Personalized care for your dog or cat - Vanderbilt

“We've never seen our dog so happy as he was with Ashley, her husband, and her three adorable children, who doted on him. This city dog got to run around and experience farm life without a harness, and when i picked him up he had the biggest smile on his face. Ashley is wonderful, with great responsiveness and communication, sending regular photos and updates. As i was pulling out, one of her sons yelled from a swing in the backyard: "When will Blaze be back?" So cute!”

Cornelia G.

“Chloe had a great time with Jessica, Aiden and Sawyer! We felt she was very-well taken care of!”

Linda B.

“Margalina, Joshua and their daughter were wonderful caretakers of our maltipoo for two weeks. I got adorable photos every day and regular communication about all the fun he was having becoming a farm dog (lots of great exercise). This was a last minute booking but we could not have been luckier. Our dog is a very social one but also clingy to his main caretaker, and Margalina quickly because that person! We will definitely use them again and can’t recommend them highly enough.”

Cornelia G.

About: Hi! My name is Marissa and I am 25 years old. I am an ambitious, adventurous, vivacious individual. I am currently in my second year of college at Mott Community College working toward my Associate's in Psychology, so that I may then transfer to the University of Michigan to achieve my Bachelor's. Once achieving my Bachelor's, I would like to work as a counselor for a few years before going back to school for my Master's so that I may eventually become a bereavement therapist and open a private practice. I am currently a member of the Psychology Society at Mott and I was selected to join the Mott Community College's chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success. I have been taking care of dogs of various breeds since I was old enough to take care of myself, having owned numerous amounts of dogs for about 20 years. Neighbors, friends, family, and a few Rover clients have relied on me to walk, feed, bathe, and spend time with their pets for the past 5 years -- possibly longer. I am not certified yet, but I intend to take a CPR & First Aid course for dogs as soon as possible -- hopefully, I never have to use it. But it would bring me peace of mind knowing that if there were ever a situation with my dog or someone else's dog, I'd know what to do. I intend to take a pet grooming course as I would be able to offer more grooming services. And lastly, I also intend to take a dog obedience/training course so that I may offer training services as well. Being a full-time student takes up the majority of my time, thus I am looking to start up cleaning, dog walking/dog-sitting, and babysitting/nannying businesses so that I may keep a steady income for the next few years. I am taking all of my classes online and will eventually switch to going on-campus for my classes, but that will most likely be in a few years when I am attending U of M -- which would require me to move out of the Northern Michigan area. As a member of the Psychology Society and the NSLS, I may occasionally need to travel for a couple of days to Flint for an event -- especially considering I may apply for and take on one of the positions in the Psychology Society. With that being said, I would prefer to have a decent amount of time to prepare and set a date on my calendar for any services I will be providing for you. I will also make sure to keep my availability up-to-date. I would also appreciate cancellations to be in advance as well, but I do understand that life happens. In clients' homes, I will take your fur baby/babies to any nearby parks and/or long walks on any trails. I offer grooming services such as bathing, ear cleaning, and hair brushing. I request that if I am in your home, you leave me a list of my responsibilities. I do not mind caring for young puppies that are still in the process of potty training. I just request that you let me know exactly what cleaning supplies you would like me to use to clean up any messes if he/she has an accident -- preferably this won't happen as I will be around and will have the time necessary to avoid accidents inside. Currently, I am not offering boarding or doggy daycare services because my dog does not get along well with other dogs. But I do plan to start offering those services again in the future... I have a decent-sized yard, but it is not fenced in. I have a leash hooked up outside to easily let your dog/dogs out for potty breaks if the weather is too bad for a walk. I have two full baskets filled with toys from bark box to play with and I try to stay stocked up on treats from the Three Dog Bakery! You can bring your treats as well if you give your dog a specific brand of treats. I have no problem with dogs getting on my furniture, but I do also have an extremely comfortable Serta dog bed if you have taught them to stay off of furniture. If your dog is puppy pad trained rather than trained to go potty outside, then I would need you to provide the pads as I do not have any. I am also okay with boarding/dog-sitting a puppy in my home once I am offering those services again as well, even if he/she is still in the process of potty training. I just request that you provide a kennel or crate in case I need to leave my home for anything. I would not leave the puppy attended for longer than an hour and a half.

“Randy and his wife were great hosts! They kept in contact with us sending us pictures and letting us know how our dog was! They kept us informed during a scary situation when our dog had an unexpected health incident. He was well taken care of and spoiled with all the cuddles!”

Heather J.

“Kendra, was amazing and so kind. Our sweet boy and my grand pup stayed with her while we had a family get away. Never once did we worry our furry kids weren’t being well taken care of. We highly recommend Kendra!”

