Every household is different, so we’ll talk through the details of your particular stay. These are answers to some of the questions that come up most often.
Yes. That’s the point of the service.
I’m there every night, and because I work largely from home, I’m ordinarily present for substantial parts of the day as well.
Your home becomes my home base while you’re away.
No. I leave for walks and outings, errands, appointments and occasional meetings at my La Jolla office.
But this isn’t a drop-in service. I’m around for substantial parts of the day and present every night.
If your animal has particular limits on how long they can comfortably be left, we’ll discuss that before the stay.
My service is designed primarily around extended stays.
I particularly enjoy stays of two weeks or longer, with month-long and multi-month stays especially welcome.
Shorter stays may occasionally be possible depending on timing and fit.
No.
House Sitting and Home Stewardship are available for homes without pets and can be especially useful during extended travel, between residences or when a family home is in transition.
More than a visit
Years ago, my mother was going away for about two weeks, and our family’s beautiful corgi, Amy, remained at home. A family member was going to stop by to feed her and make sure she had what she needed.
When I learned about the arrangement, I was very upset and went to the house.
Amy was in her doghouse in the backyard and didn’t even hear me calling her. I found her cold and catatonic – so withdrawn and difficult to rouse. It took days for her to get back her normal self.
This broke my heart. Amy wasn’t a house or a plant that could simply be checked on. She was a living, social being accustomed to – and needing to – have family around her.
Food, water and physical safety matter enormously. But for many, so do companionship, interaction, affection, play and the reassuring presence of another living being.
That’s why I don’t think of my service as checking on pets. I keep them company.
Amy
Dogs and cats are the animals I know best.
I’ve also lived with or cared for reptiles, goats, sheep, donkeys and chickens, including about twelve years with my own flock of chickens.
I’m open to other animals too. If they’re new to me, I’ll be straightforward about that and interested in learning about their routines and care.
Absolutely—assuming that’s what your dog enjoys.
Outings are tailored to age, health, energy and temperament and might include neighborhood walks, coastal or bluff walks, parks, beaches during dog-friendly hours, or off-leash adventures such as Fiesta Island or Ocean Beach Dog Beach when appropriate for the individual dog.
And yes: balls, toys, yard play and Chuckits! are very welcome.
Not in the conventional sense. My service is built around extended stays with one household at a time, rather than a daily route of separate dog-walking clients.
When I’m caring for your dog, our walks, outings and adventures are part of our life together during the stay. I’m not fitting your dog into a schedule of other clients’ walks, and I don’t bring unrelated client dogs along with us.
Your dog’s time with me is your dog’s time with me.
Let’s talk about it.
Because I work largely from home, I’m ordinarily around a great deal, and when practical and appropriate, a dog may sometimes be able to come along on an outing or errand.
I do need normal freedom to leave the house, so we’ll make sure your dog’s needs and my routine are compatible before accepting the stay.
I’m comfortable with many routine medications, particularly oral medications for dogs.
Other medications—including injections or medications that an animal finds particularly stressful—depend on the animal, method and frequency.
We’ll talk through exactly what’s required before I agree to the stay.
Of course.
Every Pet Companionship stay includes respectful everyday care of the home I’m sharing with your animals—keeping the spaces I use clean and orderly, bringing in mail and packages, caring for plants as agreed and paying attention if something seems wrong.
If the home itself needs more substantial attention, we can incorporate Home Stewardship into the stay.
Many homes are left empty without incident. But when you’re away for weeks or months, having someone actually in residence offers something timers and periodic check-ins can’t: real human presence.
That can mean:
Home Stewardship doesn’t mean nothing can go wrong. It means someone is there to notice, communicate and help respond when something does.
I contact you promptly, assess what I reasonably can and follow whatever emergency instructions we’ve established.
If appropriate, I can coordinate access for a repair person, service provider, neighbor or other person you’ve designated.
One of the advantages of House Sitting and Home Stewardship is that someone familiar with the property is already there.
Usually, we simply extend the stay if I’m available.
If I have another commitment that makes that impossible, we’ll work together to arrange an appropriate transition or approved backup.
Very happily.
I genuinely enjoy caring for plants, indoors and out, and we’ll go over their individual needs before you leave.
I carry appropriate insurance for pet and home sitting.
Every stay is different, so I quote individually based on its length, the animals involved, the level of home care needed and any unusual requirements.
Before we schedule a meet-and-greet, I’m happy to give you a general idea of the fee range so you can make sure we’re in the same ballpark.
After we’ve met and I understand the stay, I’ll give you a firm quote.
Send me a note or give me a call.
We can have an initial conversation about your dates, animals, home and what you’re looking for. If it sounds potentially like a good fit, I’ll give you a preliminary sense of the fee and we’ll arrange a meet-and-greet at your home.
You don’t need to have a trip planned. If you’re simply thinking ahead and would like to know someone before you need them, you’re very welcome to get in touch.