House Sitting in Shangri La Estates

“Absolutely went above and beyond to make sure my pet was comfortable and had a wonderful time while I was away for the weekend. I appreciated all the photo and video updates as well.”

Alex L.

“Grace was amazing. She came to meet me and Priya before my vacation, coordinated with another friend to be there when Priya was getting dropped off, was super responsive, and sent a ton of pictures. I'm confident Priya has a great time while I was out of town!!”

Alexander P.

“Jennifer was caring and patient with my little neurotic dog. I highly recommend her.”

Susan M.

About: What sets me apart is that caring for animals isn’t just something I do—it’s something I’ve lived my entire life. I grew up with a golden retriever named Arwen, and from 8th grade on, I was fully responsible for her walks, training, and care. I even started waking up an hour earlier every day just to make sure she got her morning walk in before school! Later, when I moved to the U.S. for college, I helped raise and train my roommate’s husky puppy, Ava, who struggled with separation anxiety. I’d take her to class, skate with her to tire her out, and help her stay calm and confident. It was like co-parenting a very energetic fur baby—and I loved every minute. I’ve cared for dogs of all ages and personalities—from hyper puppies to senior dogs with medical needs. My husband and I pet sat for two elderly Bichon Frises (17 years old!) every year while their owners traveled, carefully managing their diet, medications, and gentle exercise. I’ve also grown to love cats after living with Archie—my first real cat roommate—and have experience gently brushing, bonding, and caring for both indoor and stray cats (I even accidentally helped my mom adopt a kitten when I took in a stray!). Most recently, I taught my in-laws’ senior dog Ellie new tricks at the age of 7, proving that even older pups can learn with patience and love. We can’t have pets in our home right now due to landlord restrictions, so pet sitting is how I stay connected to what I love most—animals. I treat every pet like they’re my own, and I genuinely enjoy making them feel safe, happy, and loved while their humans are away. I am a bioengineering Ph.D. Student, most of the time I have freedom of picking my hours, as well as working from home when needed! I always start by learning as much as I can about your pet’s routine, preferences, health needs, and quirks. Whether it’s medication schedules, feeding routines, or special toys they love—I’m here to follow your instructions to a T. I do my best to keep your pet’s day feeling as normal as possible while you’re away. I’m extremely respectful of your home and always aim to leave it just as you left it (or better!). I double-check doors and windows, never leave pets unsupervised outside, and keep a tidy, pet-safe environment throughout the stay. I also send regular updates—photos, videos, and check-ins—so you can relax knowing your fur baby is happy and well cared for. If you ever need in-my-home care in the future (pending landlord approval!), my goal would be to provide a cozy, stress-free space that’s clean, safe, and set up to meet your pet’s unique needs.

“Max and Winnie’s first time away from us was amazing. David stayed the whole time he was great. Lots of photographs and check ins. I hope they didn’t drive him nuts. I will use David anytime I have to leave. Thank You Again David!!!”

Karla J.

“Dylan did an amazing job. He was very communicative while we were on vacation. He sent of pictures of the pets and checked in often. We felt like the pets were in good hands while we were away. We highly recommend him!”

Crystal D.

“Leila did a great job taking care of our older dog and making sure all his needs were met!”

Teri M.

“Celeste is amazing and extremely communicative! I recommend her endlessly for watching your animals, she gave me such a peace of mind while I was out if town(:”

Jess P.

“Lisa was so great with Luna boy! We are grateful for her communication, pictures, kindness and reliability. We can tell Luna enjoyed her. Would definitely recommend and use Lisa again to watch our pups! :)”

Lauren H.

“Marley took great care of Lola while we were out of town for two full weeks, and it was during a heat wave! Marley is very adept at handling dogs with anxiety and reactivity, so it gave us great peace of mind that Lola was in her care. We look forward to having Marley house and dog-sit again!”

Mitra F.

“Cassidy is an amazing dog and house sitter. She has excellent communication skills and is super friendly, not to mention she’s great with dogs. We felt totally at peace on a short stay and a 10-day vacation as well. She was attentive to our senior dog and took our crazy 2-year old lab for runs and hikes. We will hire her again in a heartbeat.”

