Maggie S.
Portland, OR
Experienced and fun pet sitter!
Pet care experience
Hi there! My name is Maggie- I’m an animal lover with a burning passion for veterinary medicine (see bottom for work history!). Having recently moved here from the Chicago suburbs, I am excited to resume pet sitting and build clientele in the beautiful city of Portland. Having no pets of my own, I find immense joy pet sitting for others. Any pet under my care will be treated as if they were my own. They will receive my undivided attention and dedication. Every animal’s needs are different, whether that’s long walks, enrichment games, hours of fetch, or even just having a person in the house for them to follow room to room. I genuinely enjoy getting to know the animals that I’m watching- what makes them happy, what they need, all their personality quirks, and everything in between. I am especially qualified to care for: - Senior pets with health issues. Experience working as a vet tech for the past six years at an emergency animal hospital has made me very detail-oriented and familiar with various health conditions. I am able to administer medications of all types, including oral, subcutaneous, optic and otic. - Dogs of all sizes and temperaments (especially anxious rescue pups and teething puppies), as well as rambunctious kittens and older cats. My work has exposed me to many types of animal personalities. My own experience growing up with two labs and a dachshund (weiner dog) has also made me familiar living with both small and large dogs in a home. - Pocket pets/Exotic pets. I grew up with pocket pets (hamsters, gerbils) and owned two pet rats of my own as an adult. I have also house sat for guinea pig, reptile, bird and fish owners. Work History: - Veterinary Technician at a 24-hour emergency/general care small animal hospital (6 years) - Sales associate at a small business pet store/animal rescue that adopted out rescued dogs and cats (5 years). We also had pocket pets, birds, reptiles and fish - Animal Care Intern at a small zoo and wildlife rehabilitation center (over 4 years) - Completed a work stay at a goat farm in Vermont for several months during both shoulder seasons - Volunteer at a zoo, several spay/neuter clinics in Minnesota and Thailand, and at the Oregon Humane Society (100+ hours- qualified to work with some of their most difficult dogs, a privilege not granted to many volunteers)
Reviews
Maggie took great care of my dog, Pepper. She sent regular updates and I could tell my dog was at ease with her. I’ll definitely be booking her services again!
Maggie stayed over at our place to take of our pups and made us feel at ease while we were away, which is HUGE for us. We always worry that our pups won’t get the same level of care and love that we give them, but Maggie definitely did that for them. Our pups are anxious, but she took her time with them and made them feel comfortable and relaxed. We loved seeing photos and videos of them every day and how happy they were with someone other than us! Not only did she care for our pups, but she was also respectful to us and our house. Her communication with us was above and beyond! We would love to have her again, and our pups definitely would too!
Maggie was great! She was able to accommodate my fairly last minute request and sent awesome update photos throughout the stay! I’ll definitely be booking her again
Maggie was fantastic! Couldn't have been more pleased. Will book again
About Maggie S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
For pet care, I am very mindful and flexible with following the care instructions requested by the pet owner. I love having fun with pets and enjoy doing what they love to do (such as playing ball in the yard, going on long walks in a nearby park). I recognize the importance of exercise and mental stimulation. I also acknowledge that every animal is different. There is no cookie cutter way to care for every single pet. I want to do what is best for your furry friend and what will make them happiest. I can be stern if needed, as I am not easily swayed by begging or whining. I also do not have any issues with crate training, using different types of collars/harnesses, etc. From my experience, there are a lot of different ways to train and care for animals, and I want to maintain consistency for the animal by following whatever their owners prefer.
Information Maggie S. would like to know about your pet
It’s important for me to know any relevant quirks or medical conditions your pet may have. What is your dog fearful of? Do they have a history of chasing squirrels? Do they dislike certain types of people? And then there are the medical-related things: has your dog had any recent surgeries? Are they prone to eating not-so-digestible household items? I also highly encourage scheduling a time before I house sit for us to meet, especially for dog owners. This way I can meet your pet and we can decide if your pet and I will be a good match together.
A typical day
Long walks for dogs is a must. I enjoy taking them to new areas so that they are exposed to different scents and scenery. If there is a yard or good fenced in park, I also love playing fetch and tiring dogs out. I have a soft spot for dogs that love to play fetch (especially with tennis balls). Enrichment toys like puzzle feeders and kongs are also a fun tool I may utilize to keep a dog engaged. Other activities are just spending downtime at the house with the pets. They are most comfortable at home, and my presence being with them (especially for pets and scratches and snuggles) can sometimes be enriching all on its own as well. For cats, utilizing toys and spending an hour of time simply just playing and interacting at least two times a day can go a long way.
Services
Maggie can watch in your home
Availability
I currently work nights full time, typically Monday-Friday night with shifts as early as 10:30pm-7am, and as late as 12am-8:30am. I am most active in the morning and evenings, and sleep midday. I frequently adjust my sleep schedule to accommodate various daily activities, which has worked well for me for the past year and a half. I also have a car for reliable transportation. When pet sitting, I will on average be gone for 8-9 hours during weekday nights due to work.
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About Maggie S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
For pet care, I am very mindful and flexible with following the care instructions requested by the pet owner. I love having fun with pets and enjoy doing what they love to do (such as playing ball in the yard, going on long walks in a nearby park). I recognize the importance of exercise and mental stimulation. I also acknowledge that every animal is different. There is no cookie cutter way to care for every single pet. I want to do what is best for your furry friend and what will make them happiest. I can be stern if needed, as I am not easily swayed by begging or whining. I also do not have any issues with crate training, using different types of collars/harnesses, etc. From my experience, there are a lot of different ways to train and care for animals, and I want to maintain consistency for the animal by following whatever their owners prefer.
Information Maggie S. would like to know about your pet
It’s important for me to know any relevant quirks or medical conditions your pet may have. What is your dog fearful of? Do they have a history of chasing squirrels? Do they dislike certain types of people? And then there are the medical-related things: has your dog had any recent surgeries? Are they prone to eating not-so-digestible household items? I also highly encourage scheduling a time before I house sit for us to meet, especially for dog owners. This way I can meet your pet and we can decide if your pet and I will be a good match together.
A typical day
Long walks for dogs is a must. I enjoy taking them to new areas so that they are exposed to different scents and scenery. If there is a yard or good fenced in park, I also love playing fetch and tiring dogs out. I have a soft spot for dogs that love to play fetch (especially with tennis balls). Enrichment toys like puzzle feeders and kongs are also a fun tool I may utilize to keep a dog engaged. Other activities are just spending downtime at the house with the pets. They are most comfortable at home, and my presence being with them (especially for pets and scratches and snuggles) can sometimes be enriching all on its own as well. For cats, utilizing toys and spending an hour of time simply just playing and interacting at least two times a day can go a long way.
Location
Portland, OR
Maggie S.
Portland, OR