Laura D.
Sooke, BC
Friendly care in my home or yours.
Pet care experience
Mature, caring, and flexible. I'm here to help you and your pet when you can't be there. If your pet needs a little company or a little more exercise, then I can help out and give you some piece of mind. I have experience with small, medium and large dogs as well as taking care of cats, fish and caged animals (rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters). My experience includes having had my own puppies and dogs, cats and kittens, and fish in the past as well as looking after other people's pets as a boarding or foster animals and pet daycare in my home. My pet care experience also includes walking services and drop-in visits for pets of all ages in their own homes. Please be assured that your pet(s) will be looked after with love and care as well as a sense of responsibility. I will carefully follow any extra instructions (medication, food allergies etc.) too. I Look forward to meeting you and your pet(s)! Additional: Please let me know if there are any issues with your pet around other people, dogs or any other animals in the home or on-leash walks. Most times I have only one unrelated dog in the home but occasionally there is an overlap of clients and I often have a walking client during a daycare or boarding stay. It is crucial that I know if your pet might have some fear/reactivity to anything in order to help prevent conflict and possible injury. There is space on your pet's Rover profile description to include instructions and comments. Filling out your pet's profile with as much detail as possible ensures that important information is not lost or forgotten making for a safer and more pleasant stay.
Reviews
Laura is great with Roscoe!
Laura needs to get her doorbell fixed
Mickey came home exhausted as usual. That’s always a good sign of a happy dog!
Laura was fabulous! Our kitties were very well cared for and we received lots of pics and daily updates on them. Thank you Laura, we’ll definitely be in touch for our next trip ???
About Laura D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I am fully aware that for most people, the family pet(s) are just that, part of the family and therefore I do my best to treat your family pet with great care and consideration, as I would hope my family pet would be treated. Please let me know if you have any concerns and I will do my very best to listen and make changes if needed. For walking and drop-in clients: I have varied availability from late morning to early evening on weekdays and weekends. Please include in your instruction's information such as: which door I am to enter; where I may find the leash, harness and poop bags for walks; where I may find the food and how much to feed; which door from which to access the yard for potty breaks during drop-ins. Also, please let me know where to dispose of used poop bags. For daycare and boarding clients: I have a fenced back yard for 'potty breaks' and playing ball plus offer neighbourhood walks as well as quiet down time inside the house with me. Most of the time your pet is with me, and I'll bring them with me on short errands, such as to drive family members to an appointment or pick something up from a store that allows pets to come inside. Very rarely, I may have to go to an appointment myself or pick up groceries, should this be the case I would ensure safety by crating your pet (let me know if your pet is not crate trained) or leaving with a trusted friend or family member to supervise and would only be gone for a short time. ***ID tags and proof of spay or neuter are required by the Frances Gardens Housing Co-op rules, please be sure to bring your pet's tags and provide spay/neuter documentation upon or before check-in*** [puppies under 1 year (up to medium sized breeds) or under 2 years (large or giant breeds) & those with documented reasons exempted] Pick up or drop off service for your pet is available for boarding and daycare clients should your schedule require, fees depending upon distance and whether or not you would like pick-up, drop-off or both.
