I'd like to start by saying I'm a recent stay at home mom who's raised 5 children. We've always had a dog in our family. It's a wonderful addition to the family to be a pet parent. Our new addition is a 1 1/2 yr old shih tzu named Simbah:) He's like one of the children full of love and affection. He keeps us smiling daily with his antics! I know the responsibility it takes being both a mom and pet parent, and I've always enjoyed and taken them both very seriously! I also understand the concern of having your loved ones cared for in your absence, as I too had those very same concerns working 40+hr weeks. Luckily for me having a very large family came in handy. I hope to be able to eliminate that same concern for you. Kind regards, Teresa