"Pets are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."

Stephen

8 reviews

Join to Invite Stephen

Stephen from Austin, Texas, United States

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Stephen

"Pets are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."

Austin, Texas, United States

8 reviews

Join to Invite Stephen

Sits for free

About Stephen

Hello there! My name is Stephen and I couldn't be more excited to be here. For the last decade I've travelled the globe working with nonprofits focused on providing safe water for children. This has lead me to jungles in El Salvador, UN meetings in Stockholm, and everywhere in between.

Now, in my mid-30's, I've recently made the leap to work freelance. Along with more diversity in my work, a big motivation for this is my desire to travel North America in my Honda Element ECamper.

A friend and fellow Trusted House Sitter recommended that I look into the site, knowing my heart for new places AND for animals. I grew up with pets: dogs, cats, fish, and have carried that love and care ever since. My long-distance work travels have limited my ability to be a pet owner as an adult, but I've always been the go-to for friends when needing a pet-sitter and have been fortunate to be a temporary foster home for pet shelters.

If you're looking for a mature, responsible person to care for your home and animals while you travel - I'm your guy! I'm clean, organized, make my bed every day, and always put the toilet seat down. ;) I'll be a great step-parent for you animals, tending to every detail and request - making sure you return home to a happy, healthy pet and home.

Why I want to house sit

Ask anyone who knows me, I care (a lot) about home design, architecture, creating and caring for environments that show the personality of the homeowner. I'm incredibly clean, organized, and detail oriented - which I know might be a rarity for single men in their 30s. But it's true!

As a lifelong nonprofit worker, I care a great deal about the needs of others. I view the opportunity of house-sitting as a sacred task. It's not something I take lightly, your inviting a stranger into your environment. I'll be sure to honor and protect that invitation as if it were my own space.

My experience

I have always loved animals. I grew up in a home with dogs, cats, and aquatic animals - and when possible have always made sure to include pets in my adult life. While in college I completed a semester-long horsemanship class, I've fostered dogs with PAWS of Austin, I've helped care for chickens, ducks, and rabbits on my brother's farm in Kentucky, and I've always been the go-to pet-sitter for friends locally. My extensive international travels with work haven't allowed me to be a pet owner in recent years, perhaps the only drawback of my work.

I understand that caring for your animals is no different than caring for your children. I take that responsibility very seriously. And -- I love it. I enjoy the long walks, I love the dog park, I'm not scared of cleaning out a litter box or mucking a donkey pen. It's things like this that make our lives more whole and more full.

I look forward to serving you and your animals. If there are any questions I can answer, don't hesitate to send them my way.

Reviews (8)

Kevin - Los Angeles, California, United States

30 January - 12 February 2019

We were thrilled to have Stephen sit for our two cats for almost two weeks. He was communicative, respectful and pleasant. I came home to a clean house and happy cats. He helped put our minds at ease every step of the way. Highly recommended. + More

We were thrilled to have Stephen sit for our two cats for almost two weeks. He was communicative, respectful and pleasant. I came home to a clean house and happy cats. He helped put our minds at ease every step of the way. Highly recommended.

Organised

Reliable

Self-sufficient

Tidy

Pet care

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Sheree And Mary Margaret - Austin, Texas, United States

04 August - 15 September 2018

We were very pleased to have Stephen look after our pets and home. He was very communicative and made a lot of effort to connect with our unique animals. They gave him a good review also. He was proactive about any potential issues with our pool and asked questions if needed which we appreciated.... + More

We were very pleased to have Stephen look after our pets and home. He was very communicative and made a lot of effort to connect with our unique animals. They gave him a good review also. He was proactive about any potential issues with our pool and asked questions if needed which we appreciated. His approach to learning about our house and pets let us know that he was there to take care of them, first and foremost, which made us feel comfortable that we could leave for an extended trip. Stephen was flexible when there was a change in our plans, also appreciated. We will definitely contact Stephen when we finalize our next trip in the hopes he can pet sit again.

Organised

Reliable

Self-sufficient

Tidy

Pet care

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Clare - Brooklyn, New York, United States

09 July - 14 July 2018

Stephen stayed with my cats for 5 nights. He was friendly, easy to communicate with and quick to respond. I felt confident that my home and my cats were in good hands with Stephen. I came home to happy cats and a clean apartment. I'd definitely recommend him as a housesitter! + More

Stephen stayed with my cats for 5 nights. He was friendly, easy to communicate with and quick to respond. I felt confident that my home and my cats were in good hands with Stephen. I came home to happy cats and a clean apartment. I'd definitely recommend him as a housesitter!

Organised

Reliable

Self-sufficient

Tidy

Pet care

Response from Stephen

This was a fantastic sit! Clare’s two kitties were just the sweetest - and as she mentions, incredibly low maintenance. Clare’s apartment is in a fun spot in Brooklyn, close to great restaurants and to subway lines. And Clare was a pleasure to work with, she went above and beyond to prep for the sit and make sure everything was in order. Five stars all around.

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