Sarah

I come to pet sitting with a wealth of experience from both sides. Originally from the U.K. I started my pet sitting life 8 years ago in Bulgaria having worked with dogs for 15 years and cats for 6 years in the U.K. During that time I was also involved in rehoming greyhounds and had several ex racers as pets as well as other rescue dogs and cats including an abandoned cocker spaniel, 3 farm cats and a Bengal that came from an unscrupulous breeder.
It’s fair to say that I have never had less than 4 dogs and 2 cats all of my adult life and as I child I also had rabbits, guinea pigs, fish and a tortoise. My son and myself also had 5 rescue chickens for many years. He now has his own pets which are a Romanian and a Bulgarian rescue.
Several years ago I also gained dog first aid certification.
After my initial 8 month pet sit in Bulgaria, I recognised a desperate need to help the street dogs there and so I bought a house there and I now divide my time between both countries. In Bulgaria I have collected my own little band of 13 street dogs and 2 cats, and have rehomed many more in the years I have been there. Obviously this has given me a very wide and varied skill set and the ability to know exactly what is needed to keep all kinds of dogs and cats their happiest and healthiest selves. Mine have all come from very difficult circumstances and in many instances still have anxiety issues from past experiences. And of course they have come in all shapes, sizes and personalities.
While I am away I have pet sitters myself and knowing that I have very specific requirements about how I want my family and home to be cared for I am fully aware of what is expected when I come to you.
You can be absolutely confident that I will look after your home and pets with love and respect. I am organised, trustworthy, clean and tidy and have a very small carbon footprint. I am also vegetarian.
Over the years of course with so many pets I have experienced the occasional emergency that life throws at us but experience has taught me to deal with them in a calm and sensible manner. I do feel that common sense is a much underrated attribute in this profession. Working with dogs and cats professionally has also taught me to pay attention to the smaller details of pet care such as nail, teeth, eye health and grooming.
As a digital nomad I require only reliable internet access for 3 -4 hours work during the course of a day and so you can be sure your pets will have my undivided attention in your home at all times.
Although pet sitting has given me a great deal of experience looking after many breeds of dog, I would consider my speciality to be hounds, in particular greyhounds and Eastern European former street dogs. From personal experience I understand that they very often require a great deal more patience as not only can the transition to British life often be rather frightening and overwhelming, but when faced with someone unfamiliar this too can cause a great deal of anxiety. Most recently I have also gained experience in taking care of some rescue donkeys and sheep.
But whatever breed, size or shape you can be sure your much loved family pets will be given all the love and attention they are used to receiving from you, as I too am an anxious owner when I am away from my family and want the absolute best for them. I will also make sure your home is returned to you in tip top condition and that includes those small details that are often forgotten such as watering the indoor plants.
Please note that as a professional with 50 years of animal care experience, 20 of those professionally I do make a charge for my services