My History and Experience
with Animals
My Own Pets
For the first 40 years of my life, my family and then I always had pets including a dog, numerous cats and even a rabbit.
Foster Animals
Almost 4 years and 600 volunteer hours with the BC SPCA, I fostered cats. Dogs were not allowed, so it needed to be cats.
Pet Sitting
My pet sitting days began in my childhood neighbourhood and has now become worldwide with the use of pet sitting sites.
History with Animals
If you are like me, and as a parent you probably are, you love looking at pics of cute pets! On this page, I'm simply going to share my history within the 3 categories of:
- My Pets/Family Pets
- Foster Pets
- Pet Sitting (both "official" and for friends/family)
Enjoy the photos even if you don't worry about reading any of the text!
Family and Personal Pets
Family Pets
Growing up we had a family dog, Spoodle, who got name because she was a Spaniel-Poodle mix. She lived long enough to also cohabitate with cats and a dwarf rabbit. Sadly Spoodle being all black and the camera's of the 70's means there are not great photo.
Our first family cat was called C-For (as in C for Cat). When he passed due to eating a neighbour's rat poison my sister and I were old enough to have our own pets.
My Mom and sister both got cats, and I got a Himalayan Dwarf Rabbit.
After Julia passed, I had Bartacus. And after Bartacus passed we got Spartacus and 3 years later Sputnik. It took a bit of time, but they eventually became the best of friends.
Spartacus, at age 13, had colon cancer. After surgery to remove and months of tube feeding he was doing well. Until he suddenly wasn't. These pics are the last day of Spartacus' life and Sputnik (and I) did not leave his side.
A Whole Family who Loves Animals
I come from animal loving lineage:
At one point, my family was going to move to a gulf island and have a farm!
Both of my parents grew up with dogs. My grandparents had dogs and even an African parrot!
My uncle is the one who brought me 2 of my cats during my childhood/teens. I have a cousin who works in a vet and 2 cousins who breed dogs, one who breeds show dogs.
The photos below are my sister's current pets.
Foster Animals
I had fosters for as little as one week and up to 6 months. Reasons were needing socialization, weight loss, recovering from surgery (amputation of a back leg), temporary home while owner was dealing with flood damage and generally just ensuring that a cat was able to be in a far superior environment to staying in a cage at the adoption centre.
I was not only responsible for care, but also interviewing potential adopters. I had the pleasure of sending along each cat either back to its original owner or into the loving arms of new carers.
I only fostered cats due to the landlord having a dog.
Pet Sitting
I have done pet sitting for friends and family since I was 7 years old. At 10, I became an entrepreneur when I made my own business cards for "Pet and Plant Sitting" and distributed throughout our developing neighbourhood.
I did pet sitting when it was daily visits and then actually moving in. Once I was doing the pet sitting on the official sites, of course, I was there 24/7 caring for the pets.
I have done Pet Sitting in locations across Canada and several locations in Australia.
I am open to expanding worldwide!
To Date I have Cared for:
17 Dogs
12 Cats
30 Birds
A Pond of Koi
Current Pets!
When I am on a pet sit I will share the fantastic animals I am loving!
No Current Pet Sit:
I am on a 3 month break from pet sitting as I am guest teaching and travelling to present at various international conferences throughout the summer month (July - September).
From Athens, Greece to Greensboro, North Carolina and onto Bali, Perth and Las Vegas.
Upon return to Canada, I am booked with pet sit through to early December.
Looking for someone for Christmas?
I am not currently. booked. Please reach out, especially if your sit is 2 weeks or longer.
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