In addition to investing time to learn how to care for animals better, I have a degree in creative writing & publishing, and would love to provide a comprehensive service that will also include a mini-story (with photos!) about the time spent sitting and/or walking with your furry friend. Signing up for Rover was somewhat returning to roots—when I first went to college, I was a dog-walker on the side to make a bit of income! However, I recently said goodbye to one of my own best pet friends, a mini-aussie, this past June, who still had a bit of sass even after being 15-and-a-half years old. There is a special-shaped hole and void that never goes away whenever you lose your pet friend, and I also very much understand the specialized love, patience, and medical care that senior pets will require. Examples of senior caregiving / caring for animals with special needs have included administering ever-changing medications, (probiotics to fish oil to glucosamine to trazodone etc.), changing diapers upon experiencing incontinence, monitoring weeping, non-cancerous tumours with weekly photos to check growth along with daily cleansing around a sensitive anal area, providing full-service care after surgery for actual cancerous tumour removal (as well as basic physio due to arthritis and luxating patella), and so on. With senior animals, learning patience when they slow down in general and experience mood-changes and decreased energy is paramount. They will have good and bad days, and both kinds of days might include cleaning up daily vomit when their tummies become very sensitive when they age, learning how to make homemade dog food, changing their feeding habits every few years to ensure good gut health as per vet recommendations, and sleeping on couches beside them or near to them to ensure they aren't alone and feel comfortable. I've also been around cats most of my life. The last cat that my husband and I had was from the Humane Society, a black cat who had unfortunately been quarantined twice due to ringworm outbreaks during her time there, and as such viewed her time during the pandemic, living with her family (us) in an apartment, as, rightfully, another quarantine time. We had to learn how to give her patience, care, understanding, and support, and accept that she likely wouldn't fully heal from her experiences in enclosed spaces, but it was good enough that she felt safe and able to be herself with us. My schedule is highly flexible, I live within the East York catchment area, and I am happy to provide a short story/detailed narrative update after every visit (or end-of week summary, including confirmation of any medication or behavioural changes), so you can ensure your pet is in safe hands. Finally, a fun fact about me is that I learned how to needle-felt animals, including the cat image of a friend's cat attached within my photo carousel, and loved to to try and capture their endearing qualities! Please feel free to reach out with any questions, or schedule a meet & greet, to help you feel more comfortable with your decision to work with me!