menu
arrow_backReturn to search

personHouse sitter

Serena

Serena and Jimmy the JRT

Picture of House Sitter, House Minder and Pet Sitter at Kiwi House Sitters, New Zealand. User Serena and Jimmy the JRT
photo_camera

About me

personSolo

70, Retired

I have been pet/house sitting for over 10 years. I absolutely love it and now I’m retired do so full time. Great opportunity to see the country, have new experiences and meet amazing people.

call Login to view

favoriteWhy I love house sitting

Pet and house sitting provide me with the ideal opportunity to travel throughout New Zealand, see new locations, and make new friends.

Hi,

My name is Serena, My Jack Russell Jimmy and I ( see Jimmy’s profile at end of mine) enjoy house/pet sitting all over NZ. We live in stunning Kaiteriteri in the Tasman district.

My first training was as a paediatric nurse, then I became a farmer with my husband on a 15 acre block, we upsized to a full sheep farm a few years later. We had all sorts of animals, dogs, cats, sheep, a house cow, chickens, fish and guinea pigs. I've worked in a vet clinic, a 24 hour surgery, been a ... Read moreHi,

My name is Serena, My Jack Russell Jimmy and I ( see Jimmy’s profile at end of mine) enjoy house/pet sitting all over NZ. We live in stunning Kaiteriteri in the Tasman district.

My first training was as a paediatric nurse, then I became a farmer with my husband on a 15 acre block, we upsized to a full sheep farm a few years later. We had all sorts of animals, dogs, cats, sheep, a house cow, chickens, fish and guinea pigs. I've worked in a vet clinic, a 24 hour surgery, been a receptionist and a gardener and now I'm retired.

I have travelled extensively house and pet sitting in the UK, Italy, Australia and NZ. I have experience sitting houses as well as lifestyle blocks. My passions are gardening, visiting open gardens, swimming, paddle boarding, cooking, reading, DIY and travelling.

Your pets and house will be cared for as if they were my own. As I said, I love gardening, so I'm hoping to get some sits where I can tend a vegetable garden and potter about in the garden.

If you are interested in booking me I can supply references and phone numbers to contact past sits.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JIMMY:

Jimmy is a typical JRT: full of energy, will do anything for a treat, can be stubborn, gets excited when he sees a ball or knows we are going in the car, and is generally well-behaved.

I say generally because, even though we've been going to dog training since he was a puppy, we still need to practice the fundamentals on daily walks and runs.

When I go paddleboarding, he rides on the front of the board and loves swimming in the sea.

Jimmy has helped me take care of lots of dogs, as you can see from my profile photos. Last January we took care of Elvis the schnauzer (9) and Mr. Beasly the dachshund (3). Jimmy and Mr. Beasley became great friends because they shared the same energy levels and wore each other out!

I am cautious to make sure Jimmy is never dominant on a housesit because it is not his home, and I haven't had any concerns about him getting along with other dogs.

He is also crate trained.

I hope this gives you some insight into Jimmy's nature and whether you think your pets would be happy having him to stay.

Show less

Pet care

petsWilling to care for these pets

DogsDogs
FishFish
BirdsBirds
Rabbits/Guinea PigsRabbits/Guinea Pigs
Chickens/Ducks/GeeseChickens/Ducks/Geese
Farm AnimalsFarm Animals
HorsesHorses

agricultureFarm experience

Yes

Trust

Platinum member36 months+
reviews5 star reviews

Availability

eventNext 12 months

Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul

eventCurrent bookings

2026: 1-31 Aug | 7 Sep - 16 Oct

chairOn a house-sit right now

Preferences

scheduleHouse sit duration

2 - 4 weeks, 1 - 2 months, 2 months +

where_to_votePreferred locations

Anywhere in New Zealand

petsBring own pet

Reviews (6)

Serena is a fantastic sitter, we are having her back. Jimmy was a great companion for our dog Bella who also bonded well with Serena. We returned to a warm, clean house and a great welcome home.
Serena (along with her dog Jimmy) looked after our dog Karli- a miniature schnauzer cross- for a month while we travelled. We thought she was great! Capable, experienced, down to earth and obviously loves dogs. She sent us lots of photos and videos while we were away so we could see how much fun Karli was having. We felt confident that if something unexpected came up she would be able to handle it. And she’d even made us a delicious dinner ready for when we arrived home. She will definitely be ... MoreSerena (along with her dog Jimmy) looked after our dog Karli- a miniature schnauzer cross- for a month while we travelled. We thought she was great! Capable, experienced, down to earth and obviously loves dogs. She sent us lots of photos and videos while we were away so we could see how much fun Karli was having. We felt confident that if something unexpected came up she would be able to handle it. And she’d even made us a delicious dinner ready for when we arrived home. She will definitely be our first choice next time when head away. Thanks Serena☺️

Show less
Serena and her wee mate Jimmy were perfect for our anxious girl Marnie during our 6 week absence overseas. Within a few days it was clear that Marnie was relating to them both and feeling relaxed. We received regular updates, photos and videos which gave us peace of mind. Serena is practical and capable. Both Marnie and our home were in very good hands. We came home to a clean, well kept house, some beautiful meals prepared for us, a very contented dog, and the garden tamed. All very much ... MoreSerena and her wee mate Jimmy were perfect for our anxious girl Marnie during our 6 week absence overseas. Within a few days it was clear that Marnie was relating to them both and feeling relaxed. We received regular updates, photos and videos which gave us peace of mind. Serena is practical and capable. Both Marnie and our home were in very good hands. We came home to a clean, well kept house, some beautiful meals prepared for us, a very contented dog, and the garden tamed. All very much appreciated.

Show less
Serena was proactive and very communicative. Arnold had a great time with Jimmy which was wonderful to see and gave us great peace of mind.Definitely would recommend! Panos
A really cool side benefit from using this house sitting service is that you get to meet some really interesting people, and Serena was no exception. Serena is a competent, mature, and conscientious person, with a 'can-do' attitude, who also communicates well, and who loves animals. We were able to relax on our holiday with complete confidence that our home and our animals were well taken care off. We appreciated the happy snapshots of the animals in the first days. A real bonus was coming back ... MoreA really cool side benefit from using this house sitting service is that you get to meet some really interesting people, and Serena was no exception. Serena is a competent, mature, and conscientious person, with a 'can-do' attitude, who also communicates well, and who loves animals. We were able to relax on our holiday with complete confidence that our home and our animals were well taken care off. We appreciated the happy snapshots of the animals in the first days. A real bonus was coming back home to a spotless house, and cooked dinner. I highly recommend Serena as a house sitter.

Show less
Serena is superb. Professional and fitted in beautifully with our family. Came back to an exceptionally tidy house with a treat in the fridge she had made. Her communication was impeccable throughout her stay have rebooked her for a future sit if she is able. First time to do this and if they are all like Serena then we are very lucky to have this company to help us.
Garden Maintenance

Green garden!

Make sure the garden and pot plants are thriving when you get back - get a house sitter.

Place house ad
Feefo badge