Calm and observant, I'm ready to show your pets the care, attention and leadership they need!
After 20 years in communications and nonprofit administration, I'm currently reorienting my career. I want to be more directly of service to individual people and spend less time on computer.
Handily, I have a lot of skills that transfer to being a reliable pet sitter.
For example, because client service and liaising with partners and volunteers figured prominently in most of the positions I’ve held, I have strong interpersonal skills. I thrive on building open, productive communication lines that foster genuinely supportive and productive relationships.
I'm also an ethically-driven person because that's what feels good to me. Someone recently told me something that was rewarding for me to hear as it reflected one of my core values — truthfulness/integrity! She said I was the only person she knew who actually ‘walked my talk’, living in line with the values I espouse.
Other core values that I believe suit the animal care service field are compassion and respect. Two things that are essentially important to me.
Finally, some other attributes to know about me are that I am a fit and physically active person who loves cycling, gardening, being outdoors, animals (pets and wildlife included), cooking, art, music and good conversation (or peaceful silence is good too).
I have travelled a fair bit and am fascinated by other cultures. I love to learn.
Hope to meet & your furry one soon!
Calm and observant, I'm ready to show your pets the care, attention and leadership they need.
Having personally parented several cats, including one who lived to age 18 (and needed insulin injections his last few years), and shared 16 ½ years of companionship with an ultra energetic and reactive canine buddy*, my animal experience is quite all-encompassing. (*Please see my dog experience details below.)
Through some friends who live in a remote part of BC, I’ve even helped teach a rescued Canada Goose to fly (via bicycle!) and assisted in building an enclosure for and entertained a rescued raven.
I’ve also done several house sits that included pets, and I can share the link to my profile on a respected house sitting platform so you can view my excellent reviews.
On the homestead side of things, I’m very quiet, feel best keeping things tidy in a home, and have absolute respect for peoples property as we all work hard in life for what we have. I'm fit, with lots of energy, and don’t mind getting dirty so am open to yard/outdoor work.
DOG EXPERIENCE DETAILS
Two and a half years ago, I said goodbye to my canine adventure companion of 16 1/2 years, Grace. A Shiba mutt I adopted when living in Japan, Grace was a forest creature at heart, and particularly so after we moved to British Columbia. It was so inspiring to see how much she enjoyed her senses in nature!
Of course her sharp instincts and above-average default energy level did, at moments, pose challenges. Particularly when she was younger! Shooting her arrow into my heart via an adorable portrait on a shelter's website, G-dog (one of her many nicknames) was 9 months old when she arrived into my life. As a first-time dog parent, her abundance of energy coupled with reactivity typical of rescues posed a learning curve!
But, with a journalism background, I'm a determined researcher/applier of knowledge and found solutions specifically suited to her personality and particular trauma issues. Same was the case with her health, in her latter years.
Losing her was super difficult and I'm not ready for another companion but have tons of affection and/or respect (not all creatures love to be hugged!) to give to yours.
This includes reactive doggies, ones who are in training and need a sitter to be consistent with that, and seniors with special diets and medications too!
If you have any questions, please feel no hesitation in reaching out – I am a completely open book.
Verified: Phone number confirmed
Administer oral medication for dogs, Administer injected medication for dogs, Taking care of senior dogs/other animals, Taking care of special needs dogs/other animals, Providing daily exercise for high-energy dogs/other animals, Brushing teeth/fur
