Valerie S.
Ridgewood, NY
Valerie S. has Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Animal Loving Artist with Back Yard
Pet care experience
Hello! I am an artist who loves animals. I have 17 years paid experience of taking care of animals in NYC. I am well versed in boarding at my home and animal sitting in a client's home : drop-in visits for fresh water and food (treats included!), dog walking *of all types* with waste pickup, clean-up of bowls, litter boxes, wee-wee pads, and grooming. I am very communicative and will send written updates with pictures. I promise to provide a loving, caring, and clean environment for your animal(s)! I live in a beautiful historic house in Ridgewood, Queens with a fenced back yard. This has been my home for 9+ years, I pour my heart into taking care of my home and the living beings in which it houses. =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= For many years, I was a loving parent to two rescued sweet grey tabby cats and a devoted step-parent to a tuxie/tortie with "tude". Each of my tabbies were stray cats that appeared in my back yard in different decades, one as a kitten the other as a one-year old cat, both were feral. The one-year old had several challenging behavioral traits due to being a New York street cat. Through loving treatment and overflowing patience, I house broke and trained both of them in their own time. I even succeeded at getting them to live together and share my love, attention, and home! U’.’U U’.’U U’.’U I also grew up with a dachshund, we had many adventures running around the yard, going on walks, and making friends. The dachshund was epileptic and required daily medication for her seizures. I helped my family take care of her and extended her life when she could not walk by begging the vet for imaging of her spine before making a fatal decision - good thing, it was a slipped disk which was easily treatable with cortisone, and she ran around and lived pain-free for many more years. Sadly, the tabbies and dachshund have passed, and the tortie has moved on with her rightful parent. These days, I am a parent to many plants in my backyard. I would love to play with your animals in the yard if they like being outdoors and am happy to take them on walks around the neighborhood. Indoor cats can enjoy watching squirrels and birds from the large bay windows overlooking the backyard. I also have a car for safe round-trip transportation, and can pick up and drop off your animals for an additional fee. As a perk: I have a special gift for calming down cranky animals through providing a soothing touch and deep tissue massage, especially temperamental cats =^.^= and have a soft spot in my heart for punching personality hound dogs U'.'U A fun aside: I was the original dyer for Found My Animal's hand dyed dog leash, collar, and harness collection. I believe in their mission to support animal welfare and rescue organizations.
Reviews
Valerie is such a caring and conscientious animal lover. Leaving our pets is always stressful but Valerie put our minds at rest with lots of updates and photos. It was so comforting to know that our beloved pets were in the safe and careful hands of Valerie.
Valerie is the best! She is so conscientious, caring, and communicative! We know our kitty is in good hands when Valerie is around.
Valerie is a very loving & caring taking care of my cat, Tintin. She sent me photos & texted me from time to time. Tintin loves staying with Valerie, which gives me a peace of mind. She was having fun with Valerie. I’m glad I found Valerie via Rover. She is fantastic!
Another successful last minute trip executed only because I have the best pet sitter in the world!!!!
About Valerie S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
********************************************** COVID-19 SAFETY : When it comes to germs and COVID, there is no need to worry about me bringing anything into your home. I am fully vaccinated and received all boosters and the updated (2023) vaccine. I drive a little Smart Car to navigate the city, wash and sanitize my hands multiple times a day, always wear a KN95 mask in public (including outdoors and inside client's homes), and will take my shoes off at your door. My social engagements are very limited and follow every safety protocol necessary. As an immunocompromised person, I fully understand the need to keep germs from spreading :) **********************************************
Home
Information Valerie S. would like to know about your pet
Please let me know if your pet requires training with specific techniques, has separation anxiety (and the severity), or known triggers, how these may manifest in their behavior, and your methods to help them feel at ease. I am happy to help in behavior modification, the more information I have, the healthier and happier your furry friend will be! Please also let me know if your animal has special needs such as medication administration, frequent pee breaks, and the need for stimulating or calm environments. I will tailor to their needs to ensure they are healthy and in good care!
A typical day
I am a very active person who loves to be outdoors, gardening in my back yard, cooking and making art indoors, going on walks around the neighborhood and paths in nearby parks.
Services
Valerie can host
Valerie can watch in your home
Availability
--------------------------------- PET CARE =^.^= U'.'U --------------------------------- I tailor the care for each animal using detailed information provided by the pet parent. Daily routines are very important for mental and physical health, I have a detailed calendar in order to keep consistency in their care. I work from home with a flexible schedule and have the time and passion to care for your animal(s)! I am very active, love to be outdoors tending to plants and animals, indoors cooking and making art, and go on daily walks around the neighborhood. ---------- BOARDING : ---------- * I am currently accepting new cat boarding clients =^.^= * At this time, I am only boarding dogs who I have previously boarded U'.'U I only board animals from one family at a time, your furry friends will be as comfortable here as they would be in your own home. I take very good care of my home as well as all of the living beings it houses. Vacuuming and wiping surfaces down is done daily to ensure a clean environment. I am no stranger to helping animals with medical treatment (pills, powders, inhalers, liquids, injections). I am fully vaccinated and take health and safety seriously. I will treat your fury friend(s) as my own! I stick to their feeding schedule and amounts, clean their water and food bowls after each serving, and provide plenty of love and playtime. Cats can enjoy an afternoon lounging in the bay windows, watching birds and squirrels play out in the yard - and if they have a harness I can take them out back for fresh air! Dogs can go out in the back yard to pee, poop, and play! I do occasionally need to step out for errands and dog walks / drop-in care, please let me know if your furry friend cannot be left alone. My outings last about 2-3 hours. At this time, due to regular walks and drop-ins, I am uncomfortable boarding dogs with severe separation anxiety without previous arrangement that I am able to be home with them 24/7. ------------------------ DROP-INS / HOUSE SITTING : ------------------------ If invited to provide care in your home, I will treat it as I would my own. I will keep your place clean and safe for your pet, including washing their food and water bowls with each feeding, cleaning and disposing of any waste, and engaging in the daily pet-care routine activities that they are accustomed to. If you are out of town for a long time, I am happy to look after any plants and bring in the mail :) ------- WALKS : ------- I wear bright colors so that cars will see me with your dog while out on walks. I have excellent street safety and always make sure to stop and wait at cross walks. If your dog needs help with triggers, I am happy to navigate them to the best of my ability so that they are prevented or re-routed.
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About Valerie S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
********************************************** COVID-19 SAFETY : When it comes to germs and COVID, there is no need to worry about me bringing anything into your home. I am fully vaccinated and received all boosters and the updated (2023) vaccine. I drive a little Smart Car to navigate the city, wash and sanitize my hands multiple times a day, always wear a KN95 mask in public (including outdoors and inside client's homes), and will take my shoes off at your door. My social engagements are very limited and follow every safety protocol necessary. As an immunocompromised person, I fully understand the need to keep germs from spreading :) **********************************************
Home
Information Valerie S. would like to know about your pet
Please let me know if your pet requires training with specific techniques, has separation anxiety (and the severity), or known triggers, how these may manifest in their behavior, and your methods to help them feel at ease. I am happy to help in behavior modification, the more information I have, the healthier and happier your furry friend will be! Please also let me know if your animal has special needs such as medication administration, frequent pee breaks, and the need for stimulating or calm environments. I will tailor to their needs to ensure they are healthy and in good care!
A typical day
I am a very active person who loves to be outdoors, gardening in my back yard, cooking and making art indoors, going on walks around the neighborhood and paths in nearby parks.
Location
Queens, NY
Valerie S.
Ridgewood, NY