Animal adoring, nature loving, independent, and capable

About this sitter

I am a 54 year old woman. I have lived at a rural lake in Guatemala for 17 years. I travel 4 months a year, by myself (backpacker style and from Africa to Asia to the Americas) and between the travel and owning my house in Guatemala, I have become quite an able person. I understand what most pet sitters are looking for as I go through the same process when leaving my home and dog. I believe that caring for a home and beloved pets requires presence, responsibility, and communication. I am sensitive to water, electric and septic usage. I am looking for natural settings with animals to care for. I’m not opposed to cities, either. But my preference would be longer term in natural and shorter time frames for cities b . I travel on a US passport although I’m a Guatemalan resident. . I love to swim but am not a sun worshipper. So, my preference is to be where I can swim an hour a day. I have done numerous sits where that wasn’t an option and as long as I have nature to walk through (preferably with a dog), I am a happy woman.

Why they want to house sit

Although I am early retired, I have quite a small income. This is one reason for living in Guatemala (I’m from the US); its very economical. Pet and housesitting allows me a “vacation” and with my preference of 3+ weeks, that allows me to get to know a place. Although I love to see new places, I am also a homebody so I enjoy the feeling of having a pack to be with, a garden to tend, and a steady place to be. I allow myself time to travel on either (or both) ends of housesitting so that the time that I commit to you is focused on your home and pets.

Their experience

From until 2000-2007, I had my own dog walking/sitting service in Point Reyes Station, California. I began this business unintentionally as the result of my first dogs death. I love all animals and did plenty of catsitting, as well. I have also tended some very needy birds and a few goats as well as many chickens.
From 2009-17, I went to Quintana Roo, Mexico to dog/cat/housesit for 1 month on a yearly basis.
Ive also dog/housesat in Ajijic, Mexico and Matsuyama, Japan in 2016. 2018 brought my biggest challenge, caring for 37 dogs (with the help of 1 local man) in a rural setting in Sri Lanka. In 2019, I cared for 8 cats and a nervous rescue dog on a Greek island. 2020 brought 5 dogs on a remote bit of pacific Panama. 2021 brought a carribbean island experience on Nevis with 3 cats, one very skittish, who eventually came to sleep with me. 2022 gave me 2 dogs, one a puppy who needed guidance to not jump on people and a cat in Costa Rica. In 2023, I enjoyed 3 dogs in Spain for 3 weeks, followed by 2 1/2 weeks with 3 cats and a dog in central Portugal, followed by 3 cats and 2 dogs on Tenerife, Canary Islands. 2023 gifted me 3 dogs and a lot of laughs in StVimcent and the Grenadines (carribbean). You can view those 5 star reviews on trusted Housesitters.

What can they bring to the assignment

I am an introvert and a bit awkward around people. This helps me to be a solid, loving, present petsitter. Im much more comfortable in nature and with animals. I am not interested in going out at night and prefer to stay in, sleep early, and wake up with the sun. I am not exactly fluent but have very good conversational Spanish. As a single woman, all of my focus and being tuned in, is directed towards your pets, garden and house. That is my focus and commitment to every housesitting situation.