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Lena C.

4.7 out of 5 stars
16 repeat clients
Profile image

Lena C.

4.7 out of 5 stars
16 repeat clients
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Southwest Hills, Portland, OR

Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.

Highlights

Lena has Star Sitter status!
Enhanced background check
30 years of experience
Home full time
Can administer medication
Special needs experience

Pet care experience

Friendly, reliable, and experienced

🍂🍁 Happy Autumn! 🍁🍂 I have my own licensed and insured pet care LLC, and I am currently in classes to become a certified behavioral trainer. Having been born into a family of German Shepherd lovers, navigating the care, management and companionship of large, highly intelligent animals was instilled upon me at a young age. My respect and love for these breeds are boundless. Once I graduated college, I adopted an 8 week old Alaskan malamute, who I cared for his entire 11 years of life until he unexpectedly passed recently in January. Though not ready to adopt again, I am missing that presence in my life and looking to fill that space by helping friends, family, neighbors and members of the community with their pet care needs. I am experienced with puppies, high maintenance dogs, and especially with large breeds (my boy was 150lbs at a healthy weight and required at least 5 miles of exercise a day). While all are welcome, I absolutely specialize in northern breeds - huskies and malamutes - along with GSDs. Beyond dogs, I also have 30 years of experience caring for cats. Additionally I have cared for horses growing up in a country town with great stables, ferrets, various reptiles, birds, fish (fresh and salt water aquariums) and more. No matter the pet or the care needs, I am open to a discussion. I am kind, caring, uniquely experienced, energetic and reliable. Due to my experience, I know all too well what it feels like to have to find reliable, safe, trusted care for a large, high maintenance, and/or misunderstood breeds - I know that I can definitely offer that unique service in this arena. I am also an avid hiker and runner - if this type of exercise for your pet piques your interest, let’s chat!

Qualifications

16 repeat pet parents
92% response rate
Usually responds in under half an hour
80% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
30 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration

Ratings and reviews

4.7
stars
26 ratings
Keith R.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Oct 19, 2026

Lena exceeded all of our expectations, providing live in daily dog and house sitting. Our Alaskan Klee Kai Jesse needs lots of attention and daily walking, and Lena took Jesse out for extended walks three times or more daily meeting all of his exercise needs. At our home she played with him keeping him entertained while we were on our vacation. Daily communication via text messaging was especially reassuring for us..... she sent photos and videos as often as we desired. From these images it was clear that our Jesse was having the time of his life! We were 100% confident that our dog was safe, happy and secure while we travelled. When we got home we think it took a day or so for her to get used to us, Jesse misses Lena LOL. Without hesitation we will reach out for her help whenever we need dog/house sitting!

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Robert B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog Walking • Sep 24, 2026

Lena is the best. Trust worthy. Looks out for me

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Kate S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Sep 20, 2026

Lena was absolutely wonderful taking care of my babies while I was away for the weekend! Got lots of photo updates, my dog got plenty of walks, and the house was spotless when I got home. Would definitely have her house sit for me again!

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Cassandra M.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dog Walking • Sep 12, 2026

Lena was great with my dog T-Rex and he seemed to respond well to her also. I’m unfortunately leaving the rating that I am because there was a huge miscommunication issue from Lena’s side. I booked Lena for dog walking Tuesday-Friday and she forgot that I had booked her on Friday and didn’t go to walk my dog at the scheduled time. She realized her mistake and was very apologetic and even offered to go walk him still and after I agreed she said she was 30 minutes away. After over an hour I reached out because I still hadn’t received an update and heard nothing back. Over 2 hours later I received a notification that T-Rex had been picked up for his walk, but after checking my camera he was still at home. Lena eventually checked on T-Rex and was able to walk him (almost 15 minutes after the walk had been started), which I was grateful for, but was still extremely disappointed at the lack of communication and professionalism. I understand mistakes happen, but as someone who has an hour commute between work and home, I rely on the people caring for my dog during the day to respond promptly and to do the job I booked them for. Lena offered to refund me for the day, which I feel like is the least that could be done in this situation. I hope this was just a blip and isn’t a pattern of behavior, but unfortunately it gives me cause to not book with her again in the future.

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Melissa W.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Sep 12, 2026

Lena was a fantastic dog, cat, and house sitter! She gave us daily updates and photos, and followed all of our detailed instructions perfectly.

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Michael P.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Aug 17, 2026

Lena was amazing! Really good with communication and updates while we were away. Our pup had a blast and it was super easy to work with Lena through the entire trip. Will definitely book with her in the future.

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Calendar and availability

Available
Not available
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Available
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Schedule

I am completing a graduate program at PSU (I live right above campus) and so am at home working often, and have an open scheduel. I am extremely active during the week, and have plenty of free time in general.

Where your pet will stay

Home characteristics

Lives in an apartment
Has an unfenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has no pets
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Safety, trust & environment

I am respectful to how you’d like your pet to be taken care of in your home and out and about. No matter what the need, I am able to discuss, negotiate and accommodate. Though all are welcome - due to my experience, my niche has become working with and caring for large, high maintenance, and/or misunderstood breeds.

A typical day

A typical day has a mixture of lots of exercise in the form of: walks, runs, dog parks, and play, depending on your pet’s needs and preferences. I am also accustomed to working on reinforcing good behavior and training.

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs
Lena can host up to 10 pets per night
I am able to accommodate a wide variety of care needs. If you have any special care necessities, preferences, etc, I am absolutely open to having a conversation about how to meet both of our needs.
These prices are for 1 dog.

Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.

Boarding
in the sitter's home
$60per night
House Sitting
in your home
$80per night
Drop-In Visits
visits in your home
$30per visit
Doggy Day Care
in the sitter's home
$30per day
Dog Walking
in your neighborhood
$30per walk
Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.

Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.