Melissa J.
San Antonio, TX
Services
Melissa can care for
Availability
I work independently from home, and have a very open schedule. I am more of an afternoon/night owl, but I can happily be available in the mornings, too.
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About Melissa J.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
When I have taken care of Moses, my aunt's dog, this required keeping him on his schedule for taking medication twice a day. I set alarms and got up early (for me, at least) to make sure he stayed on the same schedule he had had. Beyond the medication, I spent most of my time with him. He isn't a very physically affectionate dog, but he wants you close by. He has some trouble getting around, especially up and down the back stairs and sometimes the stairs to the bed. I always try to stay close in case he needs help. He also can't see well, so that needs extra attention -- making sure he gets treats and food and doesn't miss them.
Information Melissa J. would like to know about your pet
For walks: I'd like to know how they are on the leash. I don't mind pullers at all, and in fact often find it interesting what they want to check out. But I'd like to know if they want to run up to other people or dogs, and how they are with them. Do they try to jump up on people? Do you have any problems with other people petting your dog or giving them treats if they have any? If there are other dogs around, is yours comfortable with the usual sniffing and maybe a bit of play, or are they anxious or aggressive? I am very happy to walk dogs of any temperament as long as they aren't aggressive with me, but I need to know if I need to keep them away from other animals or people. For drop-ins: Please let me know about any food/treat needs. I don't want to overfeed or underfeed. If there are any particular games or toys they prefer, I'd love to know that, too! I would also greatly appreciate a heads-up if your dog hasn't had drop-ins before. Even a very sweet, even-tempered dog can become aggressive when a stranger unexpectedly enters their domain, especially if they are alone and feel the need to protect their home. In these cases, I would prefer to do a meet and greet, even if your pet is the sweetest, most loving animal you've ever known. They can act differently in these circumstances than you might think. If a meet and greet is not possible, then please let me know if this will be the first time you've had someone do a drop-in visit for your pet, so I can be prepared for any aggressive behavior. I have had some success in calming upset/scared animals, so I will still be willing to work with you! I just want to know ahead of time. I can and have administered oral meds to dogs. When I watched my aunt's dog, they went in his food. But I have needed to give other dogs oral meds, so I do know how. I had a Maltese once that would not stand for grooming. The vet approved a medication to sedate him, and I learned then how to give it directly, as he'd spit it out if it was concealed in food. However, I do need to know if your pet is difficult to administer to -- do they fight, or spit out the medicine? My top goals for caring for an animal are their safety and my own, so if I feel things are crossing a line that way, I may not be able to administer their medication.
A typical day
Beyond walks, I love to play kickball/fetch and tug-of-war. I am happy to do almost any play a dog would enjoy, except if it involves a lot of running. I can do some if needed, but it isn't the easiest for me, so I prefer to do other activities with them.
Location
San Antonio, TX
Melissa J. has Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Independently Insured Pet Pamperer
Pet care experience
I am independently insured for dog walking and drop-in visits through Pet Care Insurance, which is backed by Lloyd's. This protection helps to fill in gaps in the Rover Guarantee, and can help give peace of mind to both of us as I set out to pamper your pet! I am happy to provide details of my policy upon request. I grew up in the country, and there were always cats and dogs around. I was responsible fairly early in my life for feeding the barn cats, but I would say my first serious experience in caring for animals started when I was around 13/14. I had a Guinea Pig, and was responsible for all of its care, cage cleaning, and so forth. Then there were a few dogs. One was a blue heeler who I played with and roamed the countryside with. She was very active and loved playing kickball and going for hikes. There were also Maltese. It started with 2 my mother got, and one became hers and one was mine. Mine was very difficult to groom, and he required a lot of extra care and patience for that, while also needing a firm hand so that he knew that acting up wouldn't mean we'd skip necessary care. These two had several litters of puppies, so I have some experience there. More recently, I have cared for my aunt's very elderly dog for long periods. He needs medication twice a day, and is of course very fragile. He can't see well, and can be unsteady on his feet. This means he needs an extra level of attention, and when I take care of him I am very used to being constantly aware of where he is and if he needs anything. I am usually very focused on any animals around me anyway, but he needs just a bit extra in that department, and so I can say I am completely ready to put my entire focus on your furry loved one, too Unfortunately, we cannot have pets in our current apartment, and I miss spending time with them. I miss it a lot. Since I have none of my own at the moment, caring for any animal is precious time to me, and during our walks or drop-ins, I can honestly say these pets are the center of my world.
