I’ve loved and cared for animals since I was 5, when my older sister and I started dog sitting Misty, our elderly neighbor’s collie. We did such a good job taking care of her that when that family could no longer care for her, they put her in our hands. My parents and I rescued our second dog, Maggie, who was a German Shepherd/Wirefox Terrier mix, in 2013 when I was a junior in high school. I took care of her full-time on my own for a year while my parents were traveling in 2019-20. This involved helping with daily tasks, like feeding and walking her, as well as taking her to routine appointments at the vet and groomer. During this time, Maggie grew out of separation anxiety struggles, started playing with toys for the first time (at 12-years-old), and participated in activities to keep her mentally stimulated. In undergrad, I also pet sat for various families in the Indianapolis area who had Pomeranians, Golden Retrievers, Black Labs, etc., so I’m very comfortable taking care of dogs who are a variety of sizes. My boyfriend and I took care of a very active husky in our home for 2 weeks in 2022, which started our dog-sitting journey together! We made sure to care for her activity needs by taking her on runs, going to the dog park, and going hiking. Since, we have watched numerous dogs through Rover who we love dearly as well. 🐶