Hello dear pet parents! 🐾

My name is Colby, I'm from California, and I'm currently doing my Master's in Sustainability at Maastricht University.

I grew up with dogs and cats in the house, and spent a lot of time at my grandfather's farm. When I was older, I volunteered at an animal sanctuary for almost six years, taking care of, training, and rehabilitating wild animals. I've worked with dogs and cats of course, but also ferrets, bunnies, and a variety of (exotic) birds in addition to wild animals. Overall, I have a very strong love and passion for taking proper care of animals (though hopefully your cats aren't as messy as Bengal tigers! 🐯)

For dogs: I would like to stick to the routine you already use: your leash and harness, your usual route (unless otherwise requested), and no off-leash time unless you've told me it's okay. I find that dogs are much more comfortable this way, even if someone new is walking them. I always bring water and poop bags, check for hot pavement depending on the season, and let older or lower-energy dogs set the pace.

For cats: I follow your feeding schedule and portions, refresh water, and can scoop the litter box every visit if needed. I also let you know if something is off, like whether they're actually eating, whether the litter box looks normal.

I'm comfortable giving medication on schedule and following special diets as you've set them up, though I don't do injections. Before the first visit ask where everything lives: food, meds, carrier, leash.

Clear communication matters a lot to me. You'll get photos and a short message after every visit, and I'm happy to do a quick video call if you'd like to see them yourself. 📸

Here in Maastricht I unfortunately don't have any animals of my own to take care of, but I would be happy to take care of yours! Every animal has their own way of communicating and their own individual needs, so before meeting your pet I'd love a quick chat about how you'd like me to speak to, move around, and interact with him or her (plus any quirks, fears, or habits I should know about). I can feed, walk, play with, or simply keep your pet company!🐾