Animals have been part of my life since the day I was born. I grew up on a farm outside of St. Louis where animals of all kinds were just daily life — not pets you visited, but family you lived alongside. As an only child, they were my closest companions, and that relationship followed me through every chapter of my life, across three states and a military base in Japan. My family’s experience with animals goes well beyond dogs and cats. Over the years we cared for an array of reptiles, frogs, rabbits, turtles, fish (at one point well over 100), two large-breed dogs, and multiple cats. My parents also bred and sold birds privately and to pet stores, including budgies, cockatiels, finches, lovebirds, and parrots. My first real taste of pet care as a service came when we were stationed in Japan, where we informally provided doggy daycare for my dad’s coworkers alongside our own two dogs. As a stay-at-home mom, I’m consistently available Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm, which means your pet gets attentive, present care during the hours most sitters are at a desk job. No rushing home, no checking the clock. I left home to serve in the Navy, and while our household is currently pet-free (we’re waiting to see what direction our daughter gravitates toward before adding a new family member), the knowledge and instincts I built over a lifetime of hands-on animal care don’t go anywhere. One thing I always want to be upfront about: my daughter will be with me when I provide services. She’s 3 years old and genuinely one of the gentlest kids I’ve seen around animals. She approaches them the way she approaches babies — slow, soft, and full of care. She would happily take one of every animal home if she could. That said, I completely understand that some pets don’t do well around small children, and I’d rather be honest about that upfront than put your pet in an uncomfortable situation. If that’s your pet, I may not be the right fit, and there’s no hard feelings in that. What I can offer is a lifetime of real, hands-on experience with an enormous range of animals, a calm and attentive approach to care, and genuine love for the animals I work with. Your pet won’t just be looked after — they’ll be treated like family.