I'm a 40-year-old East York resident with a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing & Publishing, and would love to provide a comprehensive service that would also include a mini-story (with photos!) about the time spent sitting and/or walking with your furry friend. Signing up for Rover is somewhat returning to roots, back to when I first went to college, as I was a dog-walker (thinking of creating a business called Space Dog with a friend at the time!), 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, ranging from antacids to probiotics to fish oil to glucosamine to trazodone etc., etc., changing diapers upon experiencing incontinence due to aging (and eventually administering daily medication to prevent accidents), 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, learning patience when they slow down in general and experience mood-changes and decreased energy, cleaning up daily vomit when their tummies become very sensitive when they age, learning how to make homemade dog food from my mother-in-law to feed my senior dog, 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, and the last cat that we 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. I also learned needle-felting around this time, and often needle-felted chubby animals, including the cat image attached below, to try and capture their endearing qualities. Finally, every animal needs patience, care, understanding, and support. I have been blessed by being surrounded by people for much of my life, including friends and family who have deeply loved their animals, who have sought to understand their nature and who have taught me how to do the same. My schedule is highly flexible, and as a special touch, I would love to send you an amusing 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.) Please also find attached a few references (and find their pet's photos in the photo carousel included here) to help you feel more comfortable with your decision to work with me!