🐾 Trusted, Personalised Pet Care in Cork | 15+ Years of Experience Hi, I'm Viv! I'm an experienced, dedicated animal carer with over 15 years of hands-on experience and a lifelong passion for animal welfare. Alongside my professional career, I spend much of my time working with horses and caring for animals of all personalities, ages and backgrounds. Animals have always been a central part of my life, and I take genuine pride in providing the kind of care I would expect for my own pets. My goal with your pet is to reflect the standards I work hard to maintain: reliability, attention to detail, thoughtful communication and, above all, happy, well-cared-for animals. Whether your pet needs a comfortable home away from home or reliable care in familiar surroundings, my goal is simple: exceptional care and complete peace of mind. ❤️ My Approach I believe excellent pet care combines genuine affection with experience, structure and professional responsibility. Every animal is different. I take time to understand their personality, routines, preferences and individual needs, ensuring they receive appropriate attention without unnecessary disruption. You can expect: 🐾 Safety and wellbeing first — responsible supervision and careful handling. 🐾 Experienced, individualised care — tailored to your pet's temperament, age and routine. 🐾 A comfortable, welcoming environment — where suitable boarding guests can settle and feel at home. 🐾 Consistency and reliability — your pet's daily needs are taken seriously. 🐾 Clear, honest communication — regular updates and photographs to keep you reassured. 🐾 Professional standards — thoughtful planning, appropriate boundaries and respect for every animal in my care. My aim isn't simply to look after your pet. It's to make their time with me a genuinely positive experience. 🏡 Home Boarding — A Carefully Selected Home Away From Home I offer dog boarding in my own home in Cork, providing a comfortable, calm and welcoming alternative to traditional kennels. As I also work from home, I'm generally present throughout the day, allowing me to offer companionship, attention and a consistent routine. My home is a personal living environment rather than a commercial kennel facility. For this reason, I carefully select boarding guests to ensure they are genuinely suited to a domestic setting. To maintain a safe, comfortable experience, boarding dogs must: ✅ Be fully house-trained, with reliable toileting habits indoors. ✅ Be comfortable living in a home environment. ✅ Be able to settle and relax without constant supervision. ✅ Have no significant destructive behaviours. ✅ Be safely manageable on walks and around household entrances. ✅ Have no history of aggression, biting or unsafe behaviour towards people or other animals. ✅ Be comfortable with normal household routines and reasonable periods of separation. I welcome dogs with different personalities and energy levels, provided their needs are compatible with the care and environment I offer. Honest disclosure is essential. Please share any relevant behavioural concerns, separation difficulties, medical conditions or special requirements before booking. This allows me to assess whether I can provide the right care for your dog. 🐶 New Boarding Guests For everyone's comfort and safety, all new boarding clients complete a short information form and attend a complimentary meet & greet once availability and booking requirements have been discussed. For longer stays, a paid trial overnight may be required before confirming the main booking. This helps ensure your dog is comfortable in my home and that we're a suitable match. I believe careful introductions and realistic expectations are the foundation of a successful stay. 🐕 Other Pet Care Services In addition to home boarding, I offer: 🏠 Home Visits — feeding, fresh water, litter care, companionship and routine checks. 🐕 Dog Walking — safe, structured walks tailored to your dog's needs and abilities. 🏡 House Sitting — attentive pet care in the comfort of your own home. 🐈 Cat Care — patient, respectful care for cats of different ages, personalities and temperaments. 💊 Medication Support — administration of agreed medications according to clear instructions and within my experience. 🛁 Basic Grooming & Hygiene — brushing and routine care where appropriate. 📸 Photo Updates — regular communication so you know how your pet is getting on. I also have experience caring for horses, exotic pets and selected livestock. Please contact me to discuss individual requirements. 🤝 Before Booking I value long-term relationships with responsible pet owners and particularly welcome clients looking for a reliable, trusted carer they can return to. To ensure a smooth experience: Please provide accurate information about your pet's health, behaviour, routine and care requirements. All new clients complete a short information form before services begin. Meet & greets are complimentary and arranged in connection with a potential booking. Boarding suitability is assessed individually, and not every dog will be suitable for home boarding. Drop-off and collection times must be agreed in advance. Additional requirements or changes to the agreed service should be discussed beforehand. Please note that I do not offer: ❌ Boarding for dogs with unreliable house-training, significant destructive behaviour or serious safety concerns. ❌ Pet transport in my personal vehicle. ❌ Off-lead dog walking. ❌ Services or arrangements that compromise animal welfare or safety. ❌ Bookings or payments outside Pawshake. These guidelines allow me to maintain the quality, safety and individual attention that my clients have come to expect. ⭐ Quality Care, Built on Trust Choosing someone to care for your pet is an important decision. I understand the responsibility that comes with being welcomed into someone's home or entrusted with a much-loved family member. That's why I approach every booking with care, professionalism and genuine commitment. My goal is to build lasting relationships with happy pets and confident owners — one excellent experience at a time. If you believe my services would be a good fit for your pet, I'd be delighted to hear from you. — Viv 🐴🐾