Christopher R.

“Vlad was kind, attentive, and very trustworthy with my precious dog, Melody. I have a hard time trusting people with her care, and Vlad exceeded my expectations and did such a wonderful time. Was very thoughtful and communicative. I will work with him again.”

Stacey G.

“Blythe did an awesome job taking care of our two cats (one of which is older and needs meds administered). Communication was great, the house was well taken care of, problems were solved proactively, and we were even left an adorable drawing of our two cats! We would definitely recommend Blythe and would book again!”

Lacey C.

“One of the best Rover experiences to date. Tracy is a very sweet natured person, I could tell she was genuinely taking good care of Jimmy, with picture updates throughout the day, I felt very comfortable knowing Jimmy was in good care. I also very much appreciate that I came home to a very clean house. 12/10 would recommend Tracy!”

Taylor U.

“Lila was attentive, thorough, and gave my dogs the care I want when I can't be home with them. She followed all instructions for medications and household items to handle and did more than what I had even asked. It is a huge relief knowing she is here with my dogs.”

Sarah W.

“Kayla took such great care of our furbabies and our house while we were gone for an extended trip! She kept us updating on the happenings of our babies while we were gone and they were so happy and content when we returned!”

Jen H.

About: Hello there! I am SO excited to meet your doggo! Growing up with dogs and now having a dog of my own, I LOVE the companionship and light they bring to one’s life. I have a 7yr old heeler/aussie mix who is spoiled daily with lots of time outside spent hiking or walking, fetch (we love a frisbee), and plenty of snuggle moments. We love to backpack together and go on big adventures! As a remote worker with a flexible schedule, I am available for house sitting, drop-ins, and dog walking/hiking adventures. I've done pet sitting for friends and family for the last several years, so I am excited to open up my schedule to serve the Santa Cruz community! I'd love to talk further, so please ask any questions that come to mind. I'm excited to work with you on any of your pet care needs. I work remote and am available mornings, lunch time, and evenings. Weekends free! My weekly meeting schedule varies, but I typically know a week in advance what me following week (day to day) will look like. I am a very hands-on dog parent, so I would be providing the same loving care to your pups as I do mine. I am happy to work with you on any of your pet care needs. We can always do a call beforehand or a quick visit to make sure all bases are covered!

About: I took care of dogs since I was 8. My family taught me how to make sure the dogs are fed, given water, administering oral medications, walking; etc. I also house trained my current dog. I’m currently working part-time so I’ll have plenary of free time on my plate. I usually work in the evenings. Sometimes I get called to work when needed I take my dog out for 30-45 minute walk twice a day, gave her chew brush biscuit after each walking sessions. I checked her bowl once or twice a day to ensure her water and foods are there for her to eat. I also brush Claire’s hair once a day.

About: I’m an experienced pet owner and have cared for my own dog for 13 years now. Along with dogs I have owned/cared for cats, rats, and lizards. When I was younger I worked on a farm and developed a deep love for animals. I live a very active lifestyle and would be stoked to take your pet out for walks, runs, hikes, and beach day swimming! I have a large vehicle which has easy transportation for bigger dogs. I take the time to establish a genuine connection with your pet and want to foster a bond built on mutual understanding and respect. Having trust from you and your pet is an important relationship to have. I want you to be sure that your furry loved one and your home is being taken care of in the safest and best way possible for you. I am a full time worker and van-lifer. My home is on wheels which makes it easy to move around to meet your home sitting needs. My normal work week is Monday-Friday in Capitola. I’m not able to host animals in my home. Coming to your home is the best option, and making your pet feel safe and comfortable is #1!

“Emily was great! Abe was a happy boy when I got home.... place was very clean and organized, and sheets were put in the washing machine! Her communication was excellent - every day I got a pic and quick update. She noticed him licking his paw and saw it was red, so we were able to get some wipes to clean it which she did daily until I got home. Look forward to booking again!”

Rich K.