets alone with other pets they do not live with regularly. For exercise, I take several walks a day and I have a separate, enclosed dog run outside. I never leave dogs unattended in the run. Because every pet is different, every visit is different; I appreciate that at this stage in my life, I have the experience and flexibility to ensure that your family member gets the attention they crave and the safe environment they need. I also have a large crate for transport or separating animals in case of emergency.
Home
Information Kimberley K. would like to know about your pet
You know your baby best, so please share whatever you feel is important -- nothing is too nit-picky! In particular, I do ask that you make sure I know what can be scary for your pup, and what is particularly happy or comforting for them. Let me know if your dog has any special needs or behaviors to consider. I accept all breeds but require a meet-n-greet if they are staying in my home. I try to avoid bookings longer than a week with new clients. If your companion and I have a history, I will certainly consider longer stays. PLEASE NOTE THAT I CAN ONLY TAKE LARGE DOGS WHO ARE CRATE-TRAINED -- I HAVE TO SEPARATE DOGS DURING FEEDINGS, AND I'VE HAD TOO MUCH DAMAGE DONE TO MY DOORS BY DOGS WHO EAT FAST AND THEN WANT OUT. For boarding, I've found that providing a packing list can be helpful: - food - food bowl (I have water bowls everywhere) - favorite treats or toys (note that I will only give access to toys or bones when dogs are separated; we don't want anyone to feel possessive or defensive about their favorite things and have a conflict with another pet!) - collar with rabies tag (and an ID tag if possible) - leash (please provide a single-length leash if I am going to be walking your dog, as the extendable leashes can snap) - bedding (if they have their own bed that they like) - a crate (if your dog is not happily crate-trained, please make sure I know that so that we can be clear on my capacity and your expectations) - meds if they need them
A typical day
I live in a quiet neighborhood and my house backs up to the greenbelt, so I start most mornings with a long walk in the woods and/or around the neighborhood with my doggy friends. If your pup enjoys a good run, well, so do I! During the day, I'm usually surrounded by snoozing four-legged companions while I work, and we go out for frequent breaks/walks/play sessions throughout the day. I have a shady dog run for getting out zoomies, playing fetch, and being able to hang out in the fresh air. I never leave dogs unattended in the run. In the evenings I'm usually curled up on the couch snuggling with my guests and watching TV or reading, and then we go out for another walk to clear our heads and get ready for a good night's sleep!
Services
Kimberley can host
Kimberley can watch in your home
Availability
With me, maintaining your pet's regular schedule is a priority. I believe that animals thrive on consistency and knowing what to expect, and that's what I provide! I'm a writer by profession and I work from home, so my schedule is flexible and completely my own. I have three teenage sons who also love animals and are pet-savvy, and my house is often full of activity. I enjoy long walks, cuddles on the couch, and lots of playtime. I also like to go for runs in the early morning, and I like to sit in my enclosed dog run sipping coffee and organizing my thoughts while a visiting friend gets their zoomies out. At this time, I can only board up to 2-3 dogs at once, depending on their needs. My hours for drop-off & pick-up are between 8:00am-10:00pm. Please consider dropping your pet off the night before and/or picking them up the morning after if travel times conflict. I also offer round trip pick-up & drop-off for $15-$50, depending on the distance.
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About Kimberley K.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
With all my years of foster care, I've learned a lot of tricks for introducing animals to a new environment and to new friends. It's always safety first, keep it slow and steady, read the cues, don't pressure anyone. I have dedicated rooms for fur-babies to hang out in while they adjust to the smells and sounds of my home in a safe, non-threatening way. My pets are accustomed to the comings and goings of new animals, and are happy to hang out or ignore your pets, as social cues dictate. ;) Once my guests are feeling more confident, I adjust our interactions and the level of oversight based on your wishes and guidance, and my experience. I am happy to follow your house rules around furniture, beds, leash work, command cues, feeding habits, etc. My pet guests are always kept completely separate from one another for feeding, as well as any time I am not actively supervising. I never leave pets alone with other pets they do not live with regularly. For exercise, I take several walks a day and I have a separate, enclosed dog run outside. I never leave dogs unattended in the run. Because every pet is different, every visit is different; I appreciate that at this stage in my life, I have the experience and flexibility to ensure that your family member gets the attention they crave and the safe environment they need. I also have a large crate for transport or separating animals in case of emergency.
Home
Information Kimberley K. would like to know about your pet
You know your baby best, so please share whatever you feel is important -- nothing is too nit-picky! In particular, I do ask that you make sure I know what can be scary for your pup, and what is particularly happy or comforting for them. Let me know if your dog has any special needs or behaviors to consider. I accept all breeds but require a meet-n-greet if they are staying in my home. I try to avoid bookings longer than a week with new clients. If your companion and I have a history, I will certainly consider longer stays. PLEASE NOTE THAT I CAN ONLY TAKE LARGE DOGS WHO ARE CRATE-TRAINED -- I HAVE TO SEPARATE DOGS DURING FEEDINGS, AND I'VE HAD TOO MUCH DAMAGE DONE TO MY DOORS BY DOGS WHO EAT FAST AND THEN WANT OUT. For boarding, I've found that providing a packing list can be helpful: - food - food bowl (I have water bowls everywhere) - favorite treats or toys (note that I will only give access to toys or bones when dogs are separated; we don't want anyone to feel possessive or defensive about their favorite things and have a conflict with another pet!) - collar with rabies tag (and an ID tag if possible) - leash (please provide a single-length leash if I am going to be walking your dog, as the extendable leashes can snap) - bedding (if they have their own bed that they like) - a crate (if your dog is not happily crate-trained, please make sure I know that so that we can be clear on my capacity and your expectations) - meds if they need them
A typical day
I live in a quiet neighborhood and my house backs up to the greenbelt, so I start most mornings with a long walk in the woods and/or around the neighborhood with my doggy friends. If your pup enjoys a good run, well, so do I! During the day, I'm usually surrounded by snoozing four-legged companions while I work, and we go out for frequent breaks/walks/play sessions throughout the day. I have a shady dog run for getting out zoomies, playing fetch, and being able to hang out in the fresh air. I never leave dogs unattended in the run. In the evenings I'm usually curled up on the couch snuggling with my guests and watching TV or reading, and then we go out for another walk to clear our heads and get ready for a good night's sleep!
Location
Austin, TX
Pets
Kimberley K.
Austin, TX