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Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers

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Note Recommendations from the newsletters for individuals are not updated to the website for privacy reasons. If you are looking for an individual to provide pet sitting or dog walking, please post to the House & Garden newsletter.
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Need a cat sitter for 4 weeks

March 2010

We're in search of a cat sitter who can care for our two cats in their home for 4 weeks this summer. We're not really interested in a kennel situation for such a long period of time. If anyone knows of a reliable, cat-loving person who does this in their home in the East Bay, please let us know! Thanks! Eva


I live in the Rockridge hills and have a cat sitter who is fabulous. He's very responsible, easy to work with, and positively adores cats. I cannot remember what the name of his business is, but his name is Walter, and his phone number is (510) 531-1472. Christine

Pet sitter for 2 smallish dogs

March 2010

We're looking for a recommendation for a reliable pet sitter. We have two small-ish dogs and want someone who would be willing to come and stay at our house while we are on vacation. Ideally, the sitter would be around some/most of the day and most, if not all, evenings. I've talked to a number of sitters - but I can't seem to find too many that will come stay at our place. Any suggestions/recommendations appreciated. John We recommend Gerald, a retired gentleman, for excellent pet sitting & care. He is a jogger & happy to walk dogs. E-mail him: djerald1426@gmail.com. Willa


petsitter who is great with cats

Nov 2009

I'm looking for the names of a few good pet sitters who are great with cats. I'd be interested in knowing about both types of sitter--those who stop by and feed the cats, and also those sitters who will stay overnight in your home and spend more time with the animals. Thanks! Elizabeth


I highly recommend Sue Tomasello at Berkeley Pet Patrol. Her website is: http://berkeleypetpatrol.com/index.htm. She has reasonable rates and is great with our 2 cats. She even took our cat to the vet one time when he was sick but we were out of the country and could not be reached immediately. She also is good about following up after visits and letting us know how everything went. We have always used her services of just coming and feeding/playing with the cats, but I think she might also offer overnight services. Our cats love Sue
Hi Elizabeth, For pet sitting, use East Bay Pet Play. They do any type of visit/home stay you want. If you just need feeding a couple times of day or want an overnight service, they will do it for you. I have heard nothing but good things about them. The person you want to call is Chris at (909) 801-4774, he is great! Good luck!! Heather

Need a neat, clean cat sitter

May 2009

We are looking for a neat, clean, fastidious cat person (as opposed to a dog person) to come in and feed our two cats for 10 days while we are on vacation. Someone who doesn't mind taking their shoes off in the house, and is extremely responsible and with references. Prefer high school or older. cat devotee


I can recommend Barbara Samuelson, bds@barbarascamera.com, who offers excellent cat services and who offers consultation services as an Animal Communicator. I have hired her and been very satisfied. Louise
Robin Mello: 510-278-9541 is an amazing animal person - she cares for our cats and dogs with equal love and attention! Maggie

Pet sitter who can give cats insulin shots

April 2009

My 12 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabetes last weekend. Fortunately, he is doing well on insulin shots, which he gets twice a day at 12 hour intervals. The complicating issue is that I have plans to take a two week vacation this summer (late June through early July). I need to get a sitter who can give my cat shots, feed all three cats, clean the potty box, and feed my goldfish, who now have 71 babies. So, my questions are: 1. Does anyone know of anyone to recommend for the job, who can give twice daily shots, who is reliable, and who can give my kitties the TLC they love to get? 2. What is the going rate for such services? I am clueless, since I usually do pet-care swaps with friends, but this time I don't want to saddle any of my friends with administering insulin shots, since there are always risks involved in doing it and I would rather use someone who knows how to administer insulin shots and possibly even do random glucose testing. Thanks for any assistance you can send my way. Lisa


