Andō & Willow
Andō & Willow
Experienced sitters : 11 years, 53 houses, 70 cats, 52 dogs, 167 poultry, 78 sheep, goats & pigs, 9 birds, 11 small pets, a tortoise, 100’s of fish.
About Andō & Willow
Highly experienced and professional full time house sitters, we have been house, pet and business sitting across Europe for over 11 years.
We love our house sitting lifestyle, the highlights being all the lovely creatures and people we get to meet. We don't treat our house sit for you as a holiday, but as a an exchange of trust and care.
We'r...
Highly experienced and professional full time house sitters, we have been house, pet and business sitting across Europe for over 11 years.
We love our house sitting lifestyle, the highlights being all the lovely creatures and people we get to meet. We don't treat our house sit for you as a holiday, but as a an exchange of trust and care.
We're grateful to all our wonderful clients for the opportunities they have granted us through inviting us into their homes and lives. We receive trust, and in exchange, we provide loving care. Each sit comes with it's own delights, and it is always the unexpected ones that are the highlight of each experience.
Over the past 11 years, we've cared for more than 53 houses, 42 cars, 31 pools, 70 cats, 52 dogs, 75 chickens, 30 geese, 35 ducks, 12 quail, 56 sheep, 5 goats, 3 pigs, a tortoise (many wild tortoises too), 5 parrots, 3 budgies, 1 canary, 4 hamsters, 6 guinea pigs, a rabbit, and too many indoor and outdoor fish to count, including the fish at a Buddhist Temple, and an Ashram. We've been caretakers and managers of holiday and camping parks. We've gardened at an Ashram, been caretakers of a Buddhist Temple, a Buddhist Centre, a prize winning Buddhist World Peace Garden, and helped manage a Buddhist World Peace Cafe, and a farmhouse bed and breakfast.
Why we want to house sit
We started out as house sitters after we lost our own pets, to fill the void they left in our lives.
It rapidly grew to become much more than that. It became a way of life for us. Lucky to have discovered this path in our lives, we love the adventures, pets, people and places it has brought into our lives.
Now experienced travellers, as well as experienced house and pet sitters, the experiences and adventures we've had as house and pet sitters are unmatched. It brings a smile to our faces just thinking about it.
Our experience
A professional couple, we have been partners for 33 years. Andō, a former university lecturer and photographer, is now an author, poet and meditation teacher. Willow, a former police administrator and customer relations officer, is now a personal trainer. We earn our living through our work in the wellness industry.
We bring a quiet sense of simplicity to our lifestyle, and a sense of peace and calm to your pets' environment in your absence. If you were to peep through the window of your home whilst you were away, maybe you would us reading, writing, meditating, practicing yoga, cooking up a storm of local produce, and of course, feeding, grooming, entertaining and cuddling your pets. The TV wouldn't be on (we don't watch it), there wouldn't be ashtrays (we don't smoke), there wouldn't be empty bottles strewn around, as we don't drink. We don't take drugs. But we're not prudes, and we have a sense of humour!
Some years ago, we took Zen Buddhist Precepts, and continue to maintain these as our code of ethics. They include aspects such as to not kill, not steal, to be kind and caring to others. These ethics support us in bringing a deeper level of loving care and attention to our work as house and pet sitters.
We are highly experienced, and have house and pet sit clients in the England, Wales, France, Spain, the Balearics, Portugal, Italy, Greece. We have cared for a wide range of properties from new builds to medieval manor houses and gites complexes. We have experience of pool care, vehicle care, gardening etc. We can (and do) handle all the practical stuff too, as Kas is a former course leader in Design Technology and Industrial Design, so she brings many hands on practical skills to our work, as well as people and pet skills. We're also happy to manage your mail and phone calls etc in your absence. We have references from many happy clients, as you will see.
We caretake properties, offer pool care, basic garden maintenance, and can oversee properties that are on the market for sale.
We adore the company of, and are experienced in the care of cats, dogs and other pets, along with all domestic animals, and will give your pets all the company and love that you would expect them to receive in your absence. We are fit and active, so looking after your home and garden is not a problem, as we run, hike or swim daily, as well as our yoga practice. We are particularly experienced with the care of elderly and sick pets, and are happy to manage any pre-scheduled and emergency veterinary appointments and daily medication in your absence too.
We also get great pleasure from a job well done, and pay attention to detail.
Besides house, pet and business sitting, we have acted as property guardians (a French term) and caretakers of larger properties, and have much experience in property management as well as care.
Clients we have helped, include an Advaita Vedanta Master, an Anglican Vicar, a Buddhist Centre, monks, nuns, various yoga teachers, alternative therapists, police officers, a vet, doctors, lawyers, writers, authors, journalists, and many other professionals.
