I have a long history as a pet owner. Growing up, my family always had a dog (Labrador Retriever) and a cat (Siamese). In the 5th grade, after a year or so of begging my parents, we got a Lab puppy, and named her Lita. It was my responsibility to take care of her, train her, exercise her, etc. It was such a wonderful learning experience and I felt such a connection with Lita. We attended PetSmart Puppy School together, we would go for walks around the neighbor, I taught her "paw" and "heel". She was always there for me when I had a bad day, good day, whatever. She allowed me to grow as a person and become more selfless. It is an experience I am truly grateful for, and she was one of my best friends! In my neighborhood I would pet sit a variety of animals as a side job. I have pet sat for an overweight senior cat named Ms. Cleo, two dachshund puppies, a parrot, hamsters, fish, etc. Every experience is different, but always enjoyable. I recently moved to DC from Bethesda and miss having a pet to come home too. At my parents house in Bethesda, we have a very vocal Siamese cat named Minou. She actually might be part dog. She loves to fetch, get her tummy scratched, and catch flies. But when we travel and have to leave her somewhere, I always feel so guilty. I want to make sure that she is taken care of and happy. That's why I want to be a part of Rover. I feel like as a pet-owner, I understand how important it is that your pets are taken care for, happy, and safe. I understand that you want someone who is professional, responsible, and trustworthy. I love the concept of Rover where you can find people who have the same values as you do and know that your dog is in good hands. I am confident that I would be a great choice to take care of your pooch!