Lisa stayed in my home and cared for my 9.5-year-old rescue pitbull Wilma for 10 days while I was traveling in Europe. This was the longest trip I have ever spent away from my dog and I was very nervous about leaving her with anyone.
My dog is not the easiest dog. She requires a lot of structure and she has some significant health problems that require a strict diet of special food and multiple daily medications. She’s also dog aggressive and requires some management when out on walks. And finally, Wilma is a fearful/high anxiety dog, so finding the right sitter is extremely important for her wellbeing.
Knowing this, Lisa jumped in to take care of my baby girl without hesitation.
We met twice before my trip to go over my dog’s feeding, potty and medication schedules, and to give Wilma a chance to get comfortable with Lisa. And when it was time for me to leave, Lisa was at my house early and ready for the hand off.
While I was gone, Lisa kept in touch with me, sent me pictures and was sure to ask questions when she had them.
I’ve used a lot of dog sitters in the past few years and my dog always tells me if she was happy with her sitter. And when I came home this time, it was clear Wilma liked Lisa and felt comfortable and safe with Lisa caring for her.
Because my dog has so many issues, she is not a good candidate for boarding facilities. And I will freely admit that I am one of those crazy, neurotic dog moms who will not leave my dog in just anyone’s hands. I need to feel confident that the person caring for my dog will love her like I do and take her issues as seriously as I do. And I don’t care how many candidates I have to interview to make sure I’ve found the right person.
Before settling on Lisa, I interviewed multiple dog sitter candidates and none of them left me feeling confidant that they understood how much care and responsibility my dog can require. But, Lisa immediately put me at ease.
She asked a lot of questions, she took notes, and she showed me she had every intention of keeping my dog happy and safe and healthy. And when I got home, Wilma showed me I had made the right choice and that my absence created little if any disruption to her daily routines. Should I need to leave town again in the future, Lisa will be my first phone call.
