The P U R R – F E C T Pet & House Sitter

We had never used an «official» house or pet sitter before and when some pretty last minute Thanksgiving week plans started to come to fruition, my first instinct was to call our vet where we typically board our dogs but of course they were booked up (months in advance). I frantically started looking into some other options but as luck would have it, I remembered that my favorite masseuse, Wendy Goldstein, also did house and animal care. I called Wendy immediately and told her the dates we needed, what we needed and serendipitously, she was available for the entire time frame.
Wendy made arrangements to come to the house a week before our departure with a contract that laid out everything needed to make our time away as stress free and helpful. We showed her around the house/​how things worked (her contract even asked for info on where the water/​gas shut off is located, etc.) and introduced her to the dogs. As many of you who have read my reviews in the past know, we have 2 dogs (both rescues) and one of which who has been a tri-​pawed for almost 2 years now. Beckett who just turned 9 and who Kevin has had for the past 8 years has always had back and neck issues, but with the running around with only 1 back leg he has started to develop some sciatica issues and had been on an anti-​inflammatory and a pain medicine. When we told Wendy about Beckett’s back, she felt his spine and said, «she would work on him while we were gone as a spine is a spine». I know Wendy has been instrumental when I have had sciatic flare ups, so I told her to work her magic.
We were gone for almost an entire week. I spoke to Wendy only twice during our time away. She let us know Beckett was again jumping on the couch on his own, that she hadn’t had to give him any pain medicine and that all in all he seemed to be walking and doing better (I had a feeling she would be magical for him).
Holly our 4 ½ year old (we have had her for 2 ½ years now) is a little more difficult with new people and Wendy did report it took her a couple of days of us being gone until she was willing to sleep in the bed (she chose to sleep in a dog bed in Kevin’s office) instead until she was comfortable. Our mail was taken in, the plants were watered, the sheets and towels were laundered and the bed was remade with the fresh sheets upon our return. The house was as clean as we left it-​the dogs were not traumatized like they often are after boarding and neither picked up any new bad habits (like a deeper bark or barking incessantly which happened during their last time boarding the beginning of November).
Let me just say that aside from the cost savings of having a dog/​house sitter vs. boarding 2 dogs is enormous. To add to this our vet charges an extra $ 4 – 5 per day if a medication needs to be administered to a pet while boarding (even if they prescribed it), AND the vet charges a «premium» during peek holiday times. On top of all of this, having what is now considered a Senior Dog who has some physical limitations and a house that needs more tending to than our last house, having someone like Wendy in our lives makes it virtually a no-​brainer if/​when we have more trips when we can’t take the dogs with us. Her prices are more than reasonable, her care of our home and animals was (is) immeasurable. She is also the best masseuse I have ever been to if you are not in the market for a house/​animal sitter.
Here is the link to Wendy’s massage:

I’ve known Wendy for years and have used her pet sitting services several times. She is very professional, trustworthy, and leaves everything exactly as she finds it. She is diligent about walking the dog every day, and is worth every penny. I recommend her services.