I had the feeling from the first conversation I had with Michael over the phone that this was going to be the right choice, a feeling I did not have until then. To say I was trepidatious is an understatement. I asked Michael to wait and allow Mathilda and I to get out of the vehicle, get her feet on the ground, do those doggy things doggies do and then approach him from a distance. She’s an old dog and she can be vulnerable in those uncertain moments, a formidable dog for her entire life, she now feels vulnerability in the most acute way. Because of her age and increasing infirmity, and also because she has now been a witness to the end of the lives of her siblings and her mother and her father. The wisdom of those experiences has taught her that even the most formidable will fall. Michael agreed and let us come to him out in the field where he was standing. Mathilda, while at the same time being keenly aware of his presence acted as if she already knew him or he wasn’t even standing there. I’m sure we all claim at sometime or another that all dogs love us or that we know dogs and we probably do and they probably do, but I’m very grateful that in this case it was true for Michael and Mathilda. This was not easy for me, as I have repeatedly said. it is the first time in my life, I’m 55 years old and I’ve had a dog or as many as seven every day of it, every single day. I’ve never asked an unfamiliar person to watch my dog, not once. Mathilda has been through a lot lately and I could see when I arrived to pick her up… she was lying on the bed in her blanket in front of the Christmas tree, the casual activities of a warm interior space on a cold winter night happening around her. And though Mathilda seemed forlorn in my absence, she was more comfortable and peaceful than I have seen her in a long time, Michael had to reach down and touch her, to draw her from her reverie and tell her I was there as she was so settled in and relaxed, if also sad with wonder about where I was and when I would return. Her glee at seeing me led her to, in her old age, wag her tail and emit the puppy sounds of joy. She was ready to go, quickly making her way to the door beside me, willing to leave that warm, wonderful space to come with me and I was grateful in that way that makes you count your blessings. I highly recommend Michael and encourage anyone who may like me find themselves needing a safe, loving, warm and soft, kind, and healing retreat for an old dog, or I can imagine a young dog, who is more precious to them than any other thing or all of them combined, to have faith and be patient, to be grateful, and to have trust for Michael, I have more of those things after this experience. I know I can rely on Michael and focus on my work with Mathilda in his care. i looked forward to writing this review from the moment I picked up Mathilda and we could not have had a better experience.

Awesome couple! Really took care of our little guy like he was his! Even gave him a bath so he came home smelling amazing. Overall an amazing experience with these guys and really really recommend.