Sarah-Jane C.
Portland, OR
Ladd's local dog walker
Pet care experience
Hi, I'm SJ and 'woof!' was my first word! Some of my earliest memories are of the Great Pyrenees, my first best friend, and the little Bichon Frisé my family and I had as a child in South Africa. Throughout the years of my life, I have had or taken care of pets of all different backgrounds, ages, and sizes. Ranging from large, anxious rescues to chill, little couch potatoes and everything in between, I've rarely met a pet who I couldn't eventually give a big belly rub to or get a little wag from. For most of my childhood, I grew up with both cats and dogs and throughout the years I have spent a lot of time with my siblings' and friends' pets. Over the past 15 years, I have had several pet and house-sitting gigs for cats and dogs and help friends frequently with extra pet-care needs such as walks and meal times when they are unavailable. I am comfortable taking care of young and old dogs and pets with specific needs and lead with patience when pets need a little extra attention. I can't have a pet with my current living situation, so let me walk and help you take care of your floofs!
Reviews
SJ has house sat with our German shepherd, Golden retriever mix, Remi, a few times over the years when we went out of town. I always felt that Remi was in good hands with her and never had to worry about him. Any time SJ would come over, Remi was always happy to see her and their interactions were really sweet.
I've known SJ for 15 years and she's been a consistently reliable and trustworthy person. I've seen her care for others' pets with love and, as a professional dog trainer, I would absolutely trust her with my own.
SJ has been a friend and chosen family member for about a decade, during which time I have seen her care for and interact with her family dogs, our dogs, and dogs of friends, dogs for whom she's house-sitted...everything from the ankle biters up to the big pups. When we needed someone to fill in unexpectedly during the recent snowstorm to look after our dogs, she was our very first thought, as our dogs FREAKING LOVE HER and it shows not just in their enthusiasm for her arrival, but in how calm and well behaved they are around her on walks and around the house whether we're home or not. Are we miffed that they might choose her lap over ours when we're all together? Sure, a little. But we can and do trust SJ with our home, or vehicles, and even more precious, our dogs, absolutely and without reservation because she is gifted, conscientious, resourceful and a pleasure for us and them, to be around.
Sj is amazing with dogs. I have two rat terrier mixes and they get extremely excited whenever she comes over to the house. We recently took a trip to the beach and invited Sj to join us. The sand was really hot so she carried one of my dogs to the wet sand to protect his paws! She is incredibly patient and gentle and loves to spend time hanging out and cuddling them. You can be sure she will give them a ton of attention. I highly recommend Sj!
About Sarah-Jane C.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I am a detail-oriented person and like certain things in my own home to be done in a specific way, so when it comes to your/other people's homes and pets, I operate in the same way, respecting the ways you'd like things to be done. I am always appreciative of a list of specific pet or house rules, but am comfortable figuring things out on my own when appropriate. I was a resident assistant in college and am good at maintaining a levelheaded during emergency or stressful situations. I am never hesitant to reach out to ask questions or inform when necessary.
Information Sarah-Jane C. would like to know about your pet
If I'm walking a dog, I'd like to know how they are with seeing other dogs, cats, or children. How you divert behavior such as barking or pulling. And how and when you give treats. If for a pop-in visit, I'd like to know how best to administer any meds, the usual protocol, and any unusual behavior. If I'm house-sitting, I want to know what things are important to you, how you like your home kept, and what are general rules for walks, meals, treats, etc.
A typical day
Living in Ladd's means I get to walk dogs all over this beautiful neighborhood. If you/your dog is comfortable going off leash I love to go to the elementary school or walk over to Rev Hall.
Services
Sarah-Jane can watch in your home
Availability
My availability is currently very open and flexible while I casually look for full-time work. Beyond the occasional appointment or obligation, I have the flexibility daily to work around most potential or foreseeable conflicts. I am available for daily walks and house sitting gigs.
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About Sarah-Jane C.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I am a detail-oriented person and like certain things in my own home to be done in a specific way, so when it comes to your/other people's homes and pets, I operate in the same way, respecting the ways you'd like things to be done. I am always appreciative of a list of specific pet or house rules, but am comfortable figuring things out on my own when appropriate. I was a resident assistant in college and am good at maintaining a levelheaded during emergency or stressful situations. I am never hesitant to reach out to ask questions or inform when necessary.
Information Sarah-Jane C. would like to know about your pet
If I'm walking a dog, I'd like to know how they are with seeing other dogs, cats, or children. How you divert behavior such as barking or pulling. And how and when you give treats. If for a pop-in visit, I'd like to know how best to administer any meds, the usual protocol, and any unusual behavior. If I'm house-sitting, I want to know what things are important to you, how you like your home kept, and what are general rules for walks, meals, treats, etc.
A typical day
Living in Ladd's means I get to walk dogs all over this beautiful neighborhood. If you/your dog is comfortable going off leash I love to go to the elementary school or walk over to Rev Hall.
Location
Portland, OR
Sarah-Jane C.
Portland, OR