maria C.
maria C.
Contact for Boarding
from $89 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
❤️Home•Medical•Senior•Special Needs
carmec31137 – $20 Off Your First Booking! Hola! I’m Maria — originally from Costa Rica, where caring for animals is a way of life, not just a job. I bring that same heart, intuition, and hands-on experience to every pet I care for — from cats and dogs to horses, farm animals, and pets with special needs. For private bookings: I am a certified pet sitter and insured to work inside the US, Canada, and parts of Mexico. Overseas options available upon request. I believe experience should keep evolving. I’m currently completing professional dog training coursework through GoodPup to stay current with modern approaches to canine behavior, communication, and training, while continuing to strengthen the skills I bring to every pet in my care. 🐾 Experience & Special Care Over the years, I've gained extensive experience caring for pets with unique medical and behavioral needs, including: • Blind and visually impaired pets • Reactive dogs who need calm, patient handling • Diabetic dogs and cats (including insulin injections) • Senior pets requiring gentle, attentive support • Post-operative and recovery care • Wound care and medication monitoring (following veterinary instructions) • Oral medications, injectable medications, eye and ear medications • IV fluid administration with proper veterinary instruction • Rescue pets who need patience, boundaries, and confidence-building • Cat nail trimming, including cats who are fearful or reactive • Feline behavior and stress reduction techniques • Exotic pet care, including reptiles and other small exotics (feeding live insects, refreshing water, monitoring behavior, and following detailed care instructions) I have over 7 years of hands-on medication experience with both dogs and cats and am comfortable administering medications with clear veterinary instructions. I’m also a proud pet parent to two rescue cats — Panda (8-year-old Siamese) and Tigre (8-year-old Maine Coon mix). Feline behavior is one of my specialties, and I deeply understand how to make cats feel safe and respected in their own space. 🐶 My Care Philosophy 💛 Respect & Communication Every pet has their own personality. I meet them where they are — calmly, patiently, and with love. I respect boundaries and build trust naturally. 🎾 Engagement & Enrichment Walks, playtime, puzzles, cuddles, training reinforcement — I focus on mental and physical stimulation tailored to your pet’s needs. 🏡 In-Home Comfort I care for pets in their familiar environment so they feel secure while maintaining their routine. 🕒 Reliable & Flexible From last-minute visits to long-term sitting, I adapt to your schedule and your pet’s needs. 🌙 After-Hours Visits Visits requested before 7:00 AM or after 6:30 PM may include a small after-hours fee ($5–$10 per visit). This is always confirmed in advance. 🐾 Add-On Services 📸 Pet Photo Assistance Holiday photos, birthdays, or special everyday moments — I’m happy to assist with positioning, calming, outfit changes, and keeping your pet focused so you can capture beautiful memories. Hourly rate applies. Travel fee may apply. Personalized Care Enhancements • Pawdicure (Nail Trim) – $10–$15 • Extra Adventure Play (30 mins) – $8–$12 • Puppy Power Play (30 mins + command reinforcement) – $10–$15 • Cat Enrichment Time (15 mins) – $5–$8 • Senior Comfort Support – $5–$10 per day • Oral Medication – $5–$8 per administration • Injectable Medication – $8–$12 per administration Let me know if you’d like to customize your pet’s experience! 📍 Location & Service Area I primarily serve Altamonte Springs/Longwood (32714 and a 6-mile radius) and am open to discussing travel when needed. If you’re looking for an experienced, attentive, and deeply caring sitter, I would love to support you. Your pet will be treated like family — safe, respected, and genuinely cared for. 🐾
Cat care experience
maria also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Maria is so patient with Atticus. It is great to have her help out during the week.
Great job with my two pups! Thank you!
We’re so happy to have found Maria! From the very beginning, she was kind, caring, dependable, and genuinely attentive to our pets’ needs. It gives us such peace of mind knowing our furry family members are in such good hands. We’re incredibly grateful to have found another Rover house sitter we can trust!!
This is our second time booking with her, and once again, she was absolutely amazing! 🥹❤️ I feel completely comfortable leaving our babies with her because I know they are in such good hands. She took so much care of both of them and truly went above and beyond to make sure they were happy and comfortable. She even gifted them some extra treats, toys, and calming goodies for Brover, which was incredibly thoughtful 🥹🐶🐱 It’s clear how much she genuinely cares about the pets she looks after, and that means so much to us. We’re so grateful for how loving, attentive, and thoughtful she is. She went above and beyond to make them feel loved and comfortable, and we will definitely continue booking with her. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for someone they can truly trust with their fur babies! 💕
Maria is great with Atticus and very easy to work with. I am very happy that I found her.
Maria is very patient with my pets and did a wonderful job
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
Schedule & Availability Pet care is intentionally built into my daily routine. My flexible work-from-home structure allows me to prioritize medication timing, feeding schedules, enrichment, and consistency without rushing visits. I do not stack excessive bookings, which allows me to give each household focused, attentive care. When I commit to a time, your pet receives my full presence. Clear communication and confirmed scheduling are part of my professional standard. Evening & Late-Night Visits For visits scheduled during the following times, a premium rate applies: • 7:30 PM – 9:59 PM: +$10 per visit • 10:00 PM and later: +$15 per visit These premiums reflect extended availability and structured late-hour scheduling. All pricing is confirmed in advance. Service Area & Travel I primarily serve the Altamonte Springs (32714) area within a 6-mile radius. Travel outside this area and long-distance house sitting are available upon request. Travel fees are discussed and confirmed in advance.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Safety, Trust & Environment Safety is my first priority in every home I enter — including my own. In My Home🏘 My property includes a fully fenced yard for secure outdoor time. In addition, there is a secondary enclosed exterior area directly accessible from the home, allowing dogs to step out for quick potty breaks without needing to leave the secured perimeter. Outdoor access is always supervised. I do not allow unsupervised yard time unless specifically discussed and approved. Pets are never left unattended outside, and I carefully monitor interactions in multi-pet situations to maintain a calm, balanced environment. In Your Home When caring for pets in your home, I maintain their established routines, feeding schedules, medication timing, and household structure exactly as instructed. I double-check doors, gates, and entry points before and after every visit. I am attentive to behavioral shifts, appetite changes, litter box or potty irregularities, and subtle signs of stress or discomfort. Early awareness prevents larger issues. Medication is administered precisely according to written instructions, and I document anything out of the ordinary. Your home, privacy, and pet’s emotional safety are always respected.
Pets
A typical day
A typical day is active, structured, and centered around your pet’s natural rhythm. For dogs staying in my home or during house sitting, I provide two intentional one-hour walks daily (morning and evening), focused on both physical exercise and mental stimulation through scent work, varied routes, and structured engagement. In addition, I offer regular potty breaks approximately every two hours throughout the day to ensure comfort and consistency. Between walks, pets enjoy enrichment activities such as puzzle toys, light training reinforcement, interactive play, and calm companionship. I balance stimulation with rest so they remain happy without becoming overstimulated. For senior pets, I prioritize gentle movement, mobility awareness, and comfort. For higher-energy dogs, I incorporate structured play and purposeful activity. For cats, I believe in the benefits of mental stimulation and nature connection.I provide interactive play sessions, litter box maintenance, feeding routines, and quiet presence that respects their space and personality. Throughout the day, I observe appetite, hydration, behavior, and overall mood. I send updates so you feel informed and reassured. My goal is simple: your pet feels secure, exercised, mentally engaged, and emotionally balanced while giving you piece of mind while you are away.