Just Cats has the person you need. I've been using them for a couple years now for my two cats. They board cats as well as visit your home, though I've only used the petsitting service. I had Jessica twice, and someone else another time and both of them were great. Jessica is a vet tech at Cheshire Cat Clinic, so I'm sure she can do insulin shots. At least one of the other ladies they work with is a vet tech at the same office. [Bonus: my cats are much less freaked out at the vet now because someone familiar greets them in the room] http://www.justcatsboarding.com/ 510-531-2287 happy cats at home
I would recommend Mekelia Drake (8413246). She is wonderful with animals. your animals will get alot of love and TLC. She is experienced in giving medication. Mekelia is very responsible and will tke the best care of you kittens. Rates are higher for overnight care. You may be able to get a bit of a better price if you offer to help Mekelia take her things to your house. Mekelila is quite resoanable. I think you can pay anywhere form $30+ to 55+ a night. Keep in mind it is wonderful to have someone in your house you trust and who is responsible. i made the mistake of havingsomeonewho was not. Not fun. Peace of mind and good animal care and house care are wonderful. good luck. dog and cat parent
Wendyann Cardwell has been really helpful caring for our dogs/cats. She is a vet assistant so can handle any medical issues in addition to regular care. She was great when our old dog needed attention and we were out of town...and has managed to keep four cats straight with various medications, etc. She will also pick up mail and other odds/ends, but the pet care is what I really need. Has always taken last minute requests, which I really appreciate bc we don't always plan too far in advance. She has a key to our house so I just call and leave the dates, she confirms, and I leave her payment and our contact info at the house for when she arrives. She can be reached at 223-2609. Good luck Julie

House/Pet sitter NEEDED

March 2009

HELP!! We desparately need a housesitter in March, to stay at our home, in Albany, over a long 4-day weekend, and supervise our 50 pound friendly dog and 2 elderly kitties. If ANYONE knows someone they've used in the past, or a responsible someone who might be interested in making a few extra bucks, please have them email me immediately. FYI, we had someone booked already, but, with housesitting not being her primary career, she just told us that she has something else planned. Ugh!


Hello! I read your post this morning on the BPN and want to recommend Sharon Treece. she's sat for our house & doggies several times. we have two pit bulls, big babies really. they adore her--run past me to get to her to give a zillion kisses! she takes them to Point Isabel & is very clean & quiet in the house, I barely know she's been here. Quite reasonable too. you can email her at s.treece@yahoo.com I hope it works out! julie

On-call Pet Sitter

Feb 2009

I am currently pregnant and plan on boarding my dog a week prior to my due date. However, if I were to go into labor a little earlier, and if it happens to be the middle of night (since you have no control over the timing), I worry about who is going to watch my dog since I would not be able to return home from the hospital until 24 hours later. I am new to the area and don't really have close friends here whom I can call in the middle of night. Does anyone know a pet-sitter that can be reached on-call (i.e. 24/7) to come to your house? Avi's Mom Avi's Mom


We use RufRuf Pet care and love them. Ask for Bettina. lara
We enjoy having Wendyann Cardwell take care of our pets. She is great with last minute plans, and I've never had her say she was unavailable. We often go away at the last minute and she has always jumped in. I don't know her willingness to be on call in the middle of the night, but you could check with her! 223-2609 Good luck, Julie
Depends on where you live! Why not just post an ad on BPN or Craigslist for someone in your area? A high school age neighbor was perfect for us. You seem pretty confident in your due date to schedule a kennel for the week before - why not the week after?! My kids were 10 and 7 days late and I was happy to go for walks to get them out!

