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maria a.

Star Sitter

Southwest, Seattle, WA

5.0 out of 5 stars
342 reviews
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Services

maria can host

0 to 15 lbs
Dogs over 1 year old
Spayed and neutered dogs only
No females in heat

maria can care for

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
Dogs over 1 year old

Availability

I recently retired after 40+ years in the hospitality industry so I will be home with your dog(s) day and night. There's nothing i love more than being in the company of dogs, so watching them is my passion.

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Boarding Cancellation Policy:

About maria a.

Communication

100 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

36 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

I will treat your dog(s) like my own. I live in the Arroyo's, a private beach neighborhood in Arbor Heights, West Seattle. I have a gate on the front door so the dogs can't run out if the door opens, though there's hardly any traffic where I live. I have a fully fenced in backyard, perfect for potty breaks and sunbathing. Your dog will never be left unattended in the yard .Inside I have dog beds throughout the house that move with the sunspot. I have cameras to watch the dogs when i'm not home (spoiler alert, they sleep), and WE HAVE AC!

Home

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 2 dogs
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Information maria a. would like to know about your pet

Let me know if your pet has any aggression towards other animals, including the birds and wildlife. Food aggression, or possessiveness with toys? Do they get jealous? I would want to know how they are on a leash to avoid any surprises. I prefer a harness and would need to know if they can wiggle their way out. I would require a meet and greet before any booking to assure your dog(s) gets along with my senior chihuahuas and the other dogs in my care.

A typical day

Your dog(s) and I can do as much or as little as you would like.I live in a very quiet, remote beach neighborhood, on a dead end street. It's perfect for dog walking- lots of smells with little to no traffic I go for a 3-4 mile walk most days, they could accompany me if they are up to it. Or we could go for smaller walks, on the beach or in the neighborhood, meant just for them. Your dog will never be off leash in my care. I DO HOST DOGS FROM MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLDS AT ONE TIME SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOUR DOG GETS ALONG WITH OTHER DOGS, AND THAT YOU ARE OK WITH THIS. Some days it's a glorious slumber party!

Location

Seattle, WA

maria a.'s Neighborhood

Pets

maria a. has Star Sitter status

The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.

Beach vacation for the AARP crowd

Pet care experience

Thank you for viewing my profile. Please read it in its entirety before sending a boarding request, as a lot of your questions can be answered in the text. The two questions i get the most are am I home all day with the dogs and how many dogs do you watch at one time? I am retired so except for running errands, etc, your dog(s) will be supervised at all times.I DO watch dogs from different households at the same time, having had as many as 8 Rover dogs at once If this is a concern I invite you to come down and meet us, to see how mellow and manageable it is, and how happy the dogs are to be in the company of other dogs. I never watch a dog without meeting it first so this ensures that everyone gets along and it's a good fit. My mom runs a no-kill animal shelter in Florida so I guess you could say it's in my blood. I currently have 2 dogs (the last dog i adopted was from an elderly Rover client who could no longer take care of him) but i've had as many as 4 at one time. Always small dogs, which is what I'm most comfortable with. I've adopted, loved and cared for dogs through all their stages of life, in "sickness and in health", so I'm quite aware of the quirkiness that comes with a dog that has a history. At the moment I’m not boarding puppies because my older dogs can’t handle all the high energy of the youngsters. Nothing brings me more joy than watching these little dogs come out of their shell during the stay. Their tail going from tucked, unsure, "what am I doing here", to full wag! Many owners have told me that when they get to the top of my hill their dog starts getting excited, they know they're coming to my house and they are happy about it. They march right up my steps with zero hesitation. They might not sleep with us on day one, but they almost always find their way into the bed by the time they leave. My goal is to have them feel like one of the pack, loved and secure, safe and happy.

Reviews

Allie O.
Doggy Day Care • Jun 01, 2026
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Maria is fantastic! Marky is hesitant when it comes to interacting with people and dogs when I am not with him but Maria showed him there was nothing to fear! They take beautiful walks together, naps with his friends, and gets to play all day in a pack. He comes home tired and happy when the day is done. Maria really loves all of the dogs like her own

Yesenia C.
Boarding • Jun 01, 2026
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Benny loves Maria! They are like BFFs!

Bryan B.
Boarding • May 23, 2026
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Maria treats my pup like her own. I am comforted knowing he is in such great care. He goes on amazing walks with beautiful nature scenes. Maria is the best!

Lisa M.
Doggy Day Care • May 14, 2026
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Thank-you for going above and beyond. It meant a lot.

About maria a.

Communication

100 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

36 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

I will treat your dog(s) like my own. I live in the Arroyo's, a private beach neighborhood in Arbor Heights, West Seattle. I have a gate on the front door so the dogs can't run out if the door opens, though there's hardly any traffic where I live. I have a fully fenced in backyard, perfect for potty breaks and sunbathing. Your dog will never be left unattended in the yard .Inside I have dog beds throughout the house that move with the sunspot. I have cameras to watch the dogs when i'm not home (spoiler alert, they sleep), and WE HAVE AC!

Home

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 2 dogs
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Information maria a. would like to know about your pet

Let me know if your pet has any aggression towards other animals, including the birds and wildlife. Food aggression, or possessiveness with toys? Do they get jealous? I would want to know how they are on a leash to avoid any surprises. I prefer a harness and would need to know if they can wiggle their way out. I would require a meet and greet before any booking to assure your dog(s) gets along with my senior chihuahuas and the other dogs in my care.

A typical day

Your dog(s) and I can do as much or as little as you would like.I live in a very quiet, remote beach neighborhood, on a dead end street. It's perfect for dog walking- lots of smells with little to no traffic I go for a 3-4 mile walk most days, they could accompany me if they are up to it. Or we could go for smaller walks, on the beach or in the neighborhood, meant just for them. Your dog will never be off leash in my care. I DO HOST DOGS FROM MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLDS AT ONE TIME SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOUR DOG GETS ALONG WITH OTHER DOGS, AND THAT YOU ARE OK WITH THIS. Some days it's a glorious slumber party!

Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.
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maria a.

Star Sitter

Southwest, Seattle, WA

5.0 out of 5 stars
342 reviews