Mary C.
Boonsboro, MD
Mature, responsible dog lover
Pet care experience
I have over 30 years of experience caring for my own dogs, from puppyhood (we took a great obedience training class!) through their senior years (which included some health issues), and I've been offering pet care through Rover since November of 2017. Through my years with Rover, I've cared for dogs of all ages, including several senior dogs who needed special care. (I gave insulin injections twice daily to one sweet old girl who was diabetic and blind in her final years.) In addition to dog-care experience, I have plenty of general life experience (50+ years worth!), so in the unlikely event of a crisis or emergency involving your dog, I'd be able to make decisions and act calmly, quickly and responsibly. Walking with dogs is one of my favorite things in the world, so I'll happily take your pup on as many walks as s/he likes. I'm all about positive reinforcement, so your pup will receive plenty of praise, pets, and (if appropriate) treats. I don't have a dog of my own right now; I lost my beloved companion of 11 years, a lab-shepherd mix named Bo, in March of 2017. I have plenty of room in my life, and my home, to give love and attention to your best buddy when you have other commitments. I live on a 10-acre farm with my partner, Dave (a true animal-lover -- and all animals seem to love him right back!) and my two cats, Shirley and Bruce (who spend almost all of their time outside and are generally dog-tolerant!).
Reviews
Mary is amazing with our dogs and sends the best rover cards with updates! She’s such a great sitter and we use her often!
Mary visited our cat for 2 days this past weekend and did a fantastic job updating us on how he was doing and on sending pictures! We had been very worried about leaving our cat home alone while he had feline influenza but Mary took great care of him and reassured us as his health improved each day. She was a blessing to our family and we will definitely hire her again in the future!!
We are very satisfied and pleased with the care given to our Zoe and Mindy. Mary came twice to meet with the girls before our vacation week began. Her gentle spirit brought calm to our girls, easing their anxiety in our absence. We received pictures all week long, keeping us in touch with our fur babies. Thank you Mary!
Mary is a fantastic dog sitter! She took such good care of our dog and sent us beautiful photographs. It was so wonderful knowing that our dog was being taken care of by such a loving and responsible sitter. I highly recommend!
About Mary C.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
In my clients' homes, and in my own (for doggie day care), I'm always careful when entering or leaving, in case a dog or cat decides to bolt and run! (Even if the client says the pet won't, I like to be extra careful.) I make sure the pets always have fresh water and are fed according to the owners instructions, and I only give treats as instructed/sanctioned by the owner. I keep all human food and potential hazards well out of the reach of the pets. And I don't let the pets out of my sight while they're in my care, if they're inclined to "get into" anything -- e.g., if they're puppies! If I have to leave them for any length of time (after confirming with the owner that it's okay to do so), I make sure they're safely crated or otherwise in a safe and comfortable situation.
Information Mary C. would like to know about your pet
How old is your dog? What breed(s)? What size? What is your dog's personality? Outgoing and friendly, or shy and stand-offish? Does your dog tend to like most people? What about other dogs? Cats? Does your dog ever get aggressive? What words does your dog know? What type of praise/attention does your dog like? (E.g., scratching behind the ears, rubbing the belly, being talked to . . . ) Any issues/quirks I should know about?
A typical day
I'm happy to come to you and walk/hike with your dog in his/her favorite places, or just play in your fenced yard. If your dog comes to visit me, we can roam around our 10-acre farm, the pasture next door, and/or the lake and trails at nearby Greenbrier State Park (my favorite!). If the weather's not good for outside fun, we can either play or chill out inside our cozy cabin, depending on your dog's age and energy level. I've got a comfy dog bed for the bedroom or kitchen, a comfy chair that's dog-friendly, and a few toys (but I recommend that you bring your own if your dog has favorites). My home/the farm is generally a mellow and peaceful place, and also far from any busy roads, so it's perfect for dogs who are shy and need a quiet retreat. Also, we're an organic farm and use no toxic substances (cleaners, body care products, etc.) in our home, so you don't have to worry about your dog being exposed to any of that dangerous stuff! Please note, my cabin is NOT air conditioned, so it does get hotter than some dogs are comfortable with on hot and humid days. (We use fans, and open and close windows strategically depending on the temps outside.)
Services
Mary can watch in your home
Availability
I run my own small business on the farm (I'm an organic vegetable and plant grower) and have a flexible part-time job off the farm (2-3 days/week for 6-7 hours/day), so I'm not available 24/7 but can usually make my other jobs work around my clients' pet care needs. Your dog will definitely be my first priority and receive constant attention during the time s/he spends with me. I'm happy to send you photos and activity reports as often as you like. **Please note, due to increasing gas prices and my need to drive back and forth between my various jobs, I'll need to add $1 PER EXTRA MILE to each drop-in visit, walk or house sitting booking outside of my 8-mile driving range. So, for example, if my driving distance to your home is 10 miles and your booking is for 2 drop-in visits, $4 ($1 x 2 miles x 2 visits) will be added to the cost of your booking.
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About Mary C.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
In my clients' homes, and in my own (for doggie day care), I'm always careful when entering or leaving, in case a dog or cat decides to bolt and run! (Even if the client says the pet won't, I like to be extra careful.) I make sure the pets always have fresh water and are fed according to the owners instructions, and I only give treats as instructed/sanctioned by the owner. I keep all human food and potential hazards well out of the reach of the pets. And I don't let the pets out of my sight while they're in my care, if they're inclined to "get into" anything -- e.g., if they're puppies! If I have to leave them for any length of time (after confirming with the owner that it's okay to do so), I make sure they're safely crated or otherwise in a safe and comfortable situation.
Information Mary C. would like to know about your pet
How old is your dog? What breed(s)? What size? What is your dog's personality? Outgoing and friendly, or shy and stand-offish? Does your dog tend to like most people? What about other dogs? Cats? Does your dog ever get aggressive? What words does your dog know? What type of praise/attention does your dog like? (E.g., scratching behind the ears, rubbing the belly, being talked to . . . ) Any issues/quirks I should know about?
A typical day
I'm happy to come to you and walk/hike with your dog in his/her favorite places, or just play in your fenced yard. If your dog comes to visit me, we can roam around our 10-acre farm, the pasture next door, and/or the lake and trails at nearby Greenbrier State Park (my favorite!). If the weather's not good for outside fun, we can either play or chill out inside our cozy cabin, depending on your dog's age and energy level. I've got a comfy dog bed for the bedroom or kitchen, a comfy chair that's dog-friendly, and a few toys (but I recommend that you bring your own if your dog has favorites). My home/the farm is generally a mellow and peaceful place, and also far from any busy roads, so it's perfect for dogs who are shy and need a quiet retreat. Also, we're an organic farm and use no toxic substances (cleaners, body care products, etc.) in our home, so you don't have to worry about your dog being exposed to any of that dangerous stuff! Please note, my cabin is NOT air conditioned, so it does get hotter than some dogs are comfortable with on hot and humid days. (We use fans, and open and close windows strategically depending on the temps outside.)
Location
Boonsboro, MD
Pets
Mary C.
Boonsboro, MD