Hello,
My name is Kathryn Osgood and I am a 36yr old full time freelance pet sitter/lover, photo researcher, photo editor, photo archivist, photo-excavator and have recently added writer and researcher to the list after receiving my Masters degree in Critical Theory & Creative Research in Portland, OR. I am currently seeking out PhD opportunities, which can take time, and am available for pet and houses sits for the upcoming year while I continue my research (and solitude!).
I grew up in the countryside of Vermont spending my summers off the coast of Maine and have been taking care of small animals (birds/hamsters) as well as large animals (Cows, Bulls & Thoroughbred horses) the majority of my life. One of my first work experiences was mucking stalls, exercising and grooming Morgan Horses and general horse care on both the east and west coast. I have been pet sitting and house sitting through housecarers for several years now (almost 10!) and have had many wonderful experiences and met many great people and have made many fabulous furry friends. I am currently employed as a freelance photo editor for a travel publishing company, which means I can work from just about anywhere considering Internet access is nearby. When house/pet-sitting my days are generally spent at home on the computer, otherwise I enjoy exploring with the animals, walking, hiking, running as well as a great deal of reading and writing. Having grown up in rural locals, I am not shy towards nature; I have hunted down a favorite dog toy in the middle of the night in the middle of the redwoods, woken in the wee hours to feed the fire and use the out-house, and have happily had some of the best duck and wine cooked for me overlooking the spring meadows of the Gers region of France. Each exchange is a leap of faith; homeowners are forced to welcome a stranger into their home to care for their most loved ones, and I pack up my bag and jump into a bit of an unknown. I am continually amazed at the warm, open, generous and honest relationships I have formed and continue to call my friends to this day.
That said, trust should never be blind, and I am always more than happy to answer any and all question home/pet owners have (and should have!) In the past s, phone calls and have worked fine and I always arrive a day or two early so that the animal(s) can acclimate to me and the homeowners feel safe and secure. I am a bit of a minimalist (not purposefully, I simply travel a lot and it makes my life easier) and do my best not to impose my ideals or principles upon others and certainy never expect special accomodations to be made for me, either in the home or your lifestyle. Basically, I love animals, the outdoors, books and exploring this world (and even more so during these very odd times we find ourselves in).
Housecarers has been a great resource and I have had many successful sits (on both ends) throughout the years. I have traveled to Southern France caring for a couple of bulldogs & mares overlooking a majestic vineyard, explored beautiful Nova Scotia living with a couple of sweet lap dogs and two equally sized cats, spent a fabulous winter on Vancouver island, which was so amiable for both of us that I ended renting their apartment beneath the main house for three months beyond my scheduled departure.
Thank you for taking the time to read my advertisement and please fell free to call me anytime at (971) , or me directly at . I am currently located in the Pacific Northwest (I have a reliable vehicle) but am happy to fly (within reason) in order to seek out new experiences. I very much look forward to hearing from you!
Kind Regards,
Kathryn Osgood