Pet Sitter in Troy, New York

With experience dating back to grad school, when I cared for a chinchilla, through my participation in a Ph.D program when I was hired to feed quiche to a massive turtle, and in the intervening years I have sat for up to five dogs at a time, through innumerable overnights, to dog walking and cat caring situations. I share my space with my own 25 pound, one-eyed cat, Navar, and have fostered, and found good homes for, more than a dozen dogs. I am a District Leader for the Humane Society, have volunteered in Mexico at a veterinary clinic for street animals and have a certificate from the Playa del Carmen community program vet project, have a certificate of completion from Red Rover Responders in their volunteer training program and been deployed by Red Rover to care for 90 dogs who were rescued from an abuse situation and have a certificate of achievement from FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. In addition to essential walking duties, I photograph my charges (I studied photo journalism in college) and send the hosts pictures of their furry companions as well as calling or texting regularly to keep everyone up to date. I have also given medication and performed basic grooming, which, besides fur brushing and nail clipping, has included brushing teeth! I can also be relied upon to get mail, water plants, and do whatever simple household tasks should be performed in the owner's absence to keep their homes running smoothly. As an animal activist I am involved in multiple activities with local and national rescue groups to help facilitate greater protections for animals. I write OpEds for our local daily newspaper, on matters ranging from the use of cruel traps to the prohibition of road side zoos. I volunteer with two local rescue groups, the Animal Support Project, and 11th Hour Canine Rescue. I love helping animals and derive great satisfaction just being in their company. sometimes even more than people! My latest project has been to work in conjunction with the Troy City Council in establishing a dog park (I call it by its official name, the one I chose, the "Bark Park of Troy, New York) on a site of land that has been, for the past several years, used as a dumping ground by the city. However, I have interviewed and acquired bids from landscapers/excavators, fence makers, gathered designs - Victorian in style to go with the 19th century vibe of downtown - for benches and front gate makers, even doggy bag distribution centers and trash receptacles! I have developed a list of rules for those who will be utilizing the park, and writing the text and deciding on the look of the signs that must be displayed and adhered to. I started a petition for which I have gathered almost 400 signatures of those wishing to have a dog park built in downtown, and formed a coalition of eight Trojan luminaries (Presidet of the Prospect Park Commision, Executive Head of the Troy Historical Society, etc). as well as acquired several volunteers to form the "Bark Park Squad" maintenance force, willing to help keep the park in good condition in every season. We are having a big meeting in mid-August at which time the coalition will review my information and designs and make choices. These then, will be gathered, by me, into a final plan, which will be presented at a special meeting of the Troy government committee heads, who will vote on it. I've been working on this project, for free, for about eight months, and I say I'm like a dog with a bone, I refuse to give up! So we shall see. The other big event involving animals for me is a volunteer trip to Peru in October, for one month, where I will be living with a local family and working at a zoo with animals I've never encountered.Plus, I've signed up for various bucket list activities for the weekends, so I'll be going horseback riding, white water rafting, zip lining, and the biggest thrill, an overnight trip to Machu Picchu! Please consider me the next time you need to be away or even if you just need coverage when you are busy. I have a very flexible schedule, live in Troy, so convenient to most communities. I truly love animals and enjoy spending time with them, so pet sitting is more of a reward than a job. I respect each animal's individuality and try to temper my personae to my client's personality. If your dog (or cat) is an extrovert I will play with him, but if he's more of a couch potato I'll spend my time giving belly rubs or ear scratches. The animal sets the tone for our time together. The goal is to keep the dog or cat actively engaged or calmly soothed so that he doesn't suffer any anxiety, and though he will miss you, will be having such a good time he won't be unhappy. I've met many animals during my years of pet sitting and am enriched by each new acquaintance. Providing top quality, affectionate and reliable pet care is my priority and the pay off is being able to interact with multiple animals, and the people who love them. Best, Bonnie E.