Hello, I'm Matthew! Ever since the third grade I have had a passion for taking care of animals. I am veterinarian who is obtaining his PhD at TAMU. My goal is actually to become a research veterinarian and thus why I came to TAMU in order to fulfil these goals. However, my position disqualifies me from holding a clinical position while in graduate school and money can be tight for graduate students! That's why I have decided to help take care of your pets and offer the best care possible using my veterinary knowledge/skills, If chosen to take care of your pets, you can rest assure I will give them my undivided attention and the care that they deserve. A good pet sitter isn't simply a guard to make sure your pet eats their food and doesn't escape in the backyard. Rather, a good caretaker will focus on stimulating, enriching, and improving the life of the pet. For example, regular trips to the park, smell walks (or animal-guided walks), puzzles, or just simply playing tug-of-war with their toys can be great ways to make sure your dog is engaged in helpful and productive activities! Furthermore, I have found many of these activities contribute to a happier dog. When I first adopted Ziggy, she had a tendency to experience separation anxiety in my absence which led to various destructive behaviors (particularly to my carpet, ugh!). However, i was able to curb this behavior with something Ziggy knows as "treat time". Whenever I have to leave, I hide treats around the house or in toys and repeat the phrase "treat time" to let her know something is different. Ziggy now associates me leaving as a positive event, while keeping her occupied for a long stretch of time. This small example hopefully provides some insight into the values I find important in dog ownership and pet sitting! A graduate student's schedule can get hectic, but I am available at all the times provided in my calendar. I look forward to meeting you and taking care of your furry children! -Matthew