Marie

Hi! I’m Marie and I look forward to spending time with your pets whilst you are away. I’ve shared some few things below to help you get to know me.

Personal background

I am an international student at my final stages of the PhD. I have submitted my thesis already and just waiting for the results of the examination.My doctorate degree is in the field of education focusing on participation in the primary years. I am also do academic and research work on a casual basis at the university.

Prior to moving to Melbourne, Australia, I have studied in London and Bilbao, Spain and have worked in Indonesia and the Philippines. My home country is the Philippines but work and studies have kept me very mobile in the past 15 years. My parents, siblings, and pet are back in the Philippines and I live with my partner in Melbourne. Since we live in a smallist apartment, we can't have pets but we do keep a bird feed and bath at the balcony and have regular visitors which we think of as our pets.

Experience with animals and pet

Since I was a child, I grew up with pets. I've had dogs, quails, and rabbits as pets. I remember, at 9 years old, creating a home-made incubator for two baby rabbits - the only survivors of a litter from my pet rabbit. I successfully raised the baby rabbits.

Before COVID-19, I was house-sitting for about six months always with pets, specifically dogs and cats. I've had very good feedback from owners, with some continuing to contact me for availability. Owners would come home to healthy and happy pets as well as to a clean home.

Pet- and houseesitting arrangements

I currently follow a relatively flexible schedule working from home for about 90% of the time. Thus, I am mostly available even on short notice (min. 3 days). I am also available as a dog walker and can often do this twice a day.

I teach online so if I am housesitting, I would prefer a place with an internet connection. I do not drive so a location close to shops and transportation would be best for me, but also open to other locations for longer stays. My partner almost always helps me to move around and durng housesitting, he sometimes stays over to ensure everything is okay. This also ensures that in case of an emergency, there is always someone to help me out.