House Sitting Westside Connection

“Melissa was great with our pups! She took videos and pictures each day, which made being away less stressful! She left the house just as it was. Overall great experience!”

Anna F.

“I do not know where to start other than Hillary went above and beyond for my furbabies Piper and Paislee. The night before Hillary was suppose to come stay at the house Paislee became very ill and was at emergency vet from 615pm until 6 am. I explained everything that was going on to Hillary and for not ever watching Piper and Paislee she was very attentive to Paislee as we had to leave 2.5 hours after getting her home to the airport. I cooked everything I needed and left all medications on the counter and let her know the times of next doses. She seemed comfortable with everything and I couldn’t have been lucky enough to find her. She used her best judgment and I couldn’t have been anymore blessed with her caring PIper and Paislee. I was able to get updates about every other day due to our traveling plans. I let her know many times how grateful I was. Then I came home to a beautiful letter and she washed all the blankets from the dogs, towels, and the guest room bedding. She do not have to do that but I am grateful. Hillary went way above and beyond caring for our dogs. Thank you Hillary from the bottom rny heart!!!!!!!!”

Jodie S.

“Holly Jean was fantastic and I look forward to booking her again. She was able to adapt and kept us informed through any issues and my partner and I are so glad she was there to give our pups excellent care.”

Cole V.

“Lillie was wonderful with our dog Fiona. She was patient and kind and kept in touch with us the whole time. We will definitely use her again in the future.”

Mary F.

“Mackenzie is amazing! She’s reliable and responsible and she gives me so much peace of mind knowing my dogs are cared for while I’m gone. Thank you!”

Brittany M.

About: I’ve dog-walked and house-sat for friends and families for over ten years. I have experience walking two dogs at a time, taking them to dog parks too, and experience with young puppies still house training and aging dogs with mobility issues. My mom ran a kennel and dog-walking service while I was at home (1st grade-12th grade years of my life), so I am very comfortable with all breeds and temperaments, from German Shepherds, Pitbulls, and Weimaraners to Dachshunds, Terriers and Schnauzers, along with mixed-breeds and rescues. I also have experience with cats, being a cat-mom for the last five years, and I've rescued and rehomed several cats over the last ten years. Working locally in downtown Grand Rapids allows me to visit pets, including my own, several times a day. Walking and physical activity are habits for me, so taking dogs out and walking them, running them at parks or in yards, is easy to fit into my schedule. I don't work a standard 9-5 so my hours are flexible and I can make visits at my own convenience. Dogs: I work to respond to the needs of the pet and the preferences/requests of the owner. Depending on that, care is case-by-case, but several rules I abide by are always: greet the dog calmly and warmly, and take outside first before checking on food and water. This gives the pup a moment to get the wiggles or nervous pees out, and diverts attention to sniffing and other senses so their energy calms slightly. We go back in to make sure food, water, and other elements requested by the owner are attended to. For the walk, I always bring a bag with poop bags, treats, and an extra collar. When we go further, like to trails or a park, I also bring a container and water as well as a towel for mud/wipe-downs, which I always do before we head back into the home, to make sure the dog is clean and won’t track in mud. I always practice basic commands as well, like sit, wait/stay, and come/here when we are at home, to build trust and reinforce the commands before going out. I always make sure to leave the home as it was, and check elements that the owner asked me to (i.e. water, food, mail, lights). I always leave a note on how the visit went and take a photo too so they know the doggo is happy and healthy. Cats: I work to respond to the needs of the pet and the preferences/requests of the owner. Depending on that, care is case-by-case, but several rules I abide by are always: call for the cat and then head straight to checking food and water, talking and calling for the kitty as I go. If they greet me, we pet/play for at least a half an hour. If they don’t greet me, I’ll look for them in the usual spots and speak gently and make sounds of play for them until they come out. I will not leave until I have set eyes on the kitty. I make sure to ask the owner what the favorite toys and types of play are for the cat. I then take care of the litter box. I always make sure to leave the home as it was, and check elements that the owner asked me to (i.e. water, food, mail, lights). I always leave a note on how the visit went and take a photo too so they know their kitty is happy and healthy.

“Andrea took such great care of my dog, who after the weekend was happily tired out and had obviously gotten lots of love and cuddles! Andrea was also respectful of my home, leaving towels hung up, and cleaning up after Enola in the back yard. 10/10 reccomend!”

Tessa W.

“Jack stayed at our apartment with our 3 cats while we were away. Our cats have a very odd and complicated routine and Jack did a great job keeping up with it! He was very communicative and took great care out of cats.”

Jade C.

“Kelsey and Forrest were wonderful with our senior dog! They were incredibly patient, kind, and understanding of his special needs, which gave us so much peace of mind while we were away. They kept us updated with great communication throughout the stay, and it was clear that our dog was well cared for and loved. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and would highly recommend Kelsey and Forrest to anyone looking for reliable, compassionate pet sitters!”

Brittany W.

“Becki did a great job caring for our two dogs. She is a great communicator and sent photos each day! She left our home cleaner than she found it. We plan to use Becki again!”

Sumner Family

“Olivia is amazing! Our cats and home were extremely well taken care of, she went above and beyond and I’m so happy we booked with her! She will be my first call when we go out of town again!”

Emma D.

“This was my first Rover experience and Genna was great! She did a great job and I will be using her services in the future. Very pleased and easy.”

Megan S.

“jade was absolutely wonderful with billie!! i got frequent pictures and updates and billie was a happy girl when i came back. i would definitely book with them again!”

Kacey C.

“Absolute life saver to watch max so I could take off on spring break to take care of my aging father!!! Sent pictures and helped with a broken garage door. Max had a ball!”

John H.

“Kate was a wonderful sitter for our very anxious and senior pit bull. She communicated any challenge she was having (he can be challenging to get up and move around, go outside, eat when we are gone etc.). Her own little senior doggy was wonderful companionship to our guy as well. Would definitely recommend Kate’s service to others. ?”

Jill L.

“Kevin did an excellent job watching Rocky and Annie! They seemed happy , not stressed on our arrival. He communicated well and sent updates. The pups gave him 4paws each.”

Tamira K.

“Anna was a great sitter! Very responsive and communicative. Would definitely recommend if you want a good Rover experience! Will hire again next time!”

Lucas H.

“Tayler was awesome with Stevie over a long weekend stay! There was a change in my cat’s health needs right before her stay and she took it in stride and made sure Stevie got all medications as directed. I felt Stevie was in good hands and all updates were prompt and thorough”

Mariah M.

About: I’ve always had animals of my own, basically since I was old enough to walk. I started my own pet-sitting business when I was 13. I’m the go-to for friends and family when they need their babies cared for and I love every breed. I studied veterinary medicine for a number of years and have more recently begun to train dogs, as well. I work full-time but I make my own schedule and I can have dogs at my work. I also live just a few minutes away from my work and can pop back to my house when need be. I’m already taking care of our senior dog, our new puppy, and our two cats. I love being outside and taking the babies for walks. I have a fenced in yard as well as two other dogs and two other cats. I have a large crate as well as two portable enclosures and no shortage of extra bowls, blankets, toys, and towels. I live in a great neighborhood and there is a park a block away. It’s important to me that animals are well taken care of and I love spending extra time playing and snuggling with any babies I get to hang out with.

“Christina was responsive, polite, and left our house in perfect condition! She stayed with our dog for a couple nights and sent photos, took her on walks, and kept us updated throughout the weekend! We will definitely plan to have her stay here again.”

Amity & Alyssa L.