Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Sitter available
Henry James - Semi-Retired Professor Available Worldwide
United States
Testimonials
They have 5 testimonials (view below)
Pet experience
Dog(s), Cat(s), Horse/Donkey(s), Chicken(s), Bird(s), Fish, Rabbit(s), Tortoise/Turtle(s), Guinea pig(s), Rodent(s), Pig(s), Goat(s), Reptile(s), Farm animal(s), Other animal(s) – I am open to caring for any type of pet(s), livestock, or critters!
Police check
They have a police check
Availability
From: 28 December 2022
Until: 3 June 2026
Occupation
Semi-retired Professor
References
They have referees/references (view below)
About this sitter
Semi-retired professor, mature, pet lover, interested in long-term assignments. Currently finishing second novel, and I've had the good fortune to have spent time in Bulgaria, Italy, the US, UK, Ireland, France, and Portugal since 2017.
Why they want to house sit
Interested in seeing the world, one house at a time.
Their experience
Since semi-retiring, I have been house and pet sitting for several years. I find the experience rewarding as it lets me see the world on a budget. Previous and current references/testimonials available.
What can they bring to the assignment
Importantly:
Available worldwide.
Up-to-date Police Check (required for teaching).
Non-smoker.
Physically fit and active.
Handy with home maintenance.
Experience with gardening, lawn care, pool maintenance, small holdings, farmsteads, and large estates.
I've been sitting for nearly four years, besides having shared my home with pets all of my life. I have cared for small farmsteads with pets, poultry, livestock and horses as well as homes and apartments with dogs, cats, fish and ferrets. I have expertise with nearly every conceivable domesticated animal/pet, including administering medications. I can handle big dogs, and I'm the previous owner of a Kuvasz, who lived a long and wonderful life.
I have managed owners' Airbnb property during stays ( cleaning, greeting guests, and being a friendly and helpful host ).
And counting…
Dogs:
2 Cocker Spaniels - Louisiana (Meagan & Laila)
1 Mix - Bulgaria (Susie)
1 Karakachan - Bulgaria (Gaia)
1 Mix - Bulgaria (Raina)
1 Mix - Bulgaria (Joy)
1 Cattledog Mix - Ireland (James) x 3 sits
3 Huskies - Ormesby, UK (Sky, Storm & Damon) x 2 sits
1 Golden retriever - Ormesby (Squeazy) x 2 sits
4 Chihuahuas - Ormesby (Archie, Caspar, Elsa, King) x 2 sits
2 Staffordshire Terriers/American Pitbulls - Hawaii (Max & Kailua)
1 Staffordshire Terrier - Derby (Tia*) x 2 sits
1 Norwegian Wulfhund - Derby (Rio*) x 2 sits
1 Scottish Terrier - Wokingham (Mr. Higgins*)
1 West Highland Terrier - Wokingham ( Maggie*)
1 Collie - Emsworth, UK (Gertie)
1 Welsh Terrier - Emsworth (Rascal)
1 Labrador Retriever - Louisiana (Sammie)
2 Pugs - Louisiana (Mimi* & Miles)
1 Sheepdog - Lytham, UK (Lottie)
1 Staffordshire Terrier - Perchède, France (Figue)
2 Corgis - London (Jeeves & Wooster)
2 Podengos - Portugal (Lui* & Milo)
1 Labrador Retriever - Portugal (Shadow)
1 Terrier - Portugal (Rudy)
1 Hunting dog mix - Portugal (Rush)
1 Maltipoo - London (Sausage*)
1 Working Cocker Spaniel - London (Bailey)
1 Shepherd mix - Alexandria, VA (Yemmie)
