Lorraine M.
Lorraine M.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Newly re-certified in pet first aid
I’m a highly experienced pet-sitter and house-sitter who has been at this full time since 2012. My "day job" is digital journalism so I'm totally mobile as long as there is wifi on the premises. Non-smoker, non-partier. Tons of references for everything from horses to lizards, but mostly dogs of all kinds and sizes and needs and routines. I offer house sitting, pet sitting (live in), dog walking, drop-in cat care, and even hobby farm or B&B/Inn management. I've got solid experience with troubled rescues, aggressive dogs, giant breeds, toy breeds, indoor cats, guinea pigs, horses, chickens, puppies, lizards, and also with pets needing medication. I have both human and animal first aid training. Willing to travel outside of Ottawa area if costs are covered.
Cat care experience
Lorraine also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Lorraine stayed overnight for approximately 24 hours with our dog, Harvey, and cat, Theo from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. She sent a photo update shortly after arriving Saturday, along with a couple of text updates Saturday evening. On Sunday, I reached out in the early afternoon to ask for an update as we approached the end of the departure window. Her departure was delayed slightly, but this wasn’t a problem at all as we were also running a little behind on our way home. Based on previous experiences with Rover dog walkers and drop-in visits, I had assumed I would receive a handful of photo updates throughout the stay. That said, I understand that the frequency of updates can vary from sitter to sitter and expectations would vary between pet owners, so I know for next time to ask about this upfront. Harvey and Theo seemed happy and well cared for when we returned and Lorraine left our home tidy. Overall, we were happy with the care Harvey and Theo received.
Lorraine did a terrific job looking after our pets for a week. She kept us informed of happenings with the pets while we were away.
Lorraine took Nanook on several walks, communicated well with us while we were away. Thanks Lorraine!
The cats looked very happy and healthy upon my return. The place was very clean, and she even did the laundry so we'd have new bed sheets when home! When she was concerned about my cat's health, she reached out to me immediately. I recommend Lorraine!
This was our first time using Rover. Lorraine was pleasant and very communicative. This was our first time we have left our cat with anyone and we felt comfortable leaving him with her. He seemed to enjoy her company as he snuggled up with her. When we arrived home Lorraine had washed the linens, ran the dishwasher and ensured the house was clean and tidy. We very much appreciated her spending time with our cat and taking care of our house while we were away. We are hoping to book with her again.
Lorraine looked after Zoey during a short overnight stay. Zoey was calm and relaxed when I returned home, and I appreciated having someone there with her while I was away.
Calendar and availability
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Schedule
As a freelance journalist, I work from home and rely on pets to get me out of the apartment. Writing and pet-sitting is a great combination for physical and mental health.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
My home is in a pet-friendly building with a small private park suitable for short walks, and just a few blocks from a couple of dog parks. Surrounding streets are quiet, with minimal traffic. I take in only one pet at a time so there are no issues. I never give food or treats that the owners haven't approved.
A typical day
Usually when I'm looking after dogs we do a short walk in the morning, a long "adventure" walk after lunch, and at least one more walk in the evening after dinner. Potty breaks as needed. With cats, I will play with them as they prefer. If they're not into it, we can just hang out.
- 0 to 15 lbs16 to 40 lbs41 to 100 lbsover 101 lbsDogs over 1 year oldSpayed and neutered dogs onlyNo females in heatTakes only 1 client at a timeLorraine can host up to 1 pet per night
- Let me know about any extra duties like gardening, feeding outdoor pets, administering medication, etc. If you have birds, reptiles, or fish that you didn't put in the booking, please let me know in advance.