Home
Information Laura D. would like to know about your pet
Please fill out your pet's Rover profile and let me know a bit about your pet's personality, likes, dislikes. Do they like balls or sticks, toys? Does anything make them anxious? How do they like car rides? Crate trained? What are the words/gestures you use for basic commands? How are they on walks, around other animals, people including children, traffic? Are they reactive on leash, especially if they encounter small dogs, or big dogs, men in hats? Do they have to be encouraged to walk or do they pull on the leash? Instructions on how to put on/take off their harness? How long (time &/or distance) is their usual walk? Will they try to escape when I open the door? Are there any health/medical issues I should know about? Medication? Veterinary contact information? Vaccinations- which and up to date? Allergies? Acceptable treats? Food/treats to avoid? Anything else I should know about your pet? Emergency contact information? Including the above information on your Rover pet profile is extremely helpful. I may also provide an electronic or paper form for you to fill out. When bringing your pet for a boarding or daycare stay a blanket, toy or other familiar item from home can be helpful. In addition, something that smells of their human family like an old worn & unwashed t-shirt or sock can also help. Please include any food/meals required with instructions on amounts and timing for feeding. You may also include treats. I have treats as well so, again, please let me know of any allergies or if you prefer no treats be given. My treats may include carrot bits, dried yams or sweet potato, mini–Milk Bones, organic dog biscuits, etc. Occasionally, visiting dogs also snack on the kale or blackberries growing in my garden. *** Please be aware that I prefer to meet you and your pet before your first booking to ensure we are a good fit and to reduce stress for all parties. There is no charge for the meet and greet session. ***
A typical day
My day varies depending upon whether I have walk, drop-in, boarding or daycare clients, sometimes I'll have just one client, sometimes one of each. During a boarding or daycare stay we usually alternate between active and rest periods. Typically, there will be time to explore the backyard while I water and weed with breaks to throw a ball or stick if your dog is so inclined. There will also usually be a walk in the neighbourhood checking out the smells and a possibility of encountering neighbourhood dogs, cats, deer, squirrels, and birds (including chickens). Occasionally there may be an opportunity to substitute the neighbourhood walk with an outing to local trails, beaches, farms or to pick up another dog for a walk in another neighbourhood. During indoor times we will explore all over the house, play with balls and other toys, check out the activities outside through the large front window and from the balcony, get a few treats and have time to lounge, rest, nap as needed. On a day I have a walk booked I will go to the dog's home, greet them, get leash/harness on and get out on our neighbourhood walk right away so as to maximize our walk time. We will explore the neighbourhood on our walk with brief stops for checking out the smells along the way. I try to time the walk so that we return with about 5 minutes left for taking off the leash/harness, wiping feet and a last pat/belly rub and treat if allowed. Drop-in visits usually consist of greeting the pet, letting out for a potty break (if a dog), feeding, checking / topping up water, checking litter box(es) (if cats), and talking to / playtime / sitting with depending upon the pet.
Services
Laura can host
Laura can watch in your home
Availability
My schedule is varied so I can offer weekday and weekend time slots for walks, drop-in visits, daycare in my home as well as multi-day boarding. I am happy to accommodate regular weekly, occasional or one time daycare, walks & drop-in visits. My calendar availability is quite conservative so please contact me if your desired dates/times are not listed as available, often I can accommodate requests by, for example, closing an unused drop-in time slot and opening an additional walk time slot. Walks & Drop-in visits: Please be advised that service will be provided within a time window of approximately 45-60 minutes either side of your booked time, unless otherwise agreed. I aim to arrive as close as possible to the booked time but, as you are probably aware, animal care can sometimes be unpredictable plus there is the added variable of possible traffic issues. Please let me know if you have any issues with these possible variables, there may be room for adjustment. On walks there is a possibility that I may have a daycare or boarding client on the same day which would mean another dog joining our walk. Please let me know if this may be an issue for your dog. Doggy Daycare: Pets staying at my home during the day. Check-ins are 7-9:30am, and Check-outs are around 4-6pm. Some flexibility with times is possible upon request. If your start and end time requirements change, please let me know so I can be sure to be available and not out on a walk or running an errand. Your pet's stay will include indoor and outdoor time with me, neighbourhood walks and occasionally excursions to local businesses, trails or beaches. Boarding: Expected check-in times for a weekend stay are between 4 & 7:30 pm on the Friday, and Check-out times as arranged, usually 4-6 pm on the Sunday afternoon. Rover fees for one day boarding includes up to 24 hours from check-in to check-out, additional fees for extended stays. Your pet's stay will include indoor and outdoor time with me, neighbourhood walks and occasionally excursions to local businesses, trails or beaches.