Michelle D.

About: Animals love me for my calm, loving demeanor. I am a good pack leader and provide a safe and fun place for your fur baby while your away. I am retired with plenty of time on my hands. It gets lonely at times so I enjoy the company of both dogs and cats. You can trust that I will take care of your fur babies the same as I do my own. They are part of the family and have rules to follow for everyone's benefit and safety.

“Emily really came through! She braved the terrible weather and roads to make sure my pets were taken care of! There was even a hang up with my front door, totally my fault, that she handled beautifully. Communication was excellent, very quick to respond and helpful with any questions and concerns I had. I will definitely use Emily again.”

Anna A.

“Rebecca took excellent care of our cat while we were out of the country. She provided frequent updates and photos, while spending time at the house with her. She even cleared a very slight time change with us before coming early one evening. We are so happy to have found Rebecca and will definitely use her again!”

Kathy V.

“Harper (a cat) is very shy and tends to hide from everyone. I adopted her about six months ago, knowing she needed special considerations, so having someone new in the house was potentially traumatic for her. Eric patiently cared for her while I was traveling and overcame her spooky tendencies. He has cared for my pets for several years and befriended a couple of difficult characters.”

Pat K.

“Jessica and her son were wonderful doing a last minute request to check in on our cat. Appreciated their time and updates with pictures sent.”

Katherine S.

About: I have taken care of friend's cats in the past when they travel, but that is it in regard to my cat experience. I like cats, and am very capable of following your precise directions.

“Keilyn provided two drop in visits for our cats and was great!”

Emma P.

About: Hey guys! I'm just a Midwest girl living in my Midwest world! I have the typical Veteran husband and one of our three kids still living at home! We have a 7 pound Chihuahua and two kittens who are the current rulers of the home. I bring a professional, hands-on background to every dog I care for, shaped by my experience, work in the military and training dogs across a wide range of needs. From guiding young puppies through early obedience and socialization to reinforcing structure and confidence in adult dogs, I focus on calm, consistent, and respectful handling. My approach blends proven training principles with genuine affection—clear communication, routine, and trust, paired with plenty of attention and care. On our private 20-acre property, dogs have the space to decompress, explore safely, and enjoy a peaceful environment while still receiving individualized guidance and close supervision. While we do have 20 acres that we can walk through we also have a fenced in area and GPS Fence collars for your dog to use. Depending on the training your dog has been through we can work with you to see what fits best. I am a full time mom who homeschools her kid. My husband is home part time so most of the time we are home if not pup will be crated. I have a fenced in yard and a pet safe GPS collar for the pups. So no matter what the pup will be secured. There is no gate to leave the fenced in area so to leave you have to go through the house.

“Randy took really great care of my girl Cocoa. I received lots of updates and pics during the day to let me know that she was okay and having a good time with his pups. Definitely recommend Randy if you are looking for dog care in the area.”

Lisa B.

About: Hi! My name is Marissa and I am 25 years old. I am an ambitious, adventurous, vivacious individual. I am currently in my second year of college at Mott Community College working toward my Associate's in Psychology, so that I may then transfer to the University of Michigan to achieve my Bachelor's. Once achieving my Bachelor's, I would like to work as a counselor for a few years before going back to school for my Master's so that I may eventually become a bereavement therapist and open a private practice. I am currently a member of the Psychology Society at Mott and I was selected to join the Mott Community College's chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success. I have been taking care of dogs of various breeds since I was old enough to take care of myself, having owned numerous amounts of dogs for about 20 years. Neighbors, friends, family, and a few Rover clients have relied on me to walk, feed, bathe, and spend time with their pets for the past 5 years -- possibly longer. I am not certified yet, but I intend to take a CPR & First Aid course for dogs as soon as possible -- hopefully, I never have to use it. But it would bring me peace of mind knowing that if there were ever a situation with my dog or someone else's dog, I'd know what to do. I intend to take a pet grooming course as I would be able to offer more grooming services. And lastly, I also intend to take a dog obedience/training course so that I may offer training services as well. Being a full-time student takes up the majority of my time, thus I am looking to start up cleaning, dog walking/dog-sitting, and babysitting/nannying businesses so that I may keep a steady income for the next few years. I am taking all of my classes online and will eventually switch to going on-campus for my classes, but that will most likely be in a few years when I am attending U of M -- which would require me to move out of the Northern Michigan area. As a member of the Psychology Society and the NSLS, I may occasionally need to travel for a couple of days to Flint for an event -- especially considering I may apply for and take on one of the positions in the Psychology Society. With that being said, I would prefer to have a decent amount of time to prepare and set a date on my calendar for any services I will be providing for you. I will also make sure to keep my availability up-to-date. I would also appreciate cancellations to be in advance as well, but I do understand that life happens. In clients' homes, I will take your fur baby/babies to any nearby parks and/or long walks on any trails. I offer grooming services such as bathing, ear cleaning, and hair brushing. I request that if I am in your home, you leave me a list of my responsibilities. I do not mind caring for young puppies that are still in the process of potty training. I just request that you let me know exactly what cleaning supplies you would like me to use to clean up any messes if he/she has an accident -- preferably this won't happen as I will be around and will have the time necessary to avoid accidents inside. Currently, I am not offering boarding or doggy daycare services because my dog does not get along well with other dogs. But I do plan to start offering those services again in the future... I have a decent-sized yard, but it is not fenced in. I have a leash hooked up outside to easily let your dog/dogs out for potty breaks if the weather is too bad for a walk. I have two full baskets filled with toys from bark box to play with and I try to stay stocked up on treats from the Three Dog Bakery! You can bring your treats as well if you give your dog a specific brand of treats. I have no problem with dogs getting on my furniture, but I do also have an extremely comfortable Serta dog bed if you have taught them to stay off of furniture. If your dog is puppy pad trained rather than trained to go potty outside, then I would need you to provide the pads as I do not have any. I am also okay with boarding/dog-sitting a puppy in my home once I am offering those services again as well, even if he/she is still in the process of potty training. I just request that you provide a kennel or crate in case I need to leave my home for anything. I would not leave the puppy attended for longer than an hour and a half.

