Maria, Bango, and Olive (1 human, 2 dogs) live in a beautiful and BIG house in Astoria, NY, just minutes from midtown Manhattan. How big? Well, for New York City standards, this place is a palace: I offer a big backyard with 6-foot fence that is actually up a 10-foot retaining wall. Approximately 1200 sqft of private outdoor space (dirt, mulch and brick and paved portions) as well as approximately 1200 sqft of indoor space. I am the homeowner, so everything I do and all the pets I care for are 100% legit! I also have a solarium, an all-weather room with more windows than walls, where cats LOVE to watch the hundreds of birds that come to out yard to feast and bathe. Dogs love to sunbathe on the couch in the solarium, as well! I offer a 24-7 video monitoring system in the kitchen and dining room, which is where pets stay when I'm not home. Luckily, I'm home most of the time as I work from home. My dogs are never alone for more than 3 hours at most, and that much only once or twice a week. Bango is an F1 Goldendoodle, and he has been a therapy dog with the Good Dog Foundation. He's also a cover model for a book called "The New York Dog" and he's been in a Banana Republic campaign this year as well as shot a music video for a band called "Goldfish." Olive, a purebred Great Dane, has yet to discover her calling in life, as she's still shy with strangers, but she is a very gentle girl: her best friend is a 10-pound Miniature Pinscher who lives down the street! We also offer some other basics: I have a BIG crate if you prefer dogs to be crate-trained during their stay, I have a BIG jacuzzi in our bathroom for baths, I have no stairs in the house that dogs need to navigate, and just a gentle slope of a driveway. I live a great life here in Astoria and I'm frequently asked to pet-sit for my friends and neighbors, so this is a great opportunity to make some spare cash (for TREATS and TOYS of course!) while having new and fun dogs and cats come stay with our crew. Why I love dog sitting At my house, Mom and Dad brought home a puppy a couple of times, but we never had a dog very long before they would give it to someone else who could care for it better. As an adult, I've wanted a dog forever, and admired those belonging to others, but I knew that it would only be a good time when I'd made sure to get a pet-friendly home with a yard, plenty of time, a flexible schedule and financial stability. The time was right in August of 2012 and now I have 2 large 4-legged children to enjoy for many years to come. About my yard I have a large 1200 sqft yard that is completely fenced in, with a 6-foot fence and a 10-foot retaining wall, as well. It is partially a garden (with dirt, bushes, a tree, and mulch) and partially a paved and bricked yard. I also have a 3-car garage and a solarium. And for those summer days, I have a 6-foot kiddie pool for the dogs to cool off. The gate to the yard and the front of the house are watched 24/7 by security cameras.