About Laura D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I am fully aware that for most people, the family pet(s) are just that, part of the family and therefore I do my best to treat your family pet with great care and consideration, as I would hope my family pet would be treated. Please let me know if you have any concerns and I will do my very best to listen and make changes if needed. For walking and drop-in clients: I have varied availability from late morning to early evening on weekdays and weekends. Please include in your instruction's information such as: which door I am to enter; where I may find the leash, harness and poop bags for walks; where I may find the food and how much to feed; which door from which to access the yard for potty breaks during drop-ins. Also, please let me know where to dispose of used poop bags. For daycare and boarding clients: I have a fenced back yard for 'potty breaks' and playing ball plus offer neighbourhood walks as well as quiet down time inside the house with me. Most of the time your pet is with me, and I'll bring them with me on short errands, such as to drive family members to an appointment or pick something up from a store that allows pets to come inside. Very rarely, I may have to go to an appointment myself or pick up groceries, should this be the case I would ensure safety by crating your pet (let me know if your pet is not crate trained) or leaving with a trusted friend or family member to supervise and would only be gone for a short time. ***ID tags and proof of spay or neuter are required by the Frances Gardens Housing Co-op rules, please be sure to bring your pet's tags and provide spay/neuter documentation upon or before check-in*** [puppies under 1 year (up to medium sized breeds) or under 2 years (large or giant breeds) & those with documented reasons exempted] Pick up or drop off service for your pet is available for boarding and daycare clients should your schedule require, fees depending upon distance and whether or not you would like pick-up, drop-off or both.
Home
Information Laura D. would like to know about your pet
Please fill out your pet's Rover profile and let me know a bit about your pet's personality, likes, dislikes. Do they like balls or sticks, toys? Does anything make them anxious? How do they like car rides? Crate trained? What are the words/gestures you use for basic commands? How are they on walks, around other animals, people including children, traffic? Are they reactive on leash, especially if they encounter small dogs, or big dogs, men in hats? Do they have to be encouraged to walk or do they pull on the leash? Instructions on how to put on/take off their harness? How long (time &/or distance) is their usual walk? Will they try to escape when I open the door? Are there any health/medical issues I should know about? Medication? Veterinary contact information? Vaccinations- which and up to date? Allergies? Acceptable treats? Food/treats to avoid? Anything else I should know about your pet? Emergency contact information? Including the above information on your Rover pet profile is extremely helpful. I may also provide an electronic or paper form for you to fill out. When bringing your pet for a boarding or daycare stay a blanket, toy or other familiar item from home can be helpful. In addition, something that smells of their human family like an old worn & unwashed t-shirt or sock can also help. Please include any food/meals required with instructions on amounts and timing for feeding. You may also include treats. I have treats as well so, again, please let me know of any allergies or if you prefer no treats be given. My treats may include carrot bits, dried yams or sweet potato, mini–Milk Bones, organic dog biscuits, etc. Occasionally, visiting dogs also snack on the kale or blackberries growing in my garden. *** Please be aware that I prefer to meet you and your pet before your first booking to ensure we are a good fit and to reduce stress for all parties. There is no charge for the meet and greet session. ***
A typical day
My day varies depending upon whether I have walk, drop-in, boarding or daycare clients, sometimes I'll have just one client, sometimes one of each. During a boarding or daycare stay we usually alternate between active and rest periods. Typically, there will be time to explore the backyard while I water and weed with breaks to throw a ball or stick if your dog is so inclined. There will also usually be a walk in the neighbourhood checking out the smells and a possibility of encountering neighbourhood dogs, cats, deer, squirrels, and birds (including chickens). Occasionally there may be an opportunity to substitute the neighbourhood walk with an outing to local trails, beaches, farms or to pick up another dog for a walk in another neighbourhood. During indoor times we will explore all over the house, play with balls and other toys, check out the activities outside through the large front window and from the balcony, get a few treats and have time to lounge, rest, nap as needed. On a day I have a walk booked I will go to the dog's home, greet them, get leash/harness on and get out on our neighbourhood walk right away so as to maximize our walk time. We will explore the neighbourhood on our walk with brief stops for checking out the smells along the way. I try to time the walk so that we return with about 5 minutes left for taking off the leash/harness, wiping feet and a last pat/belly rub and treat if allowed. Drop-in visits usually consist of greeting the pet, letting out for a potty break (if a dog), feeding, checking / topping up water, checking litter box(es) (if cats), and talking to / playtime / sitting with depending upon the pet.
Location
Sooke, BC
Laura D.
Sooke, BC