Hello! We are a non-smoking, married couple utilizing our knowledge, experience and love of animals establishing our second careers as global pet/house sitters.
ABOUT US
We are scientists by education (Michele a marine biologist, Blair a geologist). Michele has 30+ years experience with animals & informal science learning (zoo, aquarium, wildlife) and as an executive in animal welfare. Blair worked as an environmental consultant. He's handy around the house, loves interacting with animals, and enjoys a nice maths problem.
In July 2018, we uprooted from the great town of Oakland, California, USA, where we owned a purple house and fostered dogs with medical and behavioral needs. In August 2019, we returned to New Zealand after a 9-month wander around Europe, pet & house sitting along the way.
Blair is a Kiwi; Michele is American with NZ Permanent Resident Visa.
EXPERIENCE
Thru online platforms (Kiwi Housesitters, Trusted Housesitters) and a growing list of international personal referrals, we have 15+ years of house and pet sitting experience and excellent references. We are qualified to care for most flavors of critters & plants, are handy with tools, can manage the garden (harvest, weed) & grass (mowing, irrigation), and any wee DIY home projects.
From April 2018 - Mar 2024, we have over 65 house/pet sitting bookings in NZ, USA, UK (Gibraltar, England, Scotland), and Europe (Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy); many have been extended stays (2+ months), as well as repeat clients.
Michele has husbandry, medical and behavior experience with the following: companion animals (dog, cat, rat, guinea pig, rabbit); small ops livestock (chickens, sheep, alpaca, cattle, horses); small & large birds, including macaws & African Greys; fresh & saltwater fish and invertebrates; exotics (reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, insects, arachnids); and wildlife (all manner of North American birds, small & large mammals, marine & freshwater mammals/fish/inverts, sharks, sea turtles). Blair has experience with dogs, cats & cattle, loves chickens & riding mowers, and is an excellent worker, whatever the task.
After our sweet Tigger-Kitteh died, we became a foster family for dogs with medical and behavior needs. We also provided fospice care for geriatric dogs or those with terminal medical conditions.
WHY WE WANT TO HOUSE & PET SIT
A hearty and sincere thank you to the KHS community for your selection and support, what a great experience we have had! We have met such wonderful people and pets, it has been an honor and privilege to come into your home and care for your beloved pet family.
At the heart of it, we want to provide a safe, comfortable, fun and loving environment for your animal family while you are away. Pets can miss their people, and we strive to be the next best thing during your absence. We are discreet (no guests or sharing on social media), will respect all house rules, and are handy if anything goes awry.
It is our pleasure to serve you and your animal family - furred, feathered, finned or flaky, we love them all! Your trust, confidence, satisfaction, and referrals mean everything to us.
Thanks for your consideration and we look forward to meeting you.
Couple
Michele and Bob are the most attentive carers that I could have ever dreamed of for my elderly dog. They cared for her and my garden for 5 weeks, and nurtured her thru an "old dog" medical event while I was away. I soooo appreciated the almost daily photo, video and voice recording updates, especially when my dog was unwell. On my return my house was really tidy, and my dog had bonded so well with Michele and Blair that I am sure that she would have lived happily ever after with them :). I ... MORE
