Hello! My name is Thea and I am 30 years old. I grew up in the Berkshire countryside with a menagerie of animals and moved to South London 5 years ago. I now live with my partner and our two indoor cats, Tusk and Aurora, who are gracious enough to let us think we’re in charge.
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I have always loved animals. I grew up in a family of five with a large extended animal family, including Patch the horse, Ghillie, Lana and Peggy the black labradors, Alice and Hugo the cats, an African Grey parrot called Puzi, many guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and chickens (whose eggs I used to sell to neighbours as an entrepreneurial 8-year-old), Great African Land Snails (yes, really), professional escape artist stick insects (...don’t ask), and a tortoise called Joey who is estimated to be 80+ years old!
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Dogs: I particularly love dogs and would describe myself as a dog person first. I have raised three Black Labrador puppies, including Lana, a now happily retired working gun dog, who I trained from a puppy, competed with and worked myself. I am experienced with all aspects of day-to-day dog care, reinforcing training and good habits, and making sure they get plenty of attention, exercise and fun! I am confident with dogs of all ages, breeds and temperaments, and particularly enjoy working with puppies, using patience, consistency and clear boundaries to keep them calm and relaxed. I am also experienced with elderly and post-operative care, including following medication routines, monitoring wounds and attending vet appointments.
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Cats: I grew up with two cats, a tortoiseshell called Alice and a ginger tom called Hugo. Alice is very much part of the family and, at nearly 20 years old, is still happily pootling around at home - in fact, we all swear she’s getting younger! I’ve had plenty of hands-on experience caring for my own indoor cats Tusk and Aurora from kittenhood onwards. They came to me at just 14 weeks old, so I’m very familiar with the day-to-day needs of young cats, as well as the changes that come with age. I am comfortable with all aspects of day-to-day cat care, including feeding, automatic feeders, litter trays, grooming and medication - alongside all the other tasks they seem to believe are part of my job as their live-in maid!
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Other animals: Growing up, I regularly helped care for all of the animals at home. I am an experienced horse rider and spent a lot of time at the yard with our horse Patch, and hacking out with others in the Berkshire countryside before moving to London. I previously worked as a stable manager for a small children’s riding school in Henley-on-Thames, where my responsibilities included liaising with clients, running the yard, managing feed and medication, grooming and exercising, and providing individual care. I also led summer schools, taught private riding lessons, led hacks and ran pony parties for young children.
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I am based in a secure flat with access to a large dog-friendly park and wider green spaces. I am an experienced house sitter, driver and volunteer with Croydon Animal Samaritans as an animal taxi. I am also a professional musician and qualified secondary school music teacher. Please do get in touch with me about your pet, as I would love to hear from you!
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For all services, owners can expect a quick response time via the Pawshake app (usually within a few minutes), and a quick rundown of your pet's visit with multiple pictures.
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Pet drop-ins: I am happy to follow whatever routine is best for your pet wherever possible. Medication must be prescribed and accompanied by clear instructions from your vet. **PLEASE NOTE: Owners must provide their own food and treats. All instructions for feeding/medication must be clear and received in advance. Please be honest about your situation and ensure that your space is secure, safe and tidy before drop-ins**
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Dog walks: For those that wish to stay close to home, your dog will be walked in their own neighbourhood at their own pace. For those that are feeling adventurous, for an extra fee your dog will be collected by car and walked in a large dog-friendly park and surrounding countryside. **PLEASE NOTE: Owners must provide their own treats. All dogs without reliable recall will be kept on a long lead. Aggression will not be tolerated**