House Sitting in Rio

“Tessa was amazing! Came to our house for a meet and greet before we left on our trip, checked in regularly with texts/pictures and left the house probably cleaner than it was when we left. We will definitely ask her to sit again in the future!!!”

Patrick H.

“Rosey was great with our Great Dane, Marleigh! From night one Marleigh seemed at ease with Rosey and we appreciated plenty of photos & updates; Marleigh appreciated plenty of walks, snuggles, & QT with Rosey while we were away! Thanks for taking good care of our doggo (& house!) while we were away!!”

Jillian B.

“Bertie and Lissette's family were amazing! They took great care of my puppy and were very responsive and easy to communicate with. I will definitely contact them again the next time I am in Charlottesville.”

Onyx M.

“Danielle did an amazing job taking care of our very new puppy! She handled everything that a new puppy throws at you very well. Our home and new family member were in great hands with Danielle.”

Scott N.

“Kailyn was so professional and communicative. She takes her job seriously and it shows. My babies were healthy and happy when I returned from my trip, and that’s everything! I came home to my house in order, and a darling personal note from her with little photos of my dogs attached. Best experience I’ve had with a Rover sitter. Peace of mind is something you can’t put a price on!”

Dana K.

“Nathan was great! He house sat our mini Aussie for a weekend while we were out of state and went on multiple walks and was great with him! Highly recommend if you have a high energy dog!”

Matheus R.

“Out of towner: Abby was amazing at watching our dog for the first time as we came to town for an event. She was so easy to communicate with and took extra great care of our dog for the night. Wish we lived closer so we could use her again!”

Ethan L.

About: What sets me apart as a pet sitter is my extensive experience handling high-responsibility care, complex routines, and multi-pet households. I grew up fostering kittens, have my own beloved animals at home, and have been trusted to manage up to 6 animals simultaneously, so I am incredibly comfortable maintaining a calm, structured environment even with a full house. Beyond standard dog walking, feeding, and playtime, I am highly experienced in administering special medications and following precise care plans. For your absolute peace of mind, I hold active EMT and CPR certifications. This background means I possess sharp attention to detail, strong situational awareness, and the ability to remain completely calm and capable in any emergency. Whether your pet is a high-energy pup who needs lots of exercise or a senior pet requiring careful medical monitoring, I am dedicated to providing a safe, reliable, and loving experience. I am currently on summer break from my pre-medical neuroscience track at UVA, where I'm working part-time as an EMT and interning. My ultimate goal is to become a pediatric oncologist, but right now, I am looking for a rewarding side hustle because I deeply miss having regular connections with animals! Because my summer schedule is highly structured and predictable, I can easily integrate dedicated pet care into my daily routine. I have wide-open availability for boarding and housesitting on weekends, and plenty of open blocks during the weekday to focus entirely on keeping your pets happy, exercised, and loved. I offer pet care and dog walking exclusively within the comfort and familiarity of the client's home or neighborhood, which I find keeps pets relaxed and stress-free. When house-sitting, my top priorities are safety, strict adherence to your routine, and maintaining the utmost respect for your home. Because of my background in emergency services, I am naturally highly observant and detail-oriented. I treat your home with the same care and respect that I would my own—ensuring doors are locked, security systems are set, and potential hazards are entirely out of reach before I head out. For walking clients, I always double-check harnesses, use secure leashes, and maintain constant situational awareness of our surroundings. I strictly follow your rules regarding feeding schedules, medication administration, and boundaries, keeping you updated with pictures and texts so you always have total peace of mind.

“Dakota once again took great care of our Gretzky, who has lots of dietary and medication needs. We will absolutely be using Dakota from here on out!”

Landon R.

“Genesis was wonderful! Kept us updated and sent lots of pictures. She stayed at our house for two nights and the place is spotless. Benny loved her!”

Emily H.

“Mackenzie is really responsible and trustworthy, detail oriented with following instructions and my puppy’s care and has a great attitude when things shift last minute— loved her stay and thankful for her exceptional help!”

Laurie G.

“Madelyn was an absolutely wonderful sitter for my cat, Yuki! 🐾 She was reliable, caring, and kept me updated throughout my trip, which gave me total peace of mind. I came home to a very happy and well-cared-for kitty, and the house was just as I left it. I’d highly recommend Madelyn to anyone looking for a trustworthy and loving sitter!”

Jenna K.

“Anne took great care of our two dogs and two guinea pigs during our two-week trip. We felt very comfortable having her house-sitting and she was great about keeping the dogs' routines going on as normal. She was very responsible and was friendly and engaging with our pets. We were very happy to have her here at our house for our pets.”

Robin C.

“Zach took wonderful care of our home and dog while we were out of town. Harlow was spoiled with so many snuggles and quality time. We hope to have him stay again in the future. Thank you, Zach!”

Alex B.

About: I’ve always had animals in my younger life from cats to dogs, and even though I only have a cat I continue to love dogs. My current housing situation allows me to share dog sitting and caring of his clients dogs (ages 9 months to 14 years) for the last ten years. Since then I have asked my neighbors for tending to the needs of their dogs be it from a 5 mile walk on and off leash to a 100 yard potty break in addition to giving medications. I’m currently working part time three days a week and an occasional Saturday, so I have the time to care and interact for your furry friend. I live in a neighborhood with easy access to the Rivanna trails and a road trip access to a farm with woods in Earlysville for running in fields. I also have a very tolerant cat who actually enjoys dogs staying with me because she’s learned that visiting dogs often get a treat she’s earned one too. My house has hardwood floors on the first floor throughout access to the carpeted lower level is through a door. The dog would have free range of the house while we were at home and unless he/she is accustomed to be crated.

“We love having Kris stay at our house to watch Marleigh! She takes great care of our doggo (gives her a lot of love!) *and* our home while we’re away. Thanks again, Kris!”

Jillian B.

“Dawn Star took wonderful care of my two dogs while my family and I were out of town for a long weekend. I came back home to happy dogs and a well cared for home. This was my first experience with a house sitter and found my dogs to be much more relaxed at the end of the stay compared to when they board at a facility. One of my dogs is very high energy, and the other is more reserved. Dawn Star handled their particular dynamics without issues. She also paid attention to my care/ instruction sheet and followed it to a T. I’m very happy with this experience and would hire Dawn Star again.”

Sophia F.

About: I have a large family dog that I have been responsible for since I was about 10 years old. She has since gotten older so I have experience with a senior dog and giving any sorts of medication (and the peanut butter necessary to get her to take it). I am no stranger to having to clean up any accidents in the house so that is a non-issue for me. I am also open to taking care of other animals like rodents or turtles or other cage creatures. I am a true and passionate animal lover! My schedule is very flexible at the moment. I am happy to give as much or little time needed for the pets. I can figure out any scheduling and details necessary with clients. I am never loud coming into a home. I always let the pets come to me unless they are hiding on purpose. I take care instructions very seriously and will follow everything exactly and will reach out if I have questions about the best way I can care for your fur friend.

“We hit the jackpot with Lindsey! She watched our 4 pets after a last minute booking and did a wonderful job of following our instructions/requests and keeping us informed every day. One of our dogs got sick and she quickly notified us. We came home to some happy animals!”

Elaina J.

“Emily was great with my cat! She communicated well and cat seemed to be comfortable with her right from the start. I would definitely recommend booking with Emily!”

Courtney R.