I am originally from Spain and am currently a second-year student at Trinity College Dublin studying Biological and Biomedical Sciences. I have always loved animals and grew up with pets, so caring for them has always come naturally to me.

When I was younger, I had a wild rabbit, and I now have a 10-year-old cat. When he was younger, he had experienced stressful situations with his previous owner, which sometimes made him fearful, unpredictable, and occasionally reactive. Caring for him taught me a great deal about patience, understanding animal behaviour, and how to carefully approach anxious or defensive pets in a way that ensures both their safety and my own. Over time, he became much more affectionate and trusting, although he still values his personal space. This experience taught me that every pet expresses affection differently and that, regardless of how they show it, it is important to make them feel cared for, comfortable, secure, and loved.

I have also looked after pets for friends and family, either while they were on holiday or simply to walk their dogs. This often included feeding, walking, playing with them, and giving them plenty of attention and care. Through these experiences, I have learned even more about different pet personalities and how to calmly and confidently build trust while helping animals feel safe, relaxed, and happy. I have also had occasional experience dealing with reactive dogs, which taught me that helping them feel comfortable often requires a combination of patience, careful management, consistency, and positive reinforcement to reduce fear, anxiety, or frustration.

Being a pet sitter is something I truly enjoy because I love spending time with animals and building trust with them. I always adapt to each pet’s personality, routine, and energy level to help them feel relaxed and secure. I am available any day and at any time, including weekends and evenings, and I am happy to remain flexible depending on the owner’s schedule and needs.

A typical visit would usually involve arriving at the home, greeting the pet calmly, and sending a quick photo update to the owner. I would first check that the pet has enough food and water and make sure everything around the house is okay. I would then spend some quiet time with the pet indoors by petting them, sitting with them, or simply helping them feel comfortable and relaxed for around 10 minutes or longer if needed. If the pet is immediately friendly and sociable, I would happily interact more closely with them. However, if the pet is shy, anxious, stressed, reactive, or has been left alone for a long period of time, I would instead give them the space they need while still remaining nearby to provide companionship, reassurance, and attention at a pace that feels comfortable for them.

If caring for a dog, I would then take them out for a walk, usually around an hour long, although I am very happy to adjust the duration depending on the dog’s age, health, needs, and energy levels. During walks, I would take them to a nearby park or green space and play with them whenever it is safe to do so, for example in areas without nearby ungated access to roads. I also enjoy practising tricks they already know and, if appropriate, trying to teach them simple new tricks using treats provided by the owner. Throughout the visit and walk, I would happily send regular updates and photos so owners feel reassured that everything is going well.

For cats, I would follow a similar routine focused on spending quality time with them indoors through play, companionship, and attention, unless the owner specifically wishes for the cat to go outside, whether in a secure garden or while supervised on a leash.

After returning home, I would spend some additional time with the pet to make sure they are settled, comfortable, and happy before leaving. I would then send a final update and photo to the owner both to reassure them that their pet is safe and doing well and in case they would like me to do anything else before I leave.

Before any booking, I would also like to discuss with owners how they would prefer emergencies to be handled, as well as any specific routines, behaviours, medical needs, requirements, or preferences their pet may have. I am also very open to learning more about properly administering medication and incorporating it into the pet’s routine, whether that involves giving it before or after meals, walks, or at specific times requested by the owner. This helps me provide the most personalised, attentive, and comfortable care possible for both the pet and the owner.