Hi there, my name is Mareike! I'm a marine biologist/zoologist and I am a lover of all animals (marine and terrestrial). I grew up with cats, dogs, bunnies, turtles, the occasional rescue bird and I can't imagine a world without them. That's why I chose a career in Zoology & Marine Biology. I have about 12 years of professional experience working with animals, including handling wildlife in nature/ocean and zoos/aquariums. I've been pet sitting for over 10 years and in the past few years have mastered the art of taking care of my friend's farm (dogs, cats, goats, parrot, chickens, tortoises) and many rescue pets from the Caribbean. I've taken care of dogs and cats with special needs and behaviors, and I am very attentive to an animal's behavior and how to tender to their special needs or changes in behavior. I can stay at your house or do visits while taking care of your furry baby. I am big on being outdoors and love taking dogs on walks or extended outdoor activities (hiking, beach outings, swimming, paddle boarding, etc). PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Starting February 2022. I ask for clients to book at least one month in advance of the requested time, please. I have to make sure it fits with my personal and work schedule. For new clients, this provides both of us the opportunity to make sure we are a good fit for one another and you can have enough time to find someone else. I don't accept last-minute requests (i.e. <week before your request time). I also ask for clients to provide me sufficient information on the different needs, don't likes, and particular behaviors (i.e. can be feisty when or might be a runner or doesn't like this, etc.) I should watch out for each pet.