1 Staffordshire Terrier - Alexandria, VA (Reef)
1 Berger Picard - North Carolina (Sheba) x 2 sits
1 Daschund/Chihuahua mix - North Carolina (Coco)
1 German Shepherd-Great Dane mix - NC (Wiley)
1 AST-Dogo Argentino mix - Alexandria, VA (Bee)
1 Goldendoodle - Michigan & Florida (Lulu)
1 Collie/Boxer mix - North Carolina (Rosie)
1 Miniature Schnauzer - North Carolina (Maggi)
1 Schnoodle (Mini Schnauzer/Poodle Mix - NC (Kloie)
1 Labrador/Pitbull Mix - North Carolina (Emma)
Cats:
Three - Ireland (Lightning/Momma cat, Tigger, Babycat) x 3 sits
One - Bulgaria (Snow)
Five - Bulgaria (Lola, Peppercorn, Maddie, Wally, Bobbi)
Nine - Leicester (Outdoor ferals)
One - Leicester (Sadie)
One - Ormesby (Bubbles) x 2 sits
One - Northampton (Chloe*)
Two - Baton Rouge (Nini & Lilly) x 2 sits
One - Riyadh (Manni)
Two - Southampton (Emi & Scaliwag)
One - British Shorthair - Gaithersburg, Maryland (Narla)
Two - Baton Rouge (Fox & Bean)
One - Arlington, Virginia (Zoe)
Two - Portugal (Gina & Timothy*)
Eight - Portugal (C.T., Lady, Robbie, Jade, Maisel, Lady P, Blue, Melvyn, Nosh)
Two - Portugal (Outdoor ferals)
One - Burmese - Poole (Monte)
Two - Whittle (Kitty-Kat & Puss-Puss)
Two - London (Lola & Missy*)
Two - London ( Rakim & Erik)
One - North Carolina (Sandy) x 2 sits
14 ! - U.S. Virgin Islands (Josie, Timmy, Maggie, Pumpkin, Kobe, Blondie, Sly, Tux, JJ, Kitt Girl, BB, Bandit, Placke, and Rumple)
One - Lansing, MI (Kitty)
One - North Carolina (Gracie)
Birds:
Parrot - Ormesby (Polly)
Parrot - Louisiana (Anton)
Equine:
3 Donkeys - Ireland (Belle, Misty & Bojangles)
1 Tennessee Walker - Georgia, USA (Myron)
Other:
2 Ferrets - Leicester (Baby & Bluebell)
Wild birds - Leicester, Ormesby, Hawaii (daily feed & water)
Wild hedgehogs - Leicester (daily feed & water)
Wild birds - Perchède, France (daily feed & water)
Hermit crabs - North Carolina (feed, water, monitor temperature)
Fish:
Tropical tank - Hawaii (water top-off/chemistry, daily feeding)
Tropical tank - Bulgaria
Tropical tanks - North Carolina x 2 sits
Goldfish - Wokingham
Koi - Poole, UK
Poultry:
26 Chickens - Ireland x 3 sits
14 Ducks - Ireland x 3 sits
10 Chickens - Ireland x 3 sits
2 Chickens - Leicester (Beryl & Grace)
4 Chooks - Leicester
3 Seramas - Louisiana x 2 sits
2 Silkies - Louisiana x 2 sits
2 Lovebirds - Louisiana
3 Chickens - Portugal
5 Chickens - North Carolina
On Guard (chased off):
1 Fox - Ireland
1 large snake - Bulgaria
1 overly curious dog - Ireland
1 stoat - Bulgaria
Chicken hawks - Leicester
Jackals - Bulgaria
Miscellaneous:
Pool - Hawaii (testing, chemistry, maintained balance/volume)
Pond - Leicester (maintained water level, skimmed surface)
Large tropical/semi-tropical/exotic gardens - Hawaii (daily watering, weeding, trimming)
Large tropical gardens - U.S. Virgin Islands (watering, mowing, trimming, strimming, mowing, weeding, planting, etc.)
Vineyard - Bulgaria (brought back to life - weeded, re-tied, fertilized)
Former Property Developer (refurbished/remodeled apartments, single-family homes, managed portfolio of rentals)
100% Solar Home, USVI - Monitored system, maintained batteries, cleaned panels, balanced use without a single outage during stay.
