Hello Home & Pet Owners!
We are a retired Canadian couple (9 years), who have since been travelling the world and home & pet sitting. Though we've travelled worldwide, during the pandemic we have been sitting in Canada only. We enjoy the adventure of travelling but also love to settle in and care for others' pets and homes from time to time. We are animal lovers and welcome the opportunity to spend time caring for and giving attention to pets. We also enjoy the outdoors and the chance to be out in the yard pulling weeds or picking fruit. We particularly appreciate the friendly nature of a home and pet sitting arrangement — the home owner has a vacation with complete peace of mind while we receive the opportunity to spend time caring for beloved pets and their homes — what could be better than this win-win exchange!
Just before the pandemic began we spent about 6 months sitting homes and pets, interspersed with travel, in the UK, Ireland, France, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain and Morocco, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We are eager to care for other people's property and pets! We are animal lovers and, since our travel lifestyle prohibits having our own at this time, truly appreciate this chance to be with pets and to give their owners a worry-free vacation.
We have spent this past two years in Canada, on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan BC with our time split between house sitting and rentals.
We have owned both homes and pets, understanding the diligent care required in maintaining both. To us, pets are family members, to be considered and cared for as such and believe that pets belong at home especially when they may be missing their usual family connection. We are responsible, honest, caring and trustworthy nonsmokers.
With plenty of experience home & pet sitting for varying periods of time, from two weeks to 10 months, our 5-star reviews and references from home owners, a video, photos and background information can be found at kathperreault under the menu heading Encounters Home & Pet Sitting.
In the summer of 2017, we cared for a paraplegic dog for two months, who had no use of his hind legs. He required daily walks in his wheelchair as well as physio exercises to build muscle strength. It was most gratifying to see him transformed from a subdued, and confused little fellow (his disability was recent) to an eager, confident explorer as he became adept with his wheelchair. His home had a large yard and garden which required regular care, fruit picking and preserving, lawn mowing and watering, all of which we took on energetically.
Summer 2018 we cared for an eccentric dachshund in Victoria for 3.5 months, enjoying immensely his quirky personality. This care situation was the opposite of one winter sit in Costa Rica, where we attended to 13 (!) rescue pets in a remote jungle location. Despite the heavy work load, we organized efficient routines to handle it all well. With the diversity of the jungle environment, the heat, the wildlife and the rambunctious but lovely pets we cared for, it was a most enriching experience. We came away attached to the pets and continue to be in touch with their ‘mom’ to receive updates on their well being. We travelled and sat for cats, dogs, chickens, an iguana and even peafowl throughout the UK, Europe and Cyprus in 2019, arriving home before the pandemic restrictions began in March 2020.
We especially enjoy taking photos and videos of the pets and writing entertaining anecdotes to keep owners updated (if they wish). Both worked in education before retirement, Aaron as a school psychologist (and professor at UBC) and Kath as a health/education assistant at a secondary school. We enjoy hiking, cycling, kayaking, enjoying nature & wildlife, photography, art (both seeing & creating it), travel, a good espresso, food & baked goods, being creative with food preparation, snorkelling, reading and we both have a keen curiosity and openness to life, its mysteries and joys.
It is our view that providing a worry-free vacation to home & pet owners in exchange for accommodation is the perfect win-win travel solution for all concerned. Aaron and I will always treat your home, pets and garden as though they are our own, returning them all to you in first rate condition, happy and healthy.