Berkeley dog walker/pet sitter

Oct 2007

We are looking for a responsible dog sitter for our energetic vizsla. Does anyone know of a good dog walker in Berkeley? Christine


I use MetroDog in Richmond when I go out of town. They are GREAT! It is also a doggy-daycare, so they let the dogs play during the day as well as pamper my dog, love her and they even offer walks in the afternoon. When I pick her up from being away, they will even give her a bath! They co-sleep dogs and are a very very GREEN business! I highly recommend them! http://www.metrodog.com/ 510. 524. 3647 ultraviolet
Oh do I have the best dog sitter EVER! Doggy Llama, run by Molly, one of the warmest, dog lovin'-est people I've ever met. Go to www.doggylamapetcare.com or call Molly at 510 530-3099. I can't recommend Doggy Lama highly enough. Check the Yelp.com reviews (mine is there, as are others), call her, have your dog do a few of their daily 5 mile marathons, you'll be convinced this is the BEST place for dog sitting/dog walking. heather
A friend has a very energetic viszla and she recommends her dog walker: http://www.hotdiggitydogpetcare.com/ Sounds like they communicate well about how things went and take them on or off-leash for some good romps. Good luck. rebecca

Kennel or caregiver for disabled dog

Feb 2006

I am looking for a dog sitter and/or kennel for my 12-year-old German Shepherd. She has paralysis in her back legs, so she does not need walking. However, she needs someone who can assist her in standing to eat, pee, etc. Does anyone know of a pet caregiver who works with disabled pets? Thanks.


Hi! Denise Christopher of Pawsitively Pet Sitting is the best person to contact. she is licensed and bonded, specializes in problem such as this. She takes the dog into her home and it becomes a member of her family while you are away. She can administer medications and is lovely with the animals. Her number is (925) 202-7422, and I believe she is in Alamo. Julie, Wisdom's Gate Norfolk Terriers
My friend Janice boards her elderly mostly blind and totally deaf cocker spaniel with the same in-home boarder I use, Molly Kenefick, at Doggy Lama Pet Care (www.doggylamapetcare.com). Janice has told me that Molly especially enjoys working with elderly and special needs dogs. My dog isn't special needs but he is an older guy and I can tell you that she's very loving, responsible, and our dog has a great time with her. Molly can also be reached at (510)530-3099. Andrea

Dog Walkers

June 2006

I wanted to share that we have found a great dog walker -- we got his name off of a very old posting to the Berkeley Parent's Network. He takes our dog on walks on the trails of the various Berkeley area parks while we are at work/school. He has also stayed overnight with our dog while we have been away on vacation. He has been very dependable and flexible -- he clearly loves the dogs that he cares for. His name is Dan Kuklo and he can be reached through his website at http://www.bdwps.com/ or at (510) 866-6194. Our boxer loves him and we really recommend his service. Good luck. Alex


June 2005

Great Pet sitter/walker recommendation
I use a terrific dog walker/pet sitter. His name is Dan Kuklo and he is the sole owner and proprietor of Berkeley Dog Walk and Pet Sitting. He walks and cares for all pet on his own. He does not have anyone else working for him. He is a sensative, attentive and caring person who clearly loves animals and loves what he does. He takes our dog on LONG walks in Tilden and other great parks, but I know he does neighborhood walks for older or less mobile animals. His rates are reasonable and he is completely reliable. Here is his information:

(510) 849-2642  home
(510) 866-6194  cell
snowbird7 AT operamail.com
http://www.bdwps.com
Best of luck! Molly
March 2005

Dog Walkers
We have had great luck with our dogwalkers, Phil and Laurie, also known as "Pawderosa." Www.pawderosa.com They offer trail walks, neighborhood walks, dog boarding, pet taxi services and more. They're great with our dogs, and have worked on their training a bit as well. They're bonded and insured. Jeff


