I have been housesitting in the UK, as you can see from my reviews in photos, but now back in Michigan and reactivating my profile here. I love all animals and am sensitive to their needs and preferences, whether they are affectionate and like a lot of attention or if they are shy and prefer to hide. My usual approach for the first few days is to give treats or otherwise get them to associate me with food, and then they usually can tolerate me from there. :) I know it can be confusing or stressful at first for them to have their family gone and someone else in their house instead, but it's still so much better for them than going to a kennel, and I like to think of it as being a friend who comes over and helps them enjoy life and be cared for until their family returns. My general housesitting process is to arrive at the previously-agreed upon date and time, texting a photo and brief message to check-in if owners are already gone. I spend a few minutes connecting with the pets and checking everything over, and then give a potty break and/or walk. From there it's about following all instructions from the owners and making sure the pets are relaxed and comfortable with me, with 1-2 walks per day and petting and play. I may also allow them to sleep on the bed or floor in the bedroom with me. I do not give them human food unless previously instructed -- one exception might be that cheese is a brilliant vehicle for delivering a hidden medication. I send twice daily updates, morning and evening, with photos and a brief report on how it's going and any minor issues or questions. For major issues, I appreciate having emergency contact information of a local family member or neighbor. I have not ever had an emergency situation while petsitting, but it's good to have the contact info just in case. I currently work long days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I can still do overnights on those days, but it would be best if you have someone who can pop in for a potty break a couple times during the day. Otherwise, my time is free to devote to your pets. I may occasionally take a short trip for shopping, errands, sightseeing, going to church, etc for 1-2 hours. I spend my last few hours before departure cleaning up after myself, including stripping the bed (if time permits I’ll run through the laundry cycle), vacuuming, wiping down bathroom and kitchen surfaces, and straightening and tidying as needed. Owners can expect to come home to a clean space, in the same or better condition than when I arrived. Additional info: -Please double-check that your dates are accurate, as I can only guarantee availability for the dates we agree to and have booked. If it turns out your travel time extends beyond these dates, or if you are delayed, you can check my calendar or ask if I'm available, and I'll do my best to help, but I can't guarantee I'll be available. -You can rest assured that I do not cancel. I understand the stress that cancellation places on people, especially since it has been done to me, and this is not something I want to cause. I enjoy repeat customers and positive reviews. :) -Please be sure your pets and home are treated for fleas, as I am going into many different homes with pets. -Dogs must be leash-trained in order to be walked. I can handle up to 2 large dogs on a walk at a time. If dog is not leash-trained, or in other words, pulls on the leash excessively and dominates the walk to go in his own direction, I may decline walks until the dog is properly trained. -I do not have guests over, it will be just me in the home. I do not smoke, and I only drink in social settings. -As a single woman, for my own security I keep the doors locked at all times and do not answer the landline or door, unless requested by owners and expected ahead of time, such as a delivery. -My fee is a flat rate of $35/night for up to two dogs and/or two cats (or a combination totaling two). Rover is setup to charge per pet and I can't modify it until after a request comes in, which I can then customize. So if you have two pets and are quoted $35/pet when requesting, don't let it stop you, I will adjust the quote to the flat rate of $35/night if we decide to book. If you have more than two pets, I have an additional rate of $15/dog and $5/ cat to cover additional walking and cleaning. -I am fine to use Rover TOS for the first sit. I also have my own simple contract if you prefer. Thank you for reading and entrusting your pets and home to my care!