We have many happy clients, we positively embrace travel, and the greatest joy for us is meeting pets and their people. We look forward to meeting you too, soon!
In addition, we have experience of business sitting, for which we charge. We are available and experienced in managing B&Bs, gites, and other types of holiday accommodation and business in your absence.
You will notice from our references that we have done housesitting under a number of names. This does not indicate that we are dodgy, but that we have been on the spiritual path for over 30 years, and have each lived under 3 spiritual names (Kas was formerly Bhagavati, Ando and Blue, which was a nickname. Willow was formerly Ananda and Nirmayi), received from our teachers. For sure it will be less confusing for our clients!
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Love
Andō & Willow
x
Reviews (8)
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Dinah - Falmouth, United Kingdom
29 March - 27 June 2017
They were the most amazing people to leave our home and pets with, and we would have them back anytime they are available. Their loving care of our animals was outstanding and our home and garden looked and felt far better when we returned than it did when we left it with them! We cannot praise t...
They were the most amazing people to leave our home and pets with, and we would have them back anytime they are available. Their loving care of our animals was outstanding and our home and garden looked and felt far better when we returned than it did when we left it with them! We cannot praise them too highly as they truly were perfect!!! We were away for three months and unavailable a lot of that time as we were sailing and the initiative and intelligence they used to solve every problem - from cars breaking down to unpaid bills was spot on. We loved them both and so did our pets.
- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
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- Tidy
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- Pet care
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Rory - Carvoeiro, Portugal
20 September - 12 October 2017
We have been privileged to find Kas and Ananda. From the first contact to the last they were open, clear, reliable and easy to get on with. We were grateful for their flexibility and for the way they got to know our two cats, one of which has had difficulties with past carers. To be welcomed home...
We have been privileged to find Kas and Ananda. From the first contact to the last they were open, clear, reliable and easy to get on with. We were grateful for their flexibility and for the way they got to know our two cats, one of which has had difficulties with past carers. To be welcomed home to a clean house and garden, with a meal in the oven and happy, healthy cats was a real gift. We would definitely want them to care for cats in future.
- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
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- Tidy
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- Pet care
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Claudia - Tábua, Portugal
22 September - 22 October 2014
We have been fortunate enough to have Kas and Ananda house-sit for us twice, for a total of 7 weeks. To leave your home and animals in anyone’s care calls for a great deal of trust, but we knew immediately that we were in good hands. We have a large farm, and many animals (not least, a somewhat...
We have been fortunate enough to have Kas and Ananda house-sit for us twice, for a total of 7 weeks. To leave your home and animals in anyone’s care calls for a great deal of trust, but we knew immediately that we were in good hands. We have a large farm, and many animals (not least, a somewhat needy rescue dog), and quite clearly they were all beautifully looked after.
We would recommend Kas and Ananda without reservation.- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
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- Tidy
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- Pet care
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About Andō & Willow
Highly experienced and professional full time house sitters, we have been house, pet and business sitting across Europe for over 11 years.
We love our house sitting lifestyle, the highlights being all the lovely creatures and people we get to meet. We don't treat our house sit for you as a holiday, but as a an exchange of trust and care.
We're grateful to all our wonderful clients for the opportunities they have granted us through inviting us into their homes and lives. We receive trust, and in exchange, we provide loving care. Each sit comes with it's own delights, and it is always the unexpected ones that are the highlight of each experience.
Over the past 11 years, we've cared for more than 53 houses, 42 cars, 31 pools, 70 cats, 52 dogs, 75 chickens, 30 geese, 35 ducks, 12 quail, 56 sheep, 5 goats, 3 pigs, a tortoise (many wild tortoises too), 5 parrots, 3 budgies, 1 canary, 4 ......
Highly experienced and professional full time house sitters, we have been house, pet and business sitting across Europe for over 11 years.
We love our house sitting lifestyle, the highlights being all the lovely creatures and people we get to meet. We don't treat our house sit for you as a holiday, but as a an exchange of trust and care.
We're grateful to all our wonderful clients for the opportunities they have granted us through inviting us into their homes and lives. We receive trust, and in exchange, we provide loving care. Each sit comes with it's own delights, and it is always the unexpected ones that are the highlight of each experience.
Over the past 11 years, we've cared for more than 53 houses, 42 cars, 31 pools, 70 cats, 52 dogs, 75 chickens, 30 geese, 35 ducks, 12 quail, 56 sheep, 5 goats, 3 pigs, a tortoise (many wild tortoises too), 5 parrots, 3 budgies, 1 canary, 4 hamsters, 6 guinea pigs, a rabbit, and too many indoor and outdoor fish to count, including the fish at a Buddhist Temple, and an Ashram. We've been caretakers and managers of holiday and camping parks. We've gardened at an Ashram, been caretakers of a Buddhist Temple, a Buddhist Centre, a prize winning Buddhist World Peace Garden, and helped manage a Buddhist World Peace Cafe, and a farmhouse bed and breakfast.
