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Marianne

Cat cuddler, dog snuggler

Picture of House Sitter, House Minder and Pet Sitter at Kiwi House Sitters, New Zealand. User Cat cuddler, dog snuggler
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About me

personSolo

Retired

I am a Canadian who regularly escapes our northern winters by spending November through March in New Zealand and Australia; most of my time there I am housesitting. I have cared for quite a variety of homes and pets over the past twenty years and along the way have made some lovely friends (a lot of them four-legged!) in both countries. Because I travel a lot I no longer have my own pets so I welcome the opportunity to look after others’ animals when I am housesitting - be assured, your pets ... Read moreI am a Canadian who regularly escapes our northern winters by spending November through March in New Zealand and Australia; most of my time there I am housesitting. I have cared for quite a variety of homes and pets over the past twenty years and along the way have made some lovely friends (a lot of them four-legged!) in both countries. Because I travel a lot I no longer have my own pets so I welcome the opportunity to look after others’ animals when I am housesitting - be assured, your pets will be well loved. I admit I have a soft spot for elderly pets, having cared for my own two pussycats until they were quite old.

My background is in design and manufacture however I am now retired so my time is quite flexible. I am quiet by nature and would be considered a home-body. - definitely not a party animal! I enjoy reading, walking, painting and kayaking but my passion is gardening so know that your plants will be well attended. Here in Canada I have a small market garden which keeps me busy from April though October, growing vegetables and flowers. In recent years I have become a WWOOF host. WWOOF is a hands-on program designed to introduce (mostly young) people to organic gardening. I am very proud to be part of this mentoring program. If you are interested in learning more about what I do you can go to the WWOOF Canada website and search for Suncatcher Gardens.

I am a home owner and an avid DIY-er so am aware of how things in a house should function and recognize when remedies are needed. (I also understand my limitations and can differentiate which repairs I can handle and when it is appropriate to call in a professional.)

I can provide an up-to-date police clearance certificate and heaps of references. Here are a few excerpts from some of the references:

“Marianne has looked after our house and our cat, Tiger, for several years. She has a wonderful relationship with Tiger and cares for her better than we do. Our house is always immaculate when we return from our holidays and we are very grateful that we don’t have to worry about anything when we are away.” Sara - Auckland, New Zealand

“Marianne is the first person I turn to when I am in need of care for my dog. She always makes him welcome in her home and is very gentle and loving. Also she is careful to take note of any special pet care details and veterinarian information. I know he is always in good hands. I can't think of anyone who is more reliable, honest, smart and sensible than Marianne.” Kathy - Sooke, BC Canada

“Marianne house-sat for my family after my Mum passed away. She stayed in the house for a number of months. She was the perfect person to look after Mum’s home and she treated the house and everything in it with care and respect. We have every trust in Marianne and, if we ever needed a house-sitter again, she would be the first person that we would call.” Bronwen, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

“On our return, we were more than happy with the condition of the house and garden, and the cats seemed completely unfazed by our being away and were in good health. I would have to say, Marianne left the place in better order than anybody else before her, and we have engaged many house-sitters over the years.” Chris - Sydney, Australia

“We received frequent emails from her while we were away, giving us an update. She has also managed a more challenging situation when a small water cylinder failed. She promptly called in a plumber and dealt with the issue in a pragmatic way. When we arrived home we found the house in an excellent state and high standard of cleanliness and both dogs were in great spirit. I recommend Marianne highly as a house and pet sitter.” Hilda - Auckland, New Zealand

“She has cared for my beloved six cats and I think it is noteworthy that she has provided loving care to all of them. For Marianne it is not simply a matter of giving animals their food and water but she makes a point of giving each one attention and love. Marianne is honest, ethical and has a high degree of integrity. I have no hesitation in recommending her to any one as a house sitter and have no doubt that those who use her services will be pleased.” Elizabeth - Vancouver, Canada

“If you are looking for someone reliable to mind everything while you are away then I suggest you look no further. Marianne is thoughtful, kind, hardworking and extremely easy to get along with. The dogs loved her and the neighbours loved her. Grab this lovely woman now. You will find no better.” Glynn - Auckland, New Zealand

