10/16/2026
20 years ago this holiday season I started my pet sitting career. After quitting college I had no idea what I wanted to do. After working as a vet tech in training, I learned that was not the job for me. I went through a lot of part time jobs. They helped carry the early years of pet sitting. The job can be brutal, as people don't expect to pay much, even though their fur babies and their homes are your responsibility during their absence. It can be stressful, messy and unpredictable but it has been so rewarding over the years. I've kept the same clients for over a decade. I've driven approximately 800,000 miles. Early mornings, late nights, lunch breaks. Sometimes people don't consider all the effort and driving because they live there.
Thankfully, some of the clients who became friends over the years made it all worth it. Special thank yous, holiday bonuses, and the glowing recommendations I received to the point I didn't have to advertise and stayed booked.
These past several years, I have made a transition to cleaning houses. The hours and money per time spent makes sense for a mom with a family. In 2017 when I acquired my husband and then 5 year old daughter, I quickly realized the hours and nights away weren't worth it. I've always kept a few pet sitting clients! A few favorites and a few newer ones who end up living nearby and being convenient. I've found a new passion in cleaning, having found a niche with new moms and the elderly, who not only need laundry done and some meal prep, but a friendly face and some conversation.
My busy yet flexible schedule has allowed me to foster countless dogs and cats over the years, bringing home sick, injured and old dogs in, often against my husbands wishes. I'm rescuing less these days, but it's unlikely I'll go any period of time without having a foster kitten at least. Once people know you rescue you will always get requests and urgent pleas for help. My dream is to one day have an animal sanctuary.
Now, I have an even newer gig as an assistant venue coordinator, and helping bring a few weddings together and being part of such a special day really brings me joy.
If you've made it this far thank you for reading my story! I wake up feeling blessed and thankful every day for this life, hoping to bring a little sunshine to everyone I see. Because is that the whole point of life, to be kind?
