I've pet sat for show dogs, geriatric cats and dogs, emotional and reactive rescue pets, pets with special medical needs, high energy puppies and young dogs, rabbits, a chinchilla, and a parrot! It all started when I was given a dalmation as a birthday present for my first birthday. I have been a dog lover ever since. I started cat sitting in fifth grade to help my grandparents out. They had a Siamese cat named Ashley and a 3-legged calico named Rosie, and I would care for them all winter while my grandparents went south. In college I started pet-sitting for some coworkers and friends-of-friends, and through word of mouth it spread from there. It began as supplemental income, then for some time it became my primary source. That happened when I developed symptoms of a chronic illness. Iwas eventually diagnosed with Lupus in my mid-twenties, and with the scattered schedule of doctors appts, procedures and hospital stays, the ebb and flow of symptoms and energy, and figuring out the right treatment, pet sitting was my only source of income at that time. I pet sat through some of my toughest days. It filled my emotional cup to bond with all the pets while allowing me some flexibiliy in my schedule. That was years ago, and my symptoms are all well managed and properly treated now. They have been for a long time. Pet sitting is no longer my bread and butter, though I've missed the innumerable animals that once filled my days. I'm a floral designer by day. My schedule has been opening up so I'm scratching the itch and making myself available to sit new pets again! Open to a variety of pet types, but dogs will always hold a special place in my heart.