Reviews
I can’t say enough great things about Melissa! She is incredibly kind and caring with Milo, and it truly shows in the way he gets so excited to see her. She always goes above and beyond—not only making sure he gets a great walk, but also taking the extra time to clean his paws or dry him off if he gets wet, which I really appreciate. On top of that, she’s so thoughtful and reliable—she even brings our packages inside without being asked. It’s such a relief knowing Milo is in such good hands and that she genuinely cares about his well-being. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for someone trustworthy, attentive, and truly dedicated!
Thank you i love Melissa 2nd time using her will continue to use her ❤️
Melissa took such good care of our pups and left such detailed notes for us!
Melissa is an extremely thoughtful and thorough dog sitter. Melissa kept us updated with photos and notes. The notes were so thoughtful and detailed that it left me feeling secure having my dogs taken care of by her. My dogs are timid and are often scared by new people, but I trusted her to come with calm positive energy and they seem to have opened up to her. We are so grateful for Melissa and would be happy to hire her again to help watch our babies.
About Melissa J.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
When I have taken care of Moses, my aunt's dog, this required keeping him on his schedule for taking medication twice a day. I set alarms and got up early (for me, at least) to make sure he stayed on the same schedule he had had. Beyond the medication, I spent most of my time with him. He isn't a very physically affectionate dog, but he wants you close by. He has some trouble getting around, especially up and down the back stairs and sometimes the stairs to the bed. I always try to stay close in case he needs help. He also can't see well, so that needs extra attention -- making sure he gets treats and food and doesn't miss them.
Information Melissa J. would like to know about your pet
For walks: I'd like to know how they are on the leash. I don't mind pullers at all, and in fact often find it interesting what they want to check out. But I'd like to know if they want to run up to other people or dogs, and how they are with them. Do they try to jump up on people? Do you have any problems with other people petting your dog or giving them treats if they have any? If there are other dogs around, is yours comfortable with the usual sniffing and maybe a bit of play, or are they anxious or aggressive? I am very happy to walk dogs of any temperament as long as they aren't aggressive with me, but I need to know if I need to keep them away from other animals or people. For drop-ins: Please let me know about any food/treat needs. I don't want to overfeed or underfeed. If there are any particular games or toys they prefer, I'd love to know that, too! I would also greatly appreciate a heads-up if your dog hasn't had drop-ins before. Even a very sweet, even-tempered dog can become aggressive when a stranger unexpectedly enters their domain, especially if they are alone and feel the need to protect their home. In these cases, I would prefer to do a meet and greet, even if your pet is the sweetest, most loving animal you've ever known. They can act differently in these circumstances than you might think. If a meet and greet is not possible, then please let me know if this will be the first time you've had someone do a drop-in visit for your pet, so I can be prepared for any aggressive behavior. I have had some success in calming upset/scared animals, so I will still be willing to work with you! I just want to know ahead of time. I can and have administered oral meds to dogs. When I watched my aunt's dog, they went in his food. But I have needed to give other dogs oral meds, so I do know how. I had a Maltese once that would not stand for grooming. The vet approved a medication to sedate him, and I learned then how to give it directly, as he'd spit it out if it was concealed in food. However, I do need to know if your pet is difficult to administer to -- do they fight, or spit out the medicine? My top goals for caring for an animal are their safety and my own, so if I feel things are crossing a line that way, I may not be able to administer their medication.
A typical day
Beyond walks, I love to play kickball/fetch and tug-of-war. I am happy to do almost any play a dog would enjoy, except if it involves a lot of running. I can do some if needed, but it isn't the easiest for me, so I prefer to do other activities with them.
Melissa J.
San Antonio, TX