Oct 2004


We have been very happy with Brian Sullivan of Pied Piper Dog Training. He takes our dogs on really long off-leash walks up in the hills and on the trails, and because he is also a dog trainer, really works with them on their (sometimes) aggressive behavior. His email is brian AT piedpiperdogtraining.com and his phone # is 430-8726 Gigi
In response to the posting requesting a reccomendation for a dog walker. We work with a fabulous, kind, concientious and flexible dog walker named Brian Pierce. He takes our 16 month old, very lively, puppy out two afternoons a week. I met him at Ohlone dog park when I was 9+ months pregnant and loved his sense of humor and the attention and care he gave the dogs in his charge. He was on call, and came to walk our dog every day when I went into labor. After my son was born, we started the 2x a week schedule and continued it after I returned to work. I was home with the baby for the first 6 weeks he worked with us and saw how excited Shayda (our dog) was to see him and how happy AND TIRED she was when she returned. He would have her out for 2 hours, including travel time and with at least one other dog, which was fabulous for her socialization. Also, her recall improved to the point that we were able to safely take her to Izzy and let her run off leash! We had taken her to Puppy training and worked with her, but it was the consistency of training and being with Brian that I feel really got her to her present level. Brian is also felexible around schedule changes and just an all-around nice guy.
BriCoPie Pet Care
(510) 684-7335
brian AT bricopiepetcare.com
Good luck! Beth
I'd like to recommend Carol Anderson of Oakland Hills Pet Care. 510-220-2463. She does pet sitting for cats & dogs, drop-in visits, and on-leash dog walking. She's a member of the East Bay Pet Sitters Assoc. and insured. She loves animals and is really easy to work with. Carol
Re: Boarding place that doesn't kennel the dogs? (March 2003)
For daily dogwalks or cat visits at your home, Mother's Love for your Pet is run by an extremely caring woman named Wendy Burch. She has a website at www.ourpetsitter.com and a voicemail at 531- 1954. She's become like family to us over the past seven years - - extremely reliable, trustworthy, and committed. Noreen
Nov 2002

I am looking for a dog walker to walk my dog 3 times a week. I live in Albany so someone who walks other dogs nearby would be ideal. Melissa


Our Dog walker is John, of John and Mary Beth's Pet services, 526-7029. John is absolutely, hands down, the best dog walker ever. He has been walking both our dogs in Albany for 3 years. Although we have two dogs, they both have special needs as our shepard limps and our labx is very active--so he walks our shepard first and then takes our labx to the leash-free park. John always leaves reports if the dogs look sick or are acting funny. He also leaves cute pictures from time to time that he takes of them on their walks. He has also come through for us in a pinch since he has a key when we needed something desperately in our home while on vacation. He loves our dogs and our dogs just adore him and wait eagerly for him everyday. When I was on maternity leave and often breastfeeding he would discreetly knock before coming in to get the dogs. John is almost a member of our family and he makes our life and our dogs lives so much better. You could not get a better dog walker, I guarantee you that. You can contact me further for even more glowing stories about him. Jo
I use Chris Matthews at Pawalkers to walk my dog. She comes to the house and picks up the dog and takes her to Point Isabel for a couple of hours. She always makes sure that my dog is washed off and dry (if she played in the bay) before putting her back in the house. Chris can be reached at 701-1824. We highly recommend her. Pam
We LOVE our dogwalker, Larissa Martin. Her number is 652- 6435. We were her first client about a year ago, and she really loves and takes care of our dog. Debbie
Our neighbor and friend has a dog walking, pet care business. I cannot recommend her too highly. She has a wonderful way with pets (our reclusive cat responds to her as well as our rambuncious ones). She is scrupulously honest and conscientious. Her email is:info AT safehandspetcare.com and tel is (510) 710-6700. Kathryn

Pet Sitters

June 2005

Doggy Detail
This message if for the individuals in Richmond/Pleasent Hill looking for a pet sitter/walker. We used Doggy Detail Pet Care who are located in the Vallejo area. We used them over Christmas, and they were great! I am not sure how far they will travel but their phone # is 707-297-1020. I found them on the internet, and was also pleased with their affordable rates vs. kenneling our two labs. Lab Lover


