I've had a dog from puppy days to passing at 12 years old. I took care of him almost exclusively. During that time I also dogsat for the neighbors and family friends. When I was in college I sat for my landlord's golden retriever for multiple weeks. Now on occasion I dogsit a beagle mix while his humans are with family. Dogs are naturally inclined towards me and know that I am a friend! I have also catsit for a tabby over the winter holidays. And a few years ago a cat entered my life and become part of the family! I am her primary caretaker. While I did not know much about cats at first, I did a lot of research and talked to my cat-owning friends, and now I feel pretty confident in my ability to accommodate a cat's needs and properly communicate.