“I give Marianne five stars for communication, house, garden and pet – I came home from several weeks away overseas to find everything in and around the house immaculate, and a very settled and happy 14 year old (much loved) cat. Marianne is also an experienced and highly sought after gardener. If you want to book Marianne for your house sit, you may have to do so months in advance - such a responsible, trustworthy housesitter is gold! Needless to say, very highly recommended.” Lynx - Bethells Beach, New Zealand

“We were lucky to have Marianne house sit for us for 10 days last summer. She also took great care of our elderly Border Terrier Etta. I can’t thank her enough because she quickly understood the needs of our frail and rather anxious dog. Marianne sent us regular updates including some photos so we felt very comfortable knowing Etta and the house were well taken care of. I would happily recommend Marianne for future house sitting or pet sitting for families. Rhonwen - Devonport, New Zealand

“Upon my return home the house was nice and clean and the garden was looking great too! Marianne kept in contact during my time away with updates via emails. She is a pleasant, capable, trustworthy lady and I would not have any hesitation in recommending her for a house sitting position.” Selina - Auckland, New Zealand

“On one occasion whilst tending the lawn she noticed we had a substantial water leak so she promptly contacted our plumber and got it fixed. Marianne is trustworthy and looked after our home as though it were her own. She is a pleasant, very capable lady with a quiet disposition. We can recommend her and she will give you peace of mind when you are away” Linda - Auckland, New Zealand

“For many years we had elderly cats who required a little extra attention and we felt confident that Marianne would take good care of them. She always showed up when we needed her and made our pets a priority while she stayed in our home As a home owner herself, Marianne was also good about noticing other things that might need doing while we were away and taking care of them. It was comforting to know that everything was being well cared for when we weren't at home. “ Linda - Victoria, Canada

“Marianne, as you know this was our first experience using a homesite service and we are so pleased how it has turned out. Simply put, you have been brilliant. To come home to the house looking so nice and more importantly to see all our animals so happy and settled has been fantastic.” Greg - Christchurch, New Zealand

“We were very pleased by how clean and tidy she kept the property while we were away. I have no hesitation in recommending here as a house sitter, as she is an honest and trustworthy person.” Paul - Sanctuary Point, NSW Australia

“Marianne has now house-sat for me 3 times and I have been very happy with the knowledge that she is a very level headed capable person with whom I can leave my house, contents and animals. I particularly like the fact that Marianne likes animals and treats them wonderfully, is a very tidy person in my house and treats it and its contents with respect, and can make sensible decisions if required.” Sandy - Auckland, New Zealand

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Pet care

I have been house and pet sitting for more than twenty years, mostly in New Zealand.

petsWilling to care for these pets

DogsDogs
CatsCats
FishFish

Trust

Silver member12 months
reviews5 star reviews
diagnosisReferences

Preferences

scheduleHouse sit duration

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

where_to_votePreferred locations

Anywhere in New Zealand

Reviews (4)

Marianne was kind enough to extend her stay to look after Beau for a second time. She was very communicative with us, Beau seems to really love her and the house was kept immaculate. Thanks Marianne
From Aussie House Sitters
Marianne was an excellent house/pet sitter. We were away for five (5) weeks, during which time Marianne kept in regular contact, updating us on how our four (4) cats were keeping – it seems they probably didn’t miss us at all! She also contacted tradespeople on our behalf when required e.g. lawn mowing and when there was an issue with our solar. Upon our return the house was spotless. Marianne stayed with us for a couple of nights before we left, getting to know the routines etc and we ... MoreMarianne was an excellent house/pet sitter. We were away for five (5) weeks, during which time Marianne kept in regular contact, updating us on how our four (4) cats were keeping – it seems they probably didn’t miss us at all! She also contacted tradespeople on our behalf when required e.g. lawn mowing and when there was an issue with our solar. Upon our return the house was spotless. Marianne stayed with us for a couple of nights before we left, getting to know the routines etc and we felt completely comfortable having her around. We would gladly have Marianne back to house/pet sit again should the opportunity arise and thoroughly recommend her 😊

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Excellent and fastidious house sitter.
Marianne was wonderful. Great communication. Highly competent and conscientious housesitter. Handled everything with a calm and sensible manner. We were able to be thoroughly relaxed on our holiday knowing our home and pets were very well cared for. Would not hesitate to call on her help again in the future.
Peace of Mind

Happy you!

With a house sitter looking after your pets, house and garden - you can really relax. Happy days.

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