Yara

Looking for long-term housesits in central Auckland from 27 September 2024.
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Relax while you are away and return to happy pets and a spotless home. I adore animals and have more than 7 years of pet/housesitting and gardening experience in Australia and New Zealand.
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I am a home owner myself and used to have pets of my own, so I totally understand how important it is to feel complete confidence and trust in the person to whom you are entrusting the care of your precious furry family members and home.

So, here is what you can expect from me:
* Prompt and easy communication.
* Meeting you and your pets face-to-face or online prior to the sit to get to know each other better and discuss your needs and expectations.
* Strict and honest following your instructions, including continuing any training or boundaries you have in place.
* Sending you regular updates with photos & videos.
* Being eco-conscious with cleaning, waste, composting, conserving water and energy. I treat people's homes with the utmost respect and consideration, using drink coasters to protect furniture, leaving shoes outside, etc., just like I would in my own home. I usually bring my own linen, towels, toiletries and food items.
* Keeping an activity log and a debrief upon your return.
* Leaving the home and garden well maintained and clean, pets healthy and happy, and a nice 'welcome back home' surprise for you.
* Please, note that I don't usually go out much in the evenings and spend as much time at home with pets as required by the homeowner. While on a house sit, I would generally be around the home in the mornings and evenings, reading, cooking, playing and exercising with your pets and doing some work on my laptop.

In the last 7 years I have completed 50+ housesits (city apartments, family homes, executive residences, farm homesteads, beach houses, and off-grid homes) ranging from 1 night to 6 months.
Previous housesits were booked through a similar Australian website (please see references from house owners below):
* June 2019 to present - many, many repeat housesits. I have returned to the majority of my house-sits so far (and would have returned to more if the dates had worked)! One home I have returned to 15 times!
* May-June 2019, Australia/Sydney, Marrickville NSW, Burmese cat (repeated housesit)
* March-April 2019, Australia/Sydney, Maroubra NSW, 2 cats
* February 2019, Australia/Sydney, Five Dock NSW, 14 y.o. Jack Russel terrier with separation anxiety (required medication)
* January 2019 (+March, June 2019), Australia/Sydney, Stanmore NSW, 10 y.o. Maine Coon (required oral medication)
* December 2018/January 2019, Australia/Sydney, Newtown NSW, 2 Burmese cats
* December 2018, New Zealand/Auckland, 4 months old British Blue kitten
* December 2018, Australia/Sydney, Macquarie Park NSW, 6 y.o. cat
* November 2018, Australia/Sydney, Northbridge NSW, 16 y.o. cat with special diet
* October 2018, Australia/Sydney, Newtown NSW, cat
* September 2018, Australia/Sydney, Drummoyne NSW, apartment and plants
* August 2018, Australia/Sydney, Little Bay NSW, 2 cats
* June-July 2018, Australia/Sydney, Marrickville NSW, Burmese cat
* May-June 2018, Australia/Sydney, Mosman NSW, Poodle x Cavalier x Maltese puppy
* May 2018, Australia/Sydney, Enmore NSW, Siamese cat, recovering from illness
* May 2018, Australia/Sydney, Marrickville NSW, 2 cats, one of which was 17y.o. and required special care
* April 2018, Australia/Sydney, Marrickville NSW, Birman cat
* April 2018, Australia/Sydney, Cammeray NSW, Burmese cat and veggie garden
* February-March 2018, Australia/Sydney, McMahons Point NSW, apartment and plants
* February 2018, Australia/Sydney, Collaroy Beach NSW, Burmese cat
* January 2018, Australia/Sydney, Brookvale NSW, 2 Bichon Frise dogs, cat, 5 fish, large garden

Note: Most of the abovementioned housesits became repeated ones when homeowners travel so they contact me directly and don't leave separate reviews.

ABOUT ME
I am respectful, responsible, honest, reliable, energetic, and friendly person with a positive outlook on life.

Short profile:
* Fully vaccinated.
* Experienced taking care of pets, homes and gardens.
* Experienced looking after cats (old and kittens), little and big dogs (old and puppies), rabbits, fish, birds, horses, chickens, and ducks.
* I have administered medication and treatment to a number of animals as part of the care.
* I am good at giving shy animals space and letting them come to me as well as managing big, boisterous dogs.
* Extremely clean, neat, and tidy.
* Fit, active, healthy and pragmatic optimist who loves exercising so your dog will definitely be walked at least twice a day.
* Non-smoker and non-drinker.
* Pet/child free.
* Glowing character and housesitting references available upon request.
* Auckland based Australian citizen (I also speak French and Russian in case your pets need language practice:)
* Full (and clean) driving license.
* Police check, first aid and working with children certificates available upon request.

I grew up around animals and love taking care of them. In fact, I grew up in a house that was practically a menagerie! My experience includes: dogs (puppies to oldies, small through to big breeds), various breeds of cats from kittens to very old, turtles, fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds (budgerigars, chooks, geese), and horses. I am the sort of person who stops to pat dogs when going for a walk. Also, I am currently undertaking horse training course and will be a certified coach soon.

I enjoy the balanced lifestyle, nature, travelling, coastal walks, sunshine and of course spending time with animals. I like being outdoors, so would love to walk your dog as often as required. I'm also a bookworm, so also enjoy staying inside reading books and learning languages.

Ex-management consultant, I am now working as a university lecturer and freelance marketing consultant (part-time and mostly from home) to enjoy the slower lifestyle and have time to "stop and smell the roses". I am passionate about using the power of business to influence positive environmental and social change. The last few years I have worked in the Non-For-Profit and Higher Education sectors. I have volunteered for many non-for-profit organisations including Room-to-Read, Welcome Dinner Project, and the UN.

WHY I HOUSESIT
I'm a strong believer of an economy of trust (or 'shared economy'). I used to host couchsurfers as a way of 'paying it forward' and was a guest, helper, house and pet sitter myself many times.

As s housesitter, I find it an amazing and a very rewarding adventure that helps me be around animals, explore new suburbs/cities/countries, and make new friends around the world. I am a homeowner in Sydney but have recently moved to Auckland for work, so would like to explore this city through housesitting.

If you have managed to survive to this point, I sincerely thank you for your interest in my profile! Hopefully, you have gained some insight into my personality and experience.

Please feel welcome to contact me directly with any queries and I hope to sit for you soon.

Warm regards,
Yara