Hello fellow animal lovers! I am in my 40's with no human children of my own, so I have a Iot of love to give and lots of extra time to do what I love. I was in the Veterinary field for 20 years and a Vet Technician for 16 years. As rewarding as it was, it was also a very stressful environment and very sad at times, so I've decided to take an indefinite break. Petsitting and dog walking allows me to still care for my favorite animals and get so many other rewards that come with it. I love not being the bad guy and having them scared that would poke them with a needle or cut their nails when they see me ( I still do nails trims sometimes). At my house, we have 3 chihuahuas and my old laid back cat that I rescued from a Vet Clinic in Tennessee where I used to work 15 years ago. I have a new perspective of chihuahuas and never realized how smart and sweet they are. Currently, I am working 2 part time jobs that are very flexible when I work. I am doing respite caregiving for an elderly lady who is mentally challenged. I only have to work 12-13 hours per week and it's 3-5 mornings per week for 2-4 hours at a time and I mostly get to choose those hours and days. Her guardian is super sweet and allows me to have that freedom to do my own scheduling since I have petsitting and my other part time job. Since I have a pretty flexible schedule, I can work around yours when setting up a meet 'n greet, doing drop-in visits, or dog walking. I do require a meet 'n greet for any new clients, so I can meet your pet(s), you, and for you to show and tell me what you will need from me and vice versa. We can get to know each other and make sure we are both feel comfortable that I will be in your house and caring for your fur babies. Two years ago, I bought a new electric car so I will most likely not break down and can assure reliability that I will be at your house on time. Due to my Veterinary backround, I am highly skilled when taking care of senior pets who need daily meds, diabetic pets who need insulin twice daily and any other special needs pets because of my Veterinary background. I am very observant if a pet doesn't seem to be acting right. Limping, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or depression, I notice right away. I will call you immediately and will not hesitate to bring them to your Vet clinic or the Emergency Vet depending on the severity of the problem and time of day. I will discuss it with you and give my recommendation before I race to the Emergency Vet and drain your bank account though. They are very expensive and will not go for an ear infection (I've seen it happen but not by me. Haha) I will wait until the following day and take them to your Vet. I have enough sense to know what can wait and what is a legitimate emergency. Working with animals have always been my passion and calling. I grew up with mostly cats and have been referred to as the "Cat Whisperer" or "Crazy Cat Lady" due to my gentle handling, patience, love, and understanding of cats. Dogs are great too. You can somewhat reason with most dogs that are scared and get them to relax. Doing petsitting is fantastic because I don't have to be the bad guy! I love it! They don't have to be scared of me or aggressive toward me from being scared &/or in pain when I just come to sit for them or walk them. I get to be the good guy and do the fun part of pet care. I am not overly-friendly upon meeting. I let them smell me first and I go slow for dogs that may be timid or had a questionable past before being rescued. They can warm up on their terms and I accommodate them accordingly. I love giving treats, but so many pets are on special diets that I don't bring any with me. Usually, if you have treats at your home, I just give them those. Also, I don't want to have to clean up diarrhea for giving them something they aren't used to. As far as training, I have learned how to train basic puppy commands up to basic obedience. I used to go with my aunt every week to her classes when she got her German Shorthair Pointer puppy 12 years ago as well as her last 3 Akita puppies. She always had 2 puppies at a time and I helped train all of them. I've gotten pretty good. My chihuahuas are another story. They know basic commands, but have some issues with obedience thanks to my boyfriend who spoils them rotten. They do whatever they want most days. Lol Dogs and cats aren't the only pets I've cared for or sat for. When I was in middle school through high school, I had a number of exotics including hamsters, fish, hermit crabs, and a frog. In my 20's, I was the co-owner of a python, box turtle, geckos, and a bearded dragon. I've pet sat for a few birds including an African Grey parrot, a Cockatiel (sp?), and parakeets. Also, sat for a few ferrets, 2 dwarf bunnies, a guinea pig, and a chinchilla. I have no fear of exotics at all. In fact, I love the experience of them and have no reservations or hesitation if you'd like to book them with me. I am very empathetic and very reasonable for families that have multiple pets and money might be a concern. I am not out to get rich. Finding quality pet care that doesn't cost a fortune can be challenging and I will work with you if times are tough and money may be tight, especially if you live close to me. Anyway, I can't wait to meet you and your furry kids very soon!