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Shanna M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
46 repeat clients
Profile image

Shanna M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
46 repeat clients

Highlights

Shanna has Star Sitter status!
Basic background check
20 years of experience
Can administer medication
Special needs experience
Senior dog experience

Pet care experience

Special Needs Nurse & Sitter

Hey Austin Pet Parents! 👋 I’m Shanna, a veterinary technician of 20+ years turned in-home pet caregiver. I traded hospitals for homes to care for pets with “high”or "special" needs because I noticed there was a need here for pet families and I wanted to fill that gap. Special needs pets can often go overlooked and I'm here to change that! I’m best known for helping introverted pets get their emotional needs met, senior pets stay healthy and comfortable, creating positive environments for medical treatments, and building trust with pets that have unique personalities, especially the deep feelers, anxious or “on the spectrum” types. My work approach is holistic and intuitive and focuses on your pet as a whole and the human-animal bond. It relies on being communicative with you, your pet, and sometimes your vet when necessary. Due to the high demand of pets with special needs, I'm only available for overnight stays, which means I don't offer one-off dog walks or drop-in home visits to non-overnight clients. Since there are so many great sitters and walkers out there, I reserve my time for the more challenging situations that require an exceptional skill set. I take the time to set us up for success and I create a custom job according to what you and your pet needs, so you feel empowered to go on that trip and live your life outside of your home. Leaving pets with extra needs can be hard, but I hope with my approach, it can feel easier 💛 My consult process starts with a phone call, and if we think we'd be a great fit, I’d love to set up an in-person meeting with you and my potential new bff. ⭐️ Note: I charge for drop-in bookings for all in person meet and greet visits. The standard rate is $37 if you’re within 5 miles. If between 5-10 miles, I’ll adjust to $50. I’ll also add rideshare transportation costs to overnight services to and from your home and I’m happy to provide a quote upon request. I'm a non driver by choice in a driving city so thanks for understanding!

Qualifications

46 repeat pet parents
96% response rate
Usually responds in around an hour
70% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration

Safety, trust & environment

I take the time to get to know your pets and build real trust that makes the caregiving process feel like a partnership. Special needs pets with either physical, mental, or emotional challenges - especially anxiety - greatly benefit from compassion, understanding, and meeting them at a slower pace. My intent is to always provide a positive experience especially through any anxieties for both you and your pet.

Ratings and reviews

5.0
stars
116 ratings
Jason H.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Aug 29, 2026

Shanna is the best!! She’s our go-to sitter and we always feel so comfortable leaving our two dogs with her. Just got back from a 9 day trip and we came home to happy pups and a spotless house as always. We love having her stay with them and can’t recommend her enough!

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Jessica H.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Aug 20, 2026

Shanna was great as always. Great communication and care for my cat and home

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Olivia A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Aug 02, 2026

Could not appreciate Shanna more! She was wonderful with our nailah girl!

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Caroline P.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Jul 18, 2026

Shanna really was a saint. She took my sweet boy to the vet for me and remained calm and understanding the whole time. Elton and I would definitely use her again!

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Jason H.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Mar 24, 2026

Shanna is absolutely amazing! This was her third time watching our 2 dogs and we couldn’t be happier. She is incredibly reliable, communicative, and clearly cares so much about them. We always feel at ease knowing they are in such good hands, and it is obvious our dogs love her too. We are so grateful to have found Shanna!

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Delanee H.
5.0 out of 5 stars
House Sitting • Feb 17, 2026

Shanna was a lifesaver! My pup loved her so much & the updates of their day through out my trip so helpful in ensuring everything went smoothly

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Calendar and availability

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
SMTWTFS

Schedule

Pet care and client relationships is my main source of work, so I’m either working with a client during the day, switching homes, or attending in-person meetings. I only work within the city limits, but I’ll consider traveling further distances for longer overnight stays and if travel costs are accomodated.

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs
Dogs over 1 year old
Shanna can host up to 1 drop-in per day
It’s really helpful to know what special attention your pet requires, what behaviors to pay attention to, and most importantly, what NOT to do. I go to great lengths to build trust at the beginning which requires me to show up with positive energy, and any mistakes in the beginning can make it harder in the long term. We'll go through a detailed check list to make sure we don't miss care details, but if there’s anything else you want me to know, I’d love to hear about it!
Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.