Jo

Extremely reliable, responsible, capable, mature (but fit and healthy), non-smoker, professional Australian citizen, with US permanent residency.

I have years of house/pet-sitting experience in several countries and have plentiful reviews/references. Some are visible on my profile here (see also the linked "sister-sites" of this site on my profile). Many are on the largest international site, which understandably, I’m not allowed to name here – and from which I can provide you copies as an attachment. Also have plentiful offline references, a criminal history check, and am more than happy to give you any other documentation you need to feel entirely confident about me. Many of the people I've sat for have become good friends and are very willing to talk to a houseowner who's considering picking me as their housesitter.

I've taken care of dogs, cats (and am a lifelong dog/cat lover), fish, chickens, birds, hermit crabs, rabbits, hamsters, a peahen, and an ancient tree frog in my time. I seem to have unintentionally developed a minor "specialty" with chickens, after several sits involving same - up to 2 dozen on several occasions. Ditto for Siamese cats - although only 1 or 2 of those at a time! And I’ve even looked after one none-too-friendly goat! That was ... um ... “challenging", shall we say?. I've had to administer pills to dogs, and oral meds, pills, and an inhaler to cats – and even managed to do so without getting scratched or bitten.

I work remotely as a freelance writer/editor, so am "at home" a great deal to provide plenty of love and attention to pets. I take your privacy and trust in me very seriously, along with respecting your neighbours' peace and quiet. I always aim to leave a place even cleaner than when I arrived.

As a home-owner myself, I know how crucially important it is to have someone you can completely trust in your home, and caring for your pets/plants/garden. Plenty of experience dealing with household emergencies: both minor ones like the water heater dying, and major ones, like (in one place I house-sat for, years ago), the ceiling collapsing! Not because of anything I did, I hasten to add.

Keen gardener, with something of a green thumb, so promise I won't kill your plants. Happy to weed and mow lawns for you. Having lived for many years in Minnesota in the US and Adelaide, South Australia, I'm no stranger to weather extremes at either end of the spectrum: heatwaves, humidity, cold, snow, and ice. And I must be the only lunatic who'd actually choose to housesit in Winnipeg, for 4 months in an even-colder-than-usual winter!

Happy to consider anywhere I can get to. Generally prefer longer-term (3+ weeks), rather than short-term housesits, although if you have a short-term one, I'll try very hard to find another one nearby with which to combine it.

Hoping you'll take a look at my profile. Please feel free to message for more info.

P.S. As a kid, I always used to feel really, really boring when my school report cards invariably said "Very responsible." Now I value that - and I'm still very responsible!