5.0

I have grown up with dogs, and have years of experience volunteering at humane societies. I have handled dogs and cats of all ages and sizes, and I love them all! I am currently going back to school and have availability on most days, although it does vary by semester. Animals are a huge part of my life and I cherish the time I get to spend with them and strive to provide them with the best possible care. It can be stressful when their owners are gone, so making their experience special and something to look forward to is important to me. Pet safety always comes first. I make sure animals are secure in their leash, do not escape, are kept at a distance from other animals (unless socialization is requested), and do not ingest anything dangerous. I am careful about keeping germs from spreading between pets and will always wash or sanitize my hands before touching your pet, will sanitize any toys I bring, and only use clean towels if they are necessary. Cat and dog body language is a special interest of mine, and I make an effort to interpret the signals of your animal and adjust my behavior to make them more comfortable if necessary. I believe in being gentle, kind, and encouraging with my tone of voice and actions. Pets pay a lot of attention to people, and can be sensitive to their reactions. For dogs: -I will follow your instructions for any walks/feeding/playtime -Unless instructed otherwise, I like to let dogs make a lot of the decisions about where we go on a walk and have lots of opportunities to stop and sniff. Smells are so important to dogs and are a major way their brain stays active and enriched. -I can handle strong pullers and fast walkers. -I am happy to reinforce any training goals or commands that you are working on with your dog if you would like. -I supply my own poop bags. -I have a couple of kong balls that I will bring (sanitized between dogs) if you are ok with your dog playing with them at our visits. I find for ball-motivated dogs, it can be a useful distraction and also a fun way to make their visit more exciting with a novel toy. -If approved by the owner, I bring 100% chicken treats that I can use to make them more comfortable or reward good behavior. -I will keep you updated on the appearance of their stool to make sure you know if anything is out of the ordinary for them. -I monitor how much panting and heavy breathing a dog is showing in the heat, especially in short-faced dog breeds. -If we walk through mud or rain, I bring a towel to wipe paws and towel off before coming inside. -I am experienced with elderly dogs and am careful of their joints and hips when handling them or asking them for certain movements. -I have experience with reactive and resource-guarding dogs. I pay extra close attention to any body language and the dog's individual cues in these cases, and have protective gloves if they are necessary in an emergency. For cats: -Cats have a very special place in my heart. They are all so unique, which makes getting to know each individual so rewarding. -I approach each cat at their comfort level. Sometimes a cat needs to watch me in their environment for a bit until they feel ready to come close. Some cats can be enticed by play. Some are won over with brushing or petting. Some will not be comfortable to come out for anyone except their person, and that is fine! -If approved by you beforehand, I can bring some of the many toys my personal cats have no interest in (washed before hand) to give them some novel enrichment while you're away. -I can also offer them some 100% chicken treats if you give the ok beforehand. -I have experience giving oral medication, subcutaneous fluids, eye or ear drops, brushing reluctant cats, removing mats, nail trimming, and retrieving cats from hiding places if necessary. I recommend doing a meet and greet session before our first visit, but if you provide me with instructions, I am also comfortable with visiting an animal on short notice. I look forward to meeting your animals!