Experienced reliable pet-sitter, house-sitter, and gardener

About this sitter

Hello, I'd look forward to helping out. My ultimate goal is to become a permanent resident in France. I've raised Border Collies, cats, hamsters, turtles, fish, parrots, and chickens, and once I nursed a squirrel back to health. I am 57, an artist (ceramics, painting), in good health, and with a strong interest - and lots of experience - in gardening. I play french horn, and have volunteered as a first responder (emergency medical services). I've got a soft spot for wild animals despite having had to maintain diligent protection for my chickens while they roosted at night when the possums got too close sometimes. Still, I feel that it's important/essential to live with/among the wildlife. I'm a reliable, responsible house-sitter, pet-sitter, gardener. I'd be happy to learn more about small farms and to help out while folks take a breather. References available.

Why they want to house sit

I would get to have the great pleasure of taking care of animals and plants, while experiencing other areas of France and/or the world. I would enjoy taking care of your pets exactly as you would, and while I would love to take care of cats and dogs and chickens, I would also very much like to learn how to care for horses, cows, sheep, goats, ferrets, donkeys, ducks and geese.

Their experience

I've had pets and gardens all of my life. I provided a pet-sitting service for 10 years in Downeast Maine: I traveled to clients' homes to care for and to walk dogs, feed and care for cats (including older cats and dogs needing medicine), feed chickens and muck out the coops, feed ducks, put out food for wildlife, water houseplants, maintain gardens, mulch, mow lawns, and compost. I've been a homeowner several times, and have taken care of friends' and family members' houses and gardens while pet-sitting/house-sitting.

What can they bring to the assignment

I love animals. I can bring reliability, physical strength, and extensive basic knowledge of gardening. I can keep a journal and send/post to you; I am proficient with computers and can provide online updates via email, website, zoom/skype/photos, and/or provide reports to you. (I can take on additional gardening projects such as setting up irrigation, extensive weeding, planting, and more for an additional fee). I have a France driver's license and US driver's license for both car and motorcycle; I can drive manual or automatic, but I'm currently only proficient in left-hand driving (LHD).