Hi! I’m Beth, a big animal lover who has always wanted a dog of my own, but unfortunately has never been in the right position to have one. I am, however, very much the person who will politely ask a stranger if I can say hello to their dog!

Growing up, I had a much-loved budgie who was very much part of the family, so I know how important our pets are to us. While I don’t currently have a pet of my own, I have experience looking after a budgie and both dogs and cats.

I’ve looked after two Tibetan Terriers on several occasions, including staying in their home while their owners were away on holiday. This involved keeping up with their usual routine, walks and feeding, as well as making sure they each received their different medications.

I’ve also done drop-in visits for a very anxious cat. I understood that having somebody unfamiliar in his home could be stressful, so I respected his boundaries while making sure he had everything he needed, including fresh food and water and a clean litter tray. I’m very happy to give pets plenty of attention and affection when they want it, but equally understand when they need their own space.

I work full-time for a charity on a hybrid basis and have some flexibility around my working hours, so I can often be available for walks and drop-in visits during the daytime as well as mornings and evenings. I’m particularly looking to help with regular dog walks and drop-in visits, and can also consider overnight stays in your home on an ad-hoc basis.

I’m happy to tailor walks and visits to your pet’s individual needs, but would typically offer around 30–60 minutes for a walk and around 30 minutes for a drop-in visit. I live close to Hampstead Heath, so that would be my location of choice for walks, although I’m equally happy to stick to your dog’s usual routes and favourite spots.

For overnight stays, I’d always discuss your pet’s normal routine with you beforehand, including how long they’re comfortable being left alone, and work around this as much as possible.

I’m mainly looking to care for dogs and cats, but I’d be very happy to hear from owners of other pets too and have a chat about what they need.

If there’s anything I haven’t covered here that you’d like to know, please feel free to ask. I’d love the opportunity to spend more time with animals while giving you peace of mind that your pet is being well cared for. 🐾