March 2005

Pet-sitting/Dog-walking Extraordinaire
Are you in a quandry about what to do with your pet when you go out of town? Or would you like your dog to have more exercise but don't have the time to take her/him for walks yourself. If so, please check out Safe Hands Pet Care as an option: http://www.safehandspetcare.com/index.html
Safe Hands is an East Bay pet care company which covers the areas from El Cerrito through Oakland as well as Alameda. I have been working for them for a while now. There are approximately 15 pet-sitters and dog-walkers employed by Safe Hands at the moment. The owners, a wonderful animal-loving couple, are dedicated to providing exceptional care and expect the same level of quality care from their employees. All of their employees have extensive animal experience. There are even folks very experienced with reptiles and birds. Please have a look at their website and then feel free to call them with any questions. You can tell them Joan sent you through the BPN. Joan


Dec 2004

When my pet sitter cancelled at the last minute, I called Lucky Dog Pet Store, and they gave me the name of Camille the Holistic Petsitter! Camille turned out to be wonderful. A former social worker, she took notes re my pets when she came to get the key, was friendly and responsible, took the dogs to Pt. Isabel almost every day, kept the house clean, and left fun notes re the week. At $50/day, it wasn't cheap, but I feel it was worth it and I highly recommend her. She also does dog walking and holistic pet care. Camille can be reached at (h) 525-3828, (cell) 860-7272. Stefanie


Nov 2004

We need a housesitter/catsitter for over thanksgiving and throughout the year. The main request is to keep the cats company and to feed them jane


A young woman who does childcare for me is also looking for regular or occasional work taking care of pets in the Oakland/Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito area. She has veterinary tech training and a love of animals. She will walk dogs, bathe pets, come to feed pets, and bestow all the love and attention you'd like to give your pet if you had the time. She provides affordable, reliable, and enthusiastic services. See her website EastBayPets.com or contact her by phone at 510-409-7189 or by email at EastBayPets AT Animail.net. nancy
Re: Boarding place that doesn't kennel the dogs? (March 2003)
You can find other sitters (perhaps one geographically closer to you) through the East Bay Pet Sitters Association website; visit www.ebpsa.com. Note there is a difference listed there between sitting and boarding (sitters come to your house whereas boarders take in dogs). Noreen
Oct 2002

I am going to be gone for about 3 weeks over the Christmas holidays and would like to find a resonably priced petsitter (or petsitter/housesitter) to check on my cat while I am gone (in the Oakland/Piedmont area). Has anyone used any of the petsitting services in the area, or could anyone recommend a petsitter? Nicole


I highly recommend Mother's Love for Your Pet -- the owner, Wendy Burch, has been caring for our dog and cats for seven years. Her services include daily dogwalking or visits to the house to spend quality time with pets, take in the mail, etc. She is extremely principled, bonded/licensed etc. and just a very sincere and caring person. She really treats your pets like the family that they are. Her web site is www.ourpetsitter.com and phone is 531-1954. Noreen
May 2002

I'd like to find experienced reliable people who can just come over once/day, feed pets, clean the cat box, and water flowers a couple of times. Anyone covering Richmond who doesn't expect to live in? Padma


Most kids already know how to do these things as they are required chores at home. Try calling the local camp fire or girl scouts troop in your area. These kids would do the job for an affordable price, plus they could probably earn a badge for doing it. Talk to some den mothers. This will also give you an opportunity to know some of the young people in your neighborhood in case you need other things done.
Try VCA Lammers Pet Hospital, on San Pablo Avenue in San Pablo. Also call other VCA pet hospitals in Berkeley and Albany. If the VCA hospitals don't have what you want, ask them for referrals to other places which board pets. Since they're in the biz they will know people who can help you. Good luck! - Bay
July 2001

(from Where to Board a Cat

I know you didn't ask for this, but we have used a wonderful pet sitting service for our cat when we travel. We've used "Pets n Plants" for five years for our now-11-year-old cat and we've never had a problem. The sitter comes once per day (you can arrange for more visits), brings in mail, cleans litter, refreshes food and water, and attempts to brush and play with our cat (she's not too social with new people). The last couple of years we've requested the same sitter each time and she genuinely cares about our cat. She leaves a log of each visit so we know went on during our absence. Their number is (510) 278-1234. Carolyn


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