Ray has a special gift with animals. They just naturally LIKE him. My dog and cat do not generally like people outside the family, but they fell in love with him instantly. He just has that vibe that makes critters comfortable. I trusted Ray to care for my very complicated Siamese and Chocolate Lab children back in May, when I was in Europe for a month. They bonded quickly, and were both sitting on him as I was putting my suitcase in the car. That screamed volumes to me. As well, he asked a lot of questions about their personalities and made sure that he could follow my care instructions to the letter. During my trip, Ray kept me constantly updated on how they were doing, even sending video of playtime and grooming. We even had a couple of live chats, which made being away from my "kids" more tolerable. I returned from my trip finding 2 very happy and healthy animals. I would gladly have Ray take care of them again, and would not hesitate to recommend him!