House Sitter in West Lafayette, Indiana

Have been an animal lover all my life. Worked with Charlie Anderson DVM of Anderson's Veterinary Hospital in Monticello all through junior high & high school. I thought I wanted to be a vet, until I passed out during surgery once! Have always had dogs, cats, turtles, hamsters & birds. Once had horses & would love to again. I've worked in nursing homes since I was 16, & as a nurse since 1991. I am not working now, I injured my back over 15 years ago, but kept working. It just got to be too much, I realized I needed to make a career change. Besides pet sitting, I'm taking a couple of online courses & writing children stories. I'm mother of 5, four grown & one 12 year old son. And have 5 beautiful grandkids. When I was 10, I placed an ad in the newspaper without my parents knowledge to pet sit. They weren't too impressed when dachshunds arrived on our doorstep, but they tolerated it. I remember since I was very young, friends and family bringing sick or injured animals to me to nurse back to health. I re-started pet & house sitting last year. This couple has 4 wonderful, rescue labs & 3 cats. These pets have become very important to my 12 year old son & myself. We love to be with them & they apparently love us too. Joni & Tom rave about our care after every trip. In fact they just informed me that they put in their will, that their kids are to have us stay in their house to care for the animals. All species are welcome, I've sat with a tarantula, a pet "descented" skunk and for 20 hours a "pet" bobcat. While working at the vets I helped force feed a anorexic snake, Charlie pried his mouth open and I popped Gerber meat sticks down his throat. I also cared for a wild hawk with a broken wing. Both got better. I've worked with livestock and of course I mentioned horses, (really hope someone with horses calls). I have references for both in-home elder care & nursing home. And I'm sure Charlie will give me one too, Also personal references. If it is as a pet- house sitter, yes my son will be coming too, we can have character references for him as well. We make a good team. You won't be sorry for hiring "us". Special needs pets are welcome, at our house with the rescued Labs, Kramer gets eye drops every 8 hours and Dudley requires arthritis medication for his hips. I know how to get even the most resistive cat or dog a pill & I am a nurse, so I know how to give shots & have given them to humans and pets. One plus for your pets is, I don't have another job, so I am there with them all the time. We play, go for walks, swimming when/if possible & have grooming sessions Even play basketball (Kramer & Dudley). We have so much fun with them! During the summer & other school breaks, we'll stay just about anywhere. We stayed with 2 dogs and a cat in Greenwood last summer. During the school year we do have to stay closer to home (within 50 miles), unless it's a weekend. We also take care of the house, garden, yard, trash & whatever else needed. No stay is too long or too short! Fees negotiable.