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Sitter available

Animal adoring, nature loving, independent, and capable

Testimonials

They have 3 testimonials (view below)

Pet experience

Dog(s), Cat(s), Chicken(s), Bird(s), Fish, Rabbit(s), Tortoise/Turtle(s), Guinea pig(s), Rodent(s), Goat(s), Reptile(s), Other animal(s) – Dogs, cats, birds. Livestock feeding but not much real experience with that

Police check

They have a police check

Availability

From: 29 August 2023
Until: 1 July 2028

Occupation

Retired

References

They have referees/references (view below)

About this sitter

I am a 54 year old woman. I have lived at a rural lake in Guatemala for 17 years. I travel 4 months a year, by myself (backpacker style and from Africa to Asia to the Americas) and between the travel and owning my house in Guatemala, I have become quite an able person. I understand what most pet sitters are looking for as I go through the same process when leaving my home and dog. I believe that caring for a home and beloved pets requires presence, responsibility, and communication. I am sensitive to water, electric and septic usage. I am looking for natural settings with animals to care for. I’m not opposed to cities, either. But my preference would be longer term in natural and shorter time frames for cities b . I travel on a US passport although I’m a Guatemalan resident. . I love to swim but am not a sun worshipper. So, my preference is to be where I can swim an hour a day. I have done numerous sits where that wasn’t an option and as long as I have nature to walk through (preferably with a dog), I am a happy woman.

Why they want to house sit

Although I am early retired, I have quite a small income. This is one reason for living in Guatemala (I’m from the US); its very economical. Pet and housesitting allows me a “vacation” and with my preference of 3+ weeks, that allows me to get to know a place. Although I love to see new places, I am also a homebody so I enjoy the feeling of having a pack to be with, a garden to tend, and a steady place to be. I allow myself time to travel on either (or both) ends of housesitting so that the time that I commit to you is focused on your home and pets.

Their experience

From until 2000-2007, I had my own dog walking/sitting service in Point Reyes Station, California. I began this business unintentionally as the result of my first dogs death. I love all animals and did plenty of catsitting, as well. I have also tended some very needy birds and a few goats as well as many chickens.
From 2009-17, I went to Quintana Roo, Mexico to dog/cat/housesit for 1 month on a yearly basis.
Ive also dog/housesat in Ajijic, Mexico and Matsuyama, Japan in 2016. 2018 brought my biggest challenge, caring for 37 dogs (with the help of 1 local man) in a rural setting in Sri Lanka. In 2019, I cared for 8 cats and a nervous rescue dog on a Greek island. 2020 brought 5 dogs on a remote bit of pacific Panama. 2021 brought a carribbean island experience on Nevis with 3 cats, one very skittish, who eventually came to sleep with me. 2022 gave me 2 dogs, one a puppy who needed guidance to not jump on people and a cat in Costa Rica. In 2023, I enjoyed 3 dogs in Spain for 3 weeks, followed by 2 1/2 weeks with 3 cats and a dog in central Portugal, followed by 3 cats and 2 dogs on Tenerife, Canary Islands. 2023 gifted me 3 dogs and a lot of laughs in StVimcent and the Grenadines (carribbean). You can view those 5 star reviews on trusted Housesitters.

What can they bring to the assignment

I am an introvert and a bit awkward around people. This helps me to be a solid, loving, present petsitter. Im much more comfortable in nature and with animals. I am not interested in going out at night and prefer to stay in, sleep early, and wake up with the sun. I am not exactly fluent but have very good conversational Spanish. As a single woman, all of my focus and being tuned in, is directed towards your pets, garden and house. That is my focus and commitment to every housesitting situation.

Available to house sit

Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North East Asia, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South East Asia, South Korea, South Pacific, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam

Availability dates

From: 29 August 2023
Until: 1 July 2028

Do they charge?

They don't charge for house sitting services

Membership

MindMyHouse member since 2015

Personal details

Age: 46-55 years old

Total sits

Total completed house sits: 3

Testimonials

Wonderful, calm and understanding

Laurabelle kindly house-sat for us, our two dogs and our cat for three weeks in January 2022. She was wonderfully communicative throughout and we never had a single doubt that everything was is good hands. The animals were super happy and well looked after and Laurabelle really went the extra mile including planting some tomatoes and other plants that are ready for us when we returned. Most of all though, she was very patient and understanding about some unforeseen issues that came up with our old car, our (at the time) troublesome fridge-freezer and a very talkative odd jobs man. We 100% recommend Laurabelle to anyone else looking for a house-sitter. She is really very lovely.

Sarah, Costa Rica, 03 March, 2022

  • Tidy
  • Organised
  • Good at pet care
  • Reliable
  • Kept in contact
  • Friendly
  • Good in the garden
  • Handy around the house

Laurabelle is a super sitter! I was so lucky to have found her. She took amazingly great care of my 8 cats and dog (plus feeding of strays) with such attentiveness for the 2.5 months while I was away that I was at complete ease from the moment I met her and throughout the duration. I was regularly updated with videos and photos and the challenges that cropped up on this rustic house sit were met with confidence and calm. With so many cats there was always something that needed supervision or additional care and Laurabelle tended to that diligently and kept me regularly updated. My dog being a rescue, shy and insecure needed the right person who knew how to keep her feeling safe and secure and Laurabelle's experience and knowledge, was just what my dog needed. She is incredibly capable, resourceful, practical and a true animal lover. We want her back again and again!

Alice, Greece, 08 September, 2019

  • Tidy
  • Organised
  • Good at pet care
  • Reliable
  • Kept in contact
  • Friendly
  • Good in the garden
  • Handy around the house

Testimonial for Laurabelle Burgess

I really appreciate all Laurabelle has done for my cats during her time here. It is always a worry how they will respond but they have been well cared for and much loved by her. Highly recommended.

Elisabeth, Japan, 01 October, 2016

  • Tidy
  • Organised
  • Good at pet care
  • Reliable
  • Kept in contact
  • Friendly
  • Good in the garden
  • Handy around the house

References

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Last updated: 16 June 2023