Lash looked after Marybeth’s pets & home

Reference for Lash Augsburger My husband and I worked in Fiji with from 2012 to 2015. We were based in the capital Suva and had a large fully furnished home with pool and quite a significant level of security with automatic gates, security grills on windows and doors, and high walls surrounding the home and large garden (this was common for most expat housing). We also had a paid gardener and house cleaner (both attended once a week) plus regular pool maintenance staff attending. During 2014 we planned to attend our son’s wedding in California in May and not return until mid-June. Our primary issue was finding a suitably experienced and competent person that we could trust to not only look after the security of our house and monitor and pay the staff and house accounts but also care for our two very beloved dogs. Rosie (a Shihtzu Lhasa x ) aged 12 and Teddy (Jack Russel Lhasa x) aged 10 had accompanied us from Australia to Fiji. They were older and fussy, and we were very particular about their care. We were even prepared to arrange a carer to come from Australia while we travelled and left the country for 5 weeks. While we lived in an area in Suva near the US embassy and the Australian High Commission it was also on top of a hill above an informal river side settlement where opportunistic theft was commonplace. So security arrangements were as critical for not only the house but especially for our dogs. To our very good fortune we met Lash while we were both at a resort on the Coral Coast of Fiji. We quickly struck up long conversations over commonplace interests and learnt all about her travels and the fact that she had a long and more importantly, a verified history as pet carer and house sitter. Our dogs were with us and the fact that the dogs immediately took to her validated her aptitude and confidence to manage and work with dogs (especially Rosie who was a very fussy old girl). We asked if she was interested to take on the assignment and fortunately for us, she was available. We spent quite some time developing the care and maintenance plan for the dogs as well as the house to support and guide Lash (as we would not be as easy to contact once in the US). Her duties included daily feeding and walks as well as general care, grooming, play and just time allowing them to sit with her on the sofa and be cuddled and soothed. It was particularly important to us that Lash was comfortable with the dogs being on the furniture or sleeping on the bed with her (not in the bed) as was our preference. Also, as the garden was large and the dogs small another concern was the snakes, mongoose and other biting insects and so aside from scheduled walks Lash had to manage Rosie and Teddy inside the 3-story house most of the time (often having to carry one or other if they decided the stairs were too much on any given day). Consequently, and as they were senior dogs, accidents were to be expected and Lash managed all the usual dog maintenance of cleaning our house after urine, faeces, or vomit events. Aside from taking care of Teddy and Rosie, Lash managed our property and was vigilant that the house was maintained and visibly occupied and had a ‘lived-in’ look for security purposes. She also managed the funds we provided to pay staff, including monitoring and paying the cleaner who completed the housekeeping and washing, the gardener and pool maintenance staff and also as a number of our utility bills had to be paid in cash, she completed these responsibly and efficiently. When we returned home the house and gardens were well cared, but more importantly, the dogs were fit and happy and clearly enjoyed Lashes company (she could easily pick them up and handle them without any issue). All required bills had been paid and she provided a clear accounting of the cash used. We could not have been happier. Lash provided a very professional pet care service, and, in our circumstance, she also provided the necessary security of ensuring the house appeared lived in and that she was visible to neighbours and others. Feedback from the staff who attended the house found Lash appropriate and friendly and their encounters were all positive. She managed any minor issue with confidence and quickly acculturated herself to the correct strategies to be seen and spoken about by the local community as friendly but clearly connected to the family. In settings such as those in the Pacific it is important that a person quickly understand local culture and the way to behave. Lash did this with obvious experience. Our house but especially our dogs were safe and well cared for. I have maintained ongoing connection with Lash and we met up again when she visited the Sunshine Coast of Queensland Australia. I highly recommend her to anyone considering a carer for their pets and house. She is a highly competent and professional pet carer but also demonstrated experience in managing sometimes complex community settings (as seen in our setting). She is a friendly and calm person who connects with people quickly, appropriately, and confidently. I am happy to be contacted to confirm what is written in this testimonial or to provide any further details.