“Emily is awesome!! She took very good care of our Skipper. She was very responsive and on time. She sent us updates and pictures which we appreciated. We highly recommend Emily and will hire her for our future dog sitting needs.”

Pat H.

About: I have loved and cared for many critters in my lifetime. Dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles, amphibians. I love them all! We have one dog (Sawyer) and two cats (Marble and Nash). My 8 year old son and I would be the ones caring for your fur babies. My son helps me with the feeding and watering, as well as the litter box and backyard landmines. He gives the animals lots of love and cuddles. I work a lot during the week, but I would be available for any dog walking or drop-in visits before or after work during the week, depending on what we have going on that week. If you're looking for a getaway for a couple of nights, I'm available Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. We have a house with 4 acres of unfenced property. Any dogs that are boarded here will be walked on the property regularly for bathroom breaks and exercise. We also have a lot of trails nearby that we could walk if the weather is decent. If your dog is friendly and social, we aren't too far from Gaylord, where there is a dog park. That way, they can get some serious running in!

About: I have cared for all ages of dogs and cats. I work at a boarding kennel/ daycare and am used to cues in play when it comes to dogs. I have cleaned up after all of the messes with no issues, and can bath if needed and the animal allows it (extra fee). I can administer medications in all varieties and can comfortably handle shy and reactive dogs. I have leash walked dogs that have recently had acl repairs and can lift over 50 lbs if needed. I work 4 days at my current job from 8-5. I have three days off and can work with you as needed. I have my own car and can travel within reason. I have a fenced in backyard and space to put kennels while your dog rests. I have a three year old Australian shepherd who absolutely loves other dogs. (Shy to people). I have a gate to put up so your dog could have free rein of the living room in the evening and a camera to be able to check in on them.

“Michael was AWESOME!!! He truly loves dogs and is kind and caring and tolerant of dog behaviors. We enjoy meeting Michael!”

Patti K.

About: Hey guys! I'm just a Midwest girl living in my Midwest world! I have the typical Veteran husband and one of our three kids still living at home! We have a 7 pound Chihuahua and two kittens who are the current rulers of the home. I bring a professional, hands-on background to every dog I care for, shaped by my experience, work in the military and training dogs across a wide range of needs. From guiding young puppies through early obedience and socialization to reinforcing structure and confidence in adult dogs, I focus on calm, consistent, and respectful handling. My approach blends proven training principles with genuine affection—clear communication, routine, and trust, paired with plenty of attention and care. On our private 20-acre property, dogs have the space to decompress, explore safely, and enjoy a peaceful environment while still receiving individualized guidance and close supervision. While we do have 20 acres that we can walk through we also have a fenced in area and GPS Fence collars for your dog to use. Depending on the training your dog has been through we can work with you to see what fits best. I am a full time mom who homeschools her kid. My husband is home part time so most of the time we are home if not pup will be crated. I have a fenced in yard and a pet safe GPS collar for the pups. So no matter what the pup will be secured. There is no gate to leave the fenced in area so to leave you have to go through the house.

“We've never seen our dog so happy as he was with Ashley, her husband, and her three adorable children, who doted on him. This city dog got to run around and experience farm life without a harness, and when i picked him up he had the biggest smile on his face. Ashley is wonderful, with great responsiveness and communication, sending regular photos and updates. As i was pulling out, one of her sons yelled from a swing in the backyard: "When will Blaze be back?" So cute!”

