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Nicole H.

Philadelphia, PA

5.0 out of 5 stars
109 reviews
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First-class care for dogs & cats!

Pet care experience

Hi! I'm Nicole, and I'm here because I absolutely adore dogs and cats. **My Pet-Care Qualifications & More Details About Me:** I've had three dogs of my own: one adopted as an older dog, one taken in as a very nervous rescue, and one I raised from the age of eight weeks. Through my time with them and my work in pet care, I've gained experience caring for a wide variety of types of dogs, including nippy puppies that aren't housebroken, rambunctious dogs with endless energy, senior dogs, fearful dogs, dogs with medical needs, and dogs with separation anxiety. I'm comfortable working with dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Further, working as a cat sitter has given me the opportunity to befriend many felines, from kittens to seniors, including cats with medical needs, cats with fear of strangers, and cats with anxiety. In addition to being a lifelong animal lover and experienced pet-care provider, I am demonstrably responsible and reliable. I earned my PhD in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley at the end of 2017 and am now a professional science writer. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to spend time focusing on caring for pets rather than thinking solely about science. I pride myself on being unwaveringly committed to any work I take on, and you can trust that your pet's safety and happiness are my top priorities!

Reviews

Valeria V.
Drop-In Visits • Nov 15, 2021
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Nicole is always great with our Philo! We appreciate how well she takes care of our little man!!

Valeria V.
Drop-In Visits • Sep 06, 2021
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Nicole is the best, she is so communicative and makes us feel at ease whenever we are out! Thank you so much Nicole for always caring for our Philo ❤️

Christopher S.
Drop-In Visits • Aug 15, 2021
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We’ve used Nicole for almost a year now for drop in visits when we leave town for short trips! At this point we refuse to use anybody else as she is so good with our cat and dog (and our dog does not always make it easy)!! Would highly recommended!!

Erin C.
Dog Walking • Jul 24, 2021
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Always great! Spends time and really cares about my pets!

About Nicole H.

Communication

54 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in under an hour
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

12 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

**My Services:** My drop-in visits include essentially any pet-related services needed within the allotted time frame—if the care required will take more time than a standard 30- or 60-minute visit, feel free to contact me so we can work out a fair rate. For dogs, drop-in visits most often include walking, playing, cuddling, and/or feeding; for cats, typical activities include feeding, scooping litter, playing, and/or petting. My dog-walking service primarily involves walks, although I’m happy to refill water bowls or take care of anything else your dog or dogs may need if it fits into the span of time you have reserved. You may also choose to book walks as drop-in visits—my price is the same, and I offer photos and GPS-tracked walk maps with both services. On walks, my attention is solely focused on your dog or dogs—yours will be never be walked with other clients' dogs. For safety and liability reasons, I keep all dogs leashed on outdoor excursions and do not bring clients' dogs to public dog parks. In addition to standard care, I can administer oral and topical medications to dogs and cooperative cats, but I do not perform injections. I have a small amount of experience caring for fish, rodents, and birds commonly kept as pets; however, I do not specialize in more exotic animals (such as reptiles) or farm animals (such as chickens and horses). I am happy to tend to plants according to your instructions, but I do not claim to have a green thumb! For all services, I offer optional introductory calls (phone or video), meet-and-greet visits, and drop-off and pick-up visits for keys, all free of charge.

Information Nicole H. would like to know about your pet

Does your pet have any special needs, medical conditions, triggers to avoid, or behaviors you don't want reinforced? Are there any other pets in the house, even if I will not be responsible for their care? Is there anything else you want me to know?

A typical day

I tailor my care to each client's needs. Whether you're seeking adventures in the park for your high-energy dog, you have a puppy who needs to learn basic commands, or you just want your laid-back pet to have some pampering on the couch, I can provide it! I can make an exception to my requirement that all dogs must be leashed outdoors only if there is a securely fenced outdoor area at your home—I'll gladly take dogs for off-leash playtime in the fenced area at your request. Indoor play is always an option as well!

Services

House Sitting
in your home
AWAY
Drop-In Visits
visits in your home
AWAY
Dog Walking
in your neighborhood
AWAY

Nicole can watch in your home

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs

Availability

**My Schedule & Availability:** Because I work from home as a science writer on a flexible schedule, I'm happy to work around your needs. I am often booked with meetings during Monday afternoons and for a short period during Tuesday afternoons, but my schedule is otherwise usually open. While I prefer some notice, I do accept last-minute bookings if I have availability, and I do not charge any fees for cancellations or booking modifications.

About Nicole H.

Communication

54 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in under an hour
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

12 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

**My Services:** My drop-in visits include essentially any pet-related services needed within the allotted time frame—if the care required will take more time than a standard 30- or 60-minute visit, feel free to contact me so we can work out a fair rate. For dogs, drop-in visits most often include walking, playing, cuddling, and/or feeding; for cats, typical activities include feeding, scooping litter, playing, and/or petting. My dog-walking service primarily involves walks, although I’m happy to refill water bowls or take care of anything else your dog or dogs may need if it fits into the span of time you have reserved. You may also choose to book walks as drop-in visits—my price is the same, and I offer photos and GPS-tracked walk maps with both services. On walks, my attention is solely focused on your dog or dogs—yours will be never be walked with other clients' dogs. For safety and liability reasons, I keep all dogs leashed on outdoor excursions and do not bring clients' dogs to public dog parks. In addition to standard care, I can administer oral and topical medications to dogs and cooperative cats, but I do not perform injections. I have a small amount of experience caring for fish, rodents, and birds commonly kept as pets; however, I do not specialize in more exotic animals (such as reptiles) or farm animals (such as chickens and horses). I am happy to tend to plants according to your instructions, but I do not claim to have a green thumb! For all services, I offer optional introductory calls (phone or video), meet-and-greet visits, and drop-off and pick-up visits for keys, all free of charge.

Information Nicole H. would like to know about your pet

Does your pet have any special needs, medical conditions, triggers to avoid, or behaviors you don't want reinforced? Are there any other pets in the house, even if I will not be responsible for their care? Is there anything else you want me to know?

A typical day

I tailor my care to each client's needs. Whether you're seeking adventures in the park for your high-energy dog, you have a puppy who needs to learn basic commands, or you just want your laid-back pet to have some pampering on the couch, I can provide it! I can make an exception to my requirement that all dogs must be leashed outdoors only if there is a securely fenced outdoor area at your home—I'll gladly take dogs for off-leash playtime in the fenced area at your request. Indoor play is always an option as well!

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Nicole H.'s Neighborhood
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Nicole H.

Philadelphia, PA

5.0 out of 5 stars
109 reviews