Hi! I am Mary and I live in the very dog-friendly and walkable neighborhood of Shirlington. I work at the animal shelter here in Arlington and am very experienced caring for a variety of animals. While I am employed full-time at the shelter, I work primarily from home and can give your dog all the walks, love and attention they want throughout the day! I had my own rescue dog, KC, for nearly 15 years until I sadly had to say goodbye to her in May 2020. I have fostered several dogs from the shelter, but would love to have the company of other dogs in the house while I am not fostering. I have a small, fenced-in patio area where your dog can lounge with me during the day when the weather is appropriate. I also love to go on walks along the beautiful walking trails in my neighborhood. I am happy to take your dog for as many long or short walks as you would like during the day. I have worked for a couple of different dog-walking companies in the Arlington area. And, if your dog enjoys the dog park, I am just a 5 minute walk from the Shirlington Dog Park and can take your dog there on excursions during their stay. I will ONLY take your dog to the park with your explicit consent. I have worked with dogs for several years learning about behavior and training and can provide lots of fun enrichment activities for your dog. Please note: While I do not make it a regular practice to host more than one dog at a time, to accommodate some requests, your dog's visit may overlap with another friendly dog's stay. I will limit this overlap to a few hours most times, and from time to time, I may host two dogs for one overnight. I will always notify you of this if it will affect your booking! Bottom line is that I love dogs and would absolutely love to have your precious pet come and visit us! About this sitter/walker: Absolute dog lover! Can't wait to care for your precious pet while you are away! Why I love dog sitting and walking I have had dogs my entire life! It just doesn't feel right unless I have a dog in the house and to keep me company on my daily walks. I grew up primarily with Brittany Spaniels but once I got my own dog it was very important to me to rescue a dog. My last dog, KC, was a Vizsla mix I got from a great local rescue and she was the best dog I could have asked for!