Animals are people, and I love getting to know them. Growing up, we always had pets around - a long series of independent-minded rescue cats, a highly active golden retriever / cattle dog, a cuddly guinea pig, a clever and rather stubborn mini dachshund (she was a riot!), and now I have a great friendship with my mom's elderly Shih Tsu mutt, who I lent my favorite flannel while she was going through a sick spell (see pic). I am a brisk and frequent walker, so I can handle some fairly energetic dogs as long as they respond well to commands and don't go nuts over random critters. Intelligent dogs are my absolute joy - our dachshund was very intuitive and we had some pretty fun conversations. Elderly and "bookish" dogs also warm my heart! As an oldest child and a driven person in general, I have an ingrained high sense of responsibility. I feel most fulfilled when I'm connecting with the world around me. I also love a good excuse to get out of my apartment, and I miss having pets of my own! Note that I'm hoping to build up repeat business, as I believe the quality of the relationship and consistent good care is what you're ultimately paying for.