My experience caring for animals has been primarily personal: caring for medium/large size dogs some with mobility impairments and relatively low maintenance cats that have been as close as family members (even closer, depending on the family member). In caring for the animals of others, my experience has been assisting friends when they've needed to travel without their pets. The dogs my family has owned over the years have all been rescue dogs, so I have witnessed firsthand the emotional reaction and vulnerability experienced by an animal when it is taken to an unfamiliar environment - even when accompanied by its owner. I am sensitive to this need and fortunate to be personally flexible in my ability to care for and stay with an animal in its home environment. I also live in an animal friendly apartment building if bringing the animal to my home is preferred. I am a physical therapist and very active in my personal life - with lots of green space around my apartment if your dog likes a lot of activity. My girlfriend has accurately said that spending time with animals will be as good for me as it will be for the animal. I look forward to this opportunity.