Cornelia G.

“Margalina, Joshua and their daughter were wonderful caretakers of our maltipoo for two weeks. I got adorable photos every day and regular communication about all the fun he was having becoming a farm dog (lots of great exercise). This was a last minute booking but we could not have been luckier. Our dog is a very social one but also clingy to his main caretaker, and Margalina quickly because that person! We will definitely use them again and can’t recommend them highly enough.”

Cornelia G.

About: Hi! My name is Marissa and I am 25 years old. I am an ambitious, adventurous, vivacious individual. I am currently in my second year of college at Mott Community College working toward my Associate's in Psychology, so that I may then transfer to the University of Michigan to achieve my Bachelor's. Once achieving my Bachelor's, I would like to work as a counselor for a few years before going back to school for my Master's so that I may eventually become a bereavement therapist and open a private practice. I am currently a member of the Psychology Society at Mott and I was selected to join the Mott Community College's chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success. I have been taking care of dogs of various breeds since I was old enough to take care of myself, having owned numerous amounts of dogs for about 20 years. Neighbors, friends, family, and a few Rover clients have relied on me to walk, feed, bathe, and spend time with their pets for the past 5 years -- possibly longer. I am not certified yet, but I intend to take a CPR & First Aid course for dogs as soon as possible -- hopefully, I never have to use it. But it would bring me peace of mind knowing that if there were ever a situation with my dog or someone else's dog, I'd know what to do. I intend to take a pet grooming course as I would be able to offer more grooming services. And lastly, I also intend to take a dog obedience/training course so that I may offer training services as well. Being a full-time student takes up the majority of my time, thus I am looking to start up cleaning, dog walking/dog-sitting, and babysitting/nannying businesses so that I may keep a steady income for the next few years. I am taking all of my classes online and will eventually switch to going on-campus for my classes, but that will most likely be in a few years when I am attending U of M -- which would require me to move out of the Northern Michigan area. As a member of the Psychology Society and the NSLS, I may occasionally need to travel for a couple of days to Flint for an event -- especially considering I may apply for and take on one of the positions in the Psychology Society. With that being said, I would prefer to have a decent amount of time to prepare and set a date on my calendar for any services I will be providing for you. I will also make sure to keep my availability up-to-date. I would also appreciate cancellations to be in advance as well, but I do understand that life happens. In clients' homes, I will take your fur baby/babies to any nearby parks and/or long walks on any trails. I offer grooming services such as bathing, ear cleaning, and hair brushing. I request that if I am in your home, you leave me a list of my responsibilities. I do not mind caring for young puppies that are still in the process of potty training. I just request that you let me know exactly what cleaning supplies you would like me to use to clean up any messes if he/she has an accident -- preferably this won't happen as I will be around and will have the time necessary to avoid accidents inside. Currently, I am not offering boarding or doggy daycare services because my dog does not get along well with other dogs. But I do plan to start offering those services again in the future... I have a decent-sized yard, but it is not fenced in. I have a leash hooked up outside to easily let your dog/dogs out for potty breaks if the weather is too bad for a walk. I have two full baskets filled with toys from bark box to play with and I try to stay stocked up on treats from the Three Dog Bakery! You can bring your treats as well if you give your dog a specific brand of treats. I have no problem with dogs getting on my furniture, but I do also have an extremely comfortable Serta dog bed if you have taught them to stay off of furniture. If your dog is puppy pad trained rather than trained to go potty outside, then I would need you to provide the pads as I do not have any. I am also okay with boarding/dog-sitting a puppy in my home once I am offering those services again as well, even if he/she is still in the process of potty training. I just request that you provide a kennel or crate in case I need to leave my home for anything. I would not leave the puppy attended for longer than an hour and a half.

“Randy and his wife were great hosts! They kept in contact with us sending us pictures and letting us know how our dog was! They kept us informed during a scary situation when our dog had an unexpected health incident. He was well taken care of and spoiled with all the cuddles!”

Heather J.

“Kendra, was amazing and so kind. Our sweet boy and my grand pup stayed with her while we had a family get away. Never once did we worry our furry kids weren’t being well taken care of. We highly recommend Kendra!”

Michelle D.

About: Animals love me for my calm, loving demeanor. I am a good pack leader and provide a safe and fun place for your fur baby while your away. I am retired with plenty of time on my hands. It gets lonely at times so I enjoy the company of both dogs and cats. You can trust that I will take care of your fur babies the same as I do my own. They are part of the family and have rules to follow for everyone's benefit and safety.