Welcome to the Sanctuary.

I'm Charlie, long-time animal lover and part-time hound whisperer! I’ve had pets my whole life and have experience with everything from small critters to anxious hounds and aloof cats. These days, I live in Glenroy on an enclosed quarter acre block with my old girl Hunter (an 11-year-old retired racer who’s calm as anything) and a cheeky rescue kitten, Effy, who found her way to my doorstep and stayed in our hearts.

That said – if your dog isn’t cat-friendly, no worries at all. I have alternate housing plans for the cat while I’m pet sitting, so it won’t get in the way of your dog’s stay.

I’ve been fostering greyhounds through GAP for years, including those with reactivity, fearfulness, or behavioural quirks like resource guarding or sleep startle. Previous to this I worked privately as a dog trainer, working closely with active breed puppies. I’m trained in how to settle and socialise dogs who are brand new to home life, and I’ve worked closely with behaviouralists to support that transition. I’ve also done pet sitting, short and long term boarding, and reactive dog handling with a bunch of breeds and personalities over the years. I believe in consent-based, positive reinforcement training and keeping things calm, consistent, and kind.

I work from home most weekdays as a jeweller, so your pet won’t be alone much. Weekends I’m sometimes out at markets for the day, so dogs who are okay being solo for a stretch (or prefer the peace and quiet) tend to do best during those times.

What I offer:

Daily feeding & fresh water

Oral/topical meds if needed

1–2 walks a day (or whatever your dog’s used to)

Enrichment, cuddles, play, or calm hangouts – depending on their vibe

Daily photo & behaviour updates (as often or as little as you want)

Important to note:

Dogs must be house-trained unless okay sleeping outside undercover

Max two guest dogs at a time unless all dogs have been pre-tested together for compatibility

I’ve got space to separate pets if needed

Can pet sit at your place too – within 10km of Glenroy

Police check and COVID vax on hand

Close to Tullamarine – happy to hold onto your car if you’re flying out and your pup’s staying

I always do a meet and greet first to make sure everyone’s comfortable (especially if staying with my dog), and I’ll work with your pet’s usual routine, diet, or training style so everything feels familiar for them.

If you’re after someone who’s calm, experienced, and genuinely cares about your pet’s wellbeing, flick me a message and we’ll line up a time to meet.