I’m a dog-sitter because I love playing auntie—showering the pups with affection when they come to visit and then sending them home happy. Sitting also means I get to interact with an interesting variety of dogs: puppies, old guys, Mastiffs, Poodles, hyper guys, and bricks with legs. Every day is different, and at the end of the stay, I get to relax in my quiet house and prep for the next adventure! My extensive experience with animals helps me to be an exceptional caregiver. I have worked as an animal adoptions counselor, a veterinary assistant, a volunteer zoo caregiver, and a cat fosterer. Along the way, I’ve done everything from administering medication to managing aggression. I have a busy, loving household. My husband is a firefighter and EMT who gets to do cool things like hang out of helicopters and rescue people. And who also happens to be an avid dog lover. My two children, ages seven and nine, love animals and are always kind and helpful with pets. We have 3 cats: Lily is a tiny princess, Captain Kirk is an adventurer who loves to sneak a peek at guests, and Dante is an old soul who lives for cuddles and disappears whenever other pets come to visit. We live on a quiet street in the Bethany Estates neighborhood, with a fantastic view of Camelback Mountain. We’re on a fenced-in one-acre lot, so there’s plenty of room for active dogs to run and play. We also have a covered patio and play pool for dogs to cool off and splash about. There is also a great park nearby where we can run and play. When a dog stays with me, I’m really engaged with them. I’m a big believer in talking to pets, and I love to cross-stitch miniature portraits of my dog guests. And I love photographing dogs, I love catching just the right look, that special thing that makes them endearing. I like to take pictures the owners can take to work, so that no matter how terrible their day is, they can see that face, and know who is waiting for them when they get home! At our initial meeting, I will be completely transparent. I invite potential clients to look in my garage, inspect my yard, ask me the hard questions! I will be totally honest. My goal is to make sure the pet has a great time, and that all their needs are exceeded during the stay. You could say my approach to dog-sitting is “mi casa es su casa”— no locked doors, no hot scary kennels, no yelling, nothing to fear. I’m eager to be your dog’s auntie--contact me today!