At a glance: - Lifelong animal experience (pets and farm animals) - Comfortable with dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, seniors, and large breeds - Strong foundation in basic training, leash manners, and behaviour reading - Pet First Aid certified through St. John Ambulance - Medication administration experience - Former PetSmart sales associate (pet care and owner support) - 6 years with SARI Therapeutic Riding (horse care, training, and instruction) - Calm, patient, loving, and reliable care Animals have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up on a farm surrounded by horses, sheep, cows, chickens, and even peacocks and a llama, along with dogs, cats, fish, and hermit crabs. My friends have always known me as the “animal girl.” As an only child, animals truly felt like my friends and family, and caring for them has always been second nature to me. I have been helping with barn chores and pet care since I was a toddler, and that experience has continued into adulthood. While I no longer live on the family farm, I currently have my own dog, cat, horse, and fish, so animal care is still very much a part of my daily life. When I was around eight years old, I started a dog walking/sitting business at the marina where my family docks our boat. I had many repeat clients over several years, which taught me responsibility, consistency, and the importance of earning trust as a caregiver. At seventeen, I also began horse sitting for a few neighbours and have been relied on consistently for nearly ten years when they travel. In more recent years, I have regularly cared for my parents’ and friends’ dogs and cats while they are away, including large breeds, seniors, and pets with specific routines or medical needs. I have also raised puppies and kittens myself, so I am very comfortable caring for young animals and supporting them through routine building and early training habits. In addition to hands-on pet care, I worked as a sales associate at PetSmart, where I gained experience interacting with a wide range of pets and helping pet parents find products and solutions that met their animals’ needs. This role strengthened my communication skills and reinforced the importance of education, safety, and individualized care. I also spent nearly six years volunteering with SARI Therapeutic Riding, an organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children with disabilities. I began as a volunteer lesson helper, then progressed to teaching lessons and helping to train our horses, before eventually becoming paid weekend barn staff for almost two years. In that role, I was responsible for the daily care and management of approximately 20 horses, including feeding, turnout, stall cleaning, grooming, and monitoring overall health and well-being. This experience further developed my patience, attentiveness, and ability to care for animals with consistency and calm confidence. While I am not a certified trainer, I have a strong foundation in basic obedience, leash manners, and appropriate handling through extensive research and hands-on experience with my own dog. Growing up around animals has also given me a good understanding of animal behaviour and body language, allowing me to recognize stress signals and keep interactions safe and positive. I am experienced with administering medications and am happy to do so when it is safe and clearly instructed. I am also currently working towards completing the Pet First Aid course with St. John Ambulance. I treat every pet as if they were my own, with patience, respect, and genuine care. I understand how important it is to feel confident leaving your pet in someone else’s care, and my goal is always to provide loving, attentive, and reliable care while keeping your pet happy and comfortable in their routine.