Why we want to house sit
We started out as house sitters after we lost our own pets, to fill the void they left in our lives.
It rapidly grew to become much more than that. It became a way of life for us. Lucky to have discovered this path in our lives, we love the adventures, pets, people and places it has brought into our lives.
Now experienced travellers, as well as experienced house and pet sitters, the experiences and adventures we've had as house and pet sitters are unmatched. It brings a smile to our faces just thinking about it.
Our experience
A professional couple, we have been partners for 33 years. Andō, a former university lecturer and photographer, is now an author, poet and meditation teacher. Willow, a former police administrator and customer relations officer, is now a personal trainer. We earn our living through our work in the wellness industry.
We bring a quiet sense of simplicity to our lifestyle, and a sense of peace and calm to your pets' environment in your absence. If you were to peep through the window of your home whilst you were away, maybe you would us reading, writing, meditating, practicing yoga, cooking up a storm of local produce, and of course, feeding, grooming, entertaining and cuddling your pets. The TV wouldn't be on (we don't watch it), there wouldn't be ashtrays (we don't smoke), there wouldn't be empty bottles strewn around, as we don't drink. We don't take drugs. But we're not prudes, and we have a sense of humour!
Some years ago, we took Zen Buddhist Precepts, and continue to maintain these as our code of ethics. They include aspects such as to not kill, not steal, to be kind and caring to others. These ethics support us in bringing a deeper level of loving care and attention to our work as house and pet sitters.
We are highly experienced, and have house and pet sit clients in the England, Wales, France, Spain, the Balearics, Portugal, Italy, Greece. We have cared for a wide range of properties from new builds to medieval manor houses and gites complexes. We have experience of pool care, vehicle care, gardening etc. We can (and do) handle all the practical stuff too, as Kas is a former course leader in Design Technology and Industrial Design, so she brings many hands on practical skills to our work, as well as people and pet skills. We're also happy to manage your mail and phone calls etc in your absence. We have references from many happy clients, as you will see.
We caretake properties, offer pool care, basic garden maintenance, and can oversee properties that are on the market for sale.
We adore the company of, and are experienced in the care of cats, dogs and other pets, along with all domestic animals, and will give your pets all the company and love that you would expect them to receive in your absence. We are fit and active, so looking after your home and garden is not a problem, as we run, hike or swim daily, as well as our yoga practice. We are particularly experienced with the care of elderly and sick pets, and are happy to manage any pre-scheduled and emergency veterinary appointments and daily medication in your absence too.
We also get great pleasure from a job well done, and pay attention to detail.
Besides house, pet and business sitting, we have acted as property guardians (a French term) and caretakers of larger properties, and have much experience in property management as well as care.
Clients we have helped, include an Advaita Vedanta Master, an Anglican Vicar, a Buddhist Centre, monks, nuns, various yoga teachers, alternative therapists, police officers, a vet, doctors, lawyers, writers, authors, journalists, and many other professionals.
We have many happy clients, we positively embrace travel, and the greatest joy for us is meeting pets and their people. We look forward to meeting you too, soon!
In addition, we have experience of business sitting, for which we charge. We are available and experienced in managing B&Bs, gites, and other types of holiday accommodation and business in your absence.
You will notice from our references that we have done housesitting under a number of names. This does not indicate that we are dodgy, but that we have been on the spiritual path for over 30 years, and have each lived under 3 spiritual names (Kas was formerly Bhagavati, Ando and Blue, which was a nickname. Willow was formerly Ananda and Nirmayi), received from our teachers. For sure it will be less confusing for our clients!
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Love
Andō & Willow
x
Verifications
Verification level
Basic level
Email Address, Phone Number, External references (39)
Animal Care Experience
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Dogs
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Cats
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Reptiles
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Fish
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Poultry
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Farm animals
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Bird
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Small pet
Availability
Preferred Countries
Profile Details
Age
Occupation
Travelling as a
Previous house sitting experience
Member benefits
Member since
House & pet sitting timeline
Andō and Willow have done 8 house sits since 2012
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CarvoeiroPortugalSep - Oct 2017 -
FaroPortugalSep 2017 -
FalmouthUnited KingdomMar - Jun 2017 -
TábuaPortugalSep - Oct 2014 -
PresteigneUnited KingdomAug 2013 -
StorringtonUnited KingdomJul 2012 -
BrightonUnited KingdomJun 2012 -
SaumurFranceJun 2012
