PET CARE HISTORY: I grew up with Labradors and was responsible for feeding, walking and poop-scooping from a young age. When I was 15 my family got a Lab puppy and I trained her basic commands, and I'm proud to say that she was the BEST girl for her very long life. My family adopted our first cat at age 16, and then I promptly became a hybrid dog/cat person. Over my adolescence I routinely dog walked and did cat check-ins for my neighbors. Now that I'm in Burlington, I routinely dog sit and dog walk for family and friends, and have taken in dogs for several days at a time. I recently began running with a friend's dog and loved it, so that's a fun enrichment activity I can offer :) MY PETS: Upon moving to Burlington my husband and I adopted our first pet, a beautiful black American shorthair named Frankie. We didn't know it at the time, but she had cerebellar hypoplasoa, hydrocephalus, and a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. We became experts on managing a chronically ill cat, including administering oral medication, giving her a bath (a true art form), helping her go to the bathroom, and making our home accessible since she could not jump. We had to say goodbye to her after just two years, but she taught us so much and cemented our undying love for cats, especially those that need a little TLC. We now have an American shorthair, Aldo, with whom I am utterly besotted.