House Sitting in Saint James

“There are not enough stars to fully convey our feelings of how we felt leaving our Newfoundland, Shih Tzu, chickens and fish with people we had only just met. Emma and Trent were exactly how they described themselves in their Rover Profile. Reagan immediately found Trent’s lap and Peaches was xheckinf out Emma for treats.❤️ Peaches and Reagan were treated exactly how we wanted them to be treated. Even though we couldn’t include the fact we had chickens (and fish) in our Rover profile, Emma and Trent were very receptive to including them in their daily care routines. We communicated on a regular basis using our Group Chat and Emma & Trent were kind enough to send some great pix of the “girls”. I’m sure their time with the girls and staying at our home will be as memorable for them as it was for us. Two days into our trip/their stay, they were hit with a blizzard that dropped 24” of snow. Although our home is beautiful when it snows, they were snowed in. It took 2 days before we could get them shoveled out. They had to clear a pathway for the dogs to go out along with a few other areas. And as if that wasn’t enough, one of the biggest trees in our yard fell onto the chicken coops outdoor area and destroyed it along with the chain link fence. They said they heard a tremendous sound and then they saw it. It was unbelievable. We were able to get my son to check it out to ensure it was secured from predators and that none of the chickens were hurt. Thank goodness was everyone was fine. We highly recommend Emma and Trent to care for your pets and your home and will definitely use their services again. Thank you both!”

Laura

“Staci is wonderful. We just did a trial run for a longer trip and it worked out great! We have three dogs, one of whom is very difficult and she really was able to accommodate and work through his quirks. We also felt relaxed and appreciated her photos and updates.”

Monique A.

“Tatiana did a fantastic job watching my puppy Wesley today. She played outside with him and sent me texts and pictures throughout the day. I would highly recommend her and can’t wait to book future events. I felt completely confident leaving my fur baby with her.”

Andria F.

“Cara takes great care of my dog, and always makes sure to provide prompt updates and photos. She’s a pro!”

Margaret S.

“Elisa was so great with our senior dogs. She was attentive and so loving. We will be using her again in the near future!! Thank you again Elisa!”

Melissa M.

“Kim is awesome! I felt 100% comfortable leaving my pup knowing he was with her. She clearly both loves and understands dogs and is reliable, a good communicator, and lovely to deal with. I came home to a happy and well cared for dog. Thank you!”

Kimberly C.

“Melanie and Anthony are absolute gems as pet sitters and house guests. They are so kind and caring- both towards animals and towards us humans - taking great care of all of us during their stay. They sent lovely photos of our pets being adored and living their best lives in our absence and they took great care to be respectful about my needs as a person with Celiac disease, even leaving extra GF staples for me and cleaning the house! They are truly great humans and we feel so lucky to have found them. Booking them again ASAP!!”

Jennifer B.

“Melissa is simply amazing. We have re-booked her over 10 times for home visits and home sitting our pet, Scott. We all were going on an international trip of ~10 days and we were worried since this was the first time we using someone’s services to stay at home and take care of Scott. Punctuality is Melissa’s virtue and Scott was absolutely comfortable with her. All those 10 days, we were very peaceful and Melissa ensured, with pictures and videos of Scott, that we were always in touch! A very big shout out to Melissa for a fantastic service!”

Prabhu M.

“Another wonderful job by Amanda! Our elder dog Chelsea was getting over not feeling well and Amanda cared for her like she was her own. She gave lots of feedback and pics. Showered our Chelsea Girl with attention. Will book again!”

Dawn G.

“Kelly was a pleasure! We met in advance for her to meet the fur babies, which I really appreciated. She helped watch 3 of our animals, one being a senior English bulldog that needs extra care and it was comforting to know while my husband and I were away, they were in good hands. They loved her! Which is also comforting! Thanks Kelly!! :)”

Nikki M.

About: While I’ve never owned a dog, I have worked as a dog sitter and walker since I was a kid, and I’ve been in and around dogs my whole life. I also have in-depth experience with other animals including rabbits, lizards, snakes, gerbils/mice, rats, fish, frogs, but especially cats. I volunteered at a cat shelter administering meds and working with the high needs and feral cats. I am a graduate student so I have a very flexible schedule outside of Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I can stay at any house within 30 minutes of stony Brook university for as long as you need. I like to get the basics out of the way first; walk, food, water, meds and other maintenance (litter-box, pet related cleaning ect). I love to send a cute photo of your pet(s) to you every day to ensure both your peace of mind and help build that library of cute photos! Even for “drop-in” sitting, I will spend most of my day working/relaxing in the home around them, intermittently playing with them or letting them outside (if relevant). I since I grew up around so many pets, I very naturally am always aware of what your pet is up to in and around me, often talking to them directly (as if they understand). Especially for drop ins, I try to simulate them having you still there/they have not been left home alone and overall want to make them feel less lonely. Of course I will adjust this as necessary regarding specific anxious attachment concerns! For dog walking, if you’re willing to let me drive your dog, I love taking walks in parks or along a beach! I would love to “double dip” and take care of any other pets you need taken care of, I have experience across the animal kingdom (rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish!) or any minor tasks you need done like watering plants or bringing in mail/packages! Things like packages or feeding fish are fully included in my rate, but I might request a small fee increase ($5 max) depending on the magnitude. For example if “water the plants” involved 20 different exotic plants with specialty watering techniques or if feeding the fish also included changing their tank water. Overall my only concern regarding safety/trust and environment is that I am not comfortable with aggressive dogs. Even if they are only trying to intimidate me at first, I am overly cautious around aggressive dogs which impedes my ability to provide them the care they deserve. (This is mostly due to an experience as a child while taking care of my grandparents dachshund where another dog tried to attack her so I picked her up and the other dog ended up biting my arm).

