My partner and I moved to Lara, Victoria from the Gold Coast for work at the end of last year. I’m a qualified vet nurse but currently work for a pet transport company with my partner. We foster dogs and cats as well as pet sitting so I spend most of my time at home with the animals.
I’m offering potential in-home sitting/visits (depending on dates/location) but would preferably host your pets here at my property for daycare for overnight stays. Guests will have all the comforts of home and are welcome to sit up on the couch with us (if their parents don’t mind teaching some ‘bad’ manners).
If your cat or dog gets along with most other dogs - guaranteed they’ll fit in with my pack in no time.
We have a large flock of chickens and lots of rescue parrots who are all kept seperate from visiting dogs. We also have inside cats but due to foster animals in the home, they are super socialised with other cats and dogs of all sizes. The cats are usually quite wary of new dogs at first (whether the dog is cat-friendly or not) and will disappear to their hiding places up high enough that they won’t be seen or bothered.
All my own cats and dogs are fully up to date with their vet work/vaccinations.
I would prefer to only host desexed and currently vaccinated adult animals.
*Some younger foster animals or pet sitting puppies staying will not yet have received all their vaccinations or vet work.*
While transporting animals for work, our dogs always come along with us and hop out for a walk and to meet new dogs at each stop. My partners border collie, Floki, has been doing this his entire life and is especially adept at befriending any and every dog he meets with a combination of submissiveness and friendliness. My border collie, Bowie, is also very friendly but if a dog doesn’t like him then he won’t like them either.
Every Thursday and most Tuesdays I drive west of Melbourne (Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton depending on bookings) with a dog trailer so pick up/drop off from towns further out is possible.
I am still available during these times for pet sitting - your pet can come along with us for the day under constant supervision or stay at home inside the house with enrichment and toys/out in the secure yard. Usually dogs will come along with me unless they get car sick or have another dog they would rather stay at home and run around with.
Certifications:
• Certificate III in Captive Animals
• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
*Any cats staying at my house will be kept INSIDE and I would prefer to only pet sit cats kept inside. I can’t guarantee their safety if I don’t know where they are.*
Personal Experience:
• Work for Dogmovers, as an animal attendant/carer and driver. Every week I handle dogs from Chihuahuas to Great Danes. We transport other species too such as goats, poultry, reptiles and other birds and small animals.
* Foster carer for Dunroamin rescue
* Volunteered at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for three years before I moved to Victoria
* Volunteered at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for two years
(worked with native and exotic species including avians, mammals, amphibians, reptiles)
* Volunteered at RSPCA Coolangatta as a teenager
I have abundant experience in medicating all species via oral, topical, subcutaneous and intravenous routes. If your cat, dog or other critter requires 'tricky' medication, rest assured they will receive it stress free.
Hope to hear from you soon 😸...