About: I’ve always had animals in my life and taken care of dogs and cats since I was little. There is nothing quite like having a pet; nurturing it yourself, forming that special bond and learning all those quirks that make each animal special. My own dog Maxie is very social and even at 10 years old is super playful. I wanted to be a pet sitter because I enjoy being around animals and taking care of them. It always makes my day meeting a new dog. I am comfortable with any kind of breed and any age. My hours are flexible and I have over 20 years experience. I am a teacher, I generally work from 7-2 but I available before 7 to make sure they are well fed. I can also come back on my lunch breaks to make sure they get some play time and need to go for walks as well as anytime after 2:30. I am also available on Saturdays and most Sundays. I would bring toys and treats for your fur baby so that they feel comfortable with me. I would ask their owners what their routine is and if they have any medical concerns I should be aware of. I would send them pictures of their pets throughout the day and keep their owners regularly updated on how they are doing. I normally walk my dog 3 times a day and feed him twice a day ( morning and night ) with snacks in the middle of the day with plenty of water and potty breaks. I would be doing the same things too. I usually play with my dog first thing when I get home and before we go to bed. I would do the same things too when I pet sit.

“Sharon did an amazing job caring for our dogs! We were gone for a week and it was the longest time we have ever been away from them. Very nervous that they would be depressed but Sharon played with them a lot and even got one of our finicky eaters to eat his food! She even had to administer an allergy pill to one of the dogs and it was not an issue. We came back and house was in good order and the dogs looked great! Would use Sharon again without hesitation.”

Linda H.

“Hands down best dog sitter I’ve ever had. I’ve never felt more comfortable leaving my baby with anyone else. I received photos and updates throughout the day and the experience with dogs was unmatched. Thank you! Will definitely use again!!!”

Theryn G.

About: I am a full time employee in an assisted living. I had my sweet dachshund for 17 years, and caring for her through her senior years taught me how to care and keep senior pets happy. Now I have a happy, energetic bernedoodle and two adorable bunnies at my parents house and always miss now that I am away. I I have been around both small and large dogs all of my life. Growing up I constantly house sat, fed and watered pets while my neighbors were away for pocket money. I look forward to becoming your dog’s new favorite sitter! I have work till 5pm and then the rest of the day I have time to take care of your pets. When I lived with my pets I would let them out in the yard in the mornings and as soon as I would get home. I made sure to give them attention and affection everyday. I have dealt with senior dogs and am well aware of their limits. It is my promise that I will make any dog of any age as comfortable and as happy as possible.

“Jess was reliable and thoughtful. Hand feeding our puppy when he wouldn’t eat his food. We were able to enjoy our mini vacation, knowing that our puppy was in good hands.”

Stephanie F.

“Asher did a great job taking care of our 5 year old lab while we were away for the weekend. We returned to a happy dog and a well cared for house. I highly recommend him and plan on using him again.”

Madeline T.

“Ross took great care of our animals! He watched 2 dogs, 2 cats, a bird, fish, and a snake! He was very communicative, thorough in preparing for the weekend with the pets.”

Lisa G.

About: My background in canine care began at the Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center in Huntington, NY in 2008. I was employed there for several years as a dog walker and socializer, working with a wide variety of dogs and puppies from many different walks of life. All of the dogs were rescues, and so special care needed to be provided, with exercise, playtime, feeding, and even medication distribution. After working at the shelter, I found myself at a few local grooming parlors, working as a bather. As you've probably experienced, most dogs do not love being bathed and groomed, and so I would try my very best to make them comfortable in the unfamiliar situation they were in, taking the time to check in on them frequently and give them lots of reassurance and loving. Patience goes a long way! In January of 2015 I had my first two-month long house and pet sitting job. However, since then I've been working a full time office job and have been unable to enjoy much time with canine companions. I will regularly pet sit for close friends and family, but I'm ready to spend more time around furry friends! I'd love to meet you and your pup and ensure that they're properly taken care of and loved while you're out on the weekend, working, or away on vacation! I'm currently working part-time, with a very flexible schedule, so there's a good chance I'll be able to accommodate your scheduling needs! Reach out to me with any questions. I have two cats at who are cautious of other animals, so I'm happy to care for your pet in your home! I'd love to learn about your pet's routine and preferences to provide them the best care possible.

“Jazlyn was fantastic! She kept all 3 of our pets happy and relaxed while we were gone for the week. She send regular photo updates and helped us enjoy our time away by knowing she had everything under control at home. Will definitely book again!”

Meredith H.