100% Rain Capture Home, USVI - Cleaned gutters, cleaned and repacked gutter filters, monitored levels in tanks.
Chopped/cleared approximately 50 leaning/fallen pine trees on acreage in North Carolina during an extended stay.
Personal pets:
1 Kuvasz (Thor)
1 Cat (Wolfie)
1 Cat (Pumpernickel)
1 Cat (Taar)
1 Cat (Oliver)
1 Cat (Leather)
Tropical fish, Gerbils, Hamsters
Family pets:
Dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, ducks, chickens (including Seramas, Polish, Silkies, Rhode Island Reds, Bantams, Cochins, Favorelles) rabbits, ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, sugar gliders, tropical fish
Grandparents’ livestock/pets:
Boxers, Goats, Chickens, Guernsey cows
Aunt’s petting zoo:
Lion, Giraffe, Giant Iguana, Donkey (it was a different time and place)
*denotes special dietary/medical care (including CKD, SQ IV injections, hyperthyroidism and diabetic care)
Last updated:
8 November 2023
Available to house sit
Africa, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States
Availability dates
From: 28 December 2022
Until: 3 June 2026
Do they charge?
They sometimes charge for house sitting services
Membership
MindMyHouse member since 2018
Personal details
Age: 56-65 years old
Total sits
Total completed house sits: 7
References
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About this house sitter
MindMyHouse member since December 2023
Sitemap
MindMyHouse.com – https://www.mindmyhouse.com/owners/sitter_listing/36013
Testimonials
Wonderful House Sitter!
My husband and I had to go abroad for a couple of months and Henry looked after our dog, two cats and home. We weren't entirely sure when we would return but Henry was so easy going and happy to adapt to whatever worked. Henry sent us regular updates on our pets and we felt 100% relaxed in the knowledge that they were being so well looked after. We came home to an incredibly tidy house and three very happy, well looked after furry babies. We can't recommend Henry enough. He has been an absolute Godsend for us - and given that our trip fell in the midst of a global pandemic it was doubly helpful! Thank you so much Henry! x
Celia, United Kingdom, 03 September, 2020
Amazing thank you
Henry was absolutely amazing he went above and beyond what was required. We have a large family of pets he walked miles with them cared for them all very well my parrot fell in love with him. He came in November when we came home in January he went on a trip for a few days and was back again for us to go away for another trip. He looked after the animals and the house as though they were his own and the times we were together here he would cook us breakfast and became part of our family. I would have him back here anytime. We had regular calls photos of the animals he really bothered. I can't say enough to praise him. Thank you Henry
Susan, United States, 03 March, 2019
Above all my expectations
Henry stayed in our house in BG countryside for 2 months with our 3 doggie girls and very annoying cat and was perfect for us and for them. It was our first time travelling and I was a bit concerned as people here don't speak English at all and I was worried about henry being bored here all alone, but all my worries rapidly fed away as he updated me how great everything is going on, sent me pics and videos, made delicious cooking for the girls on daily basis (as they eat only homemade vegan food) and in general made us feel secured and with piece of mind that all is going good. As a person Henry is a very intelligent and mature guy, he was super responsible about everything and even tried his best to find ways to save electricity! He loved our dogs and when we came back home it wasn't sure if they even missed us at all. I wish he'd come over again and he is invited here anytime as our guest and not only 'in duty'. Thank you Henry for everything and making our beautiful trip come true. Shira and Suresh
Shira, Bulgaria, 06 January, 2019
A lovely, caring Gentleman.
Henry looked after our house & animals with the very best of care. He used his experiences & know how to successfully resolve issues & he improved certain set ups around the house & garden for us. We received regular updates, photographs & short videos from him, keeping us fully informed at all times. He is such a genuine, likable person & we would welcome him into our home any time. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend him as a house sitter & hopefully have him sit for us again in the future. We now like to class Henry as our very good friend. He is highly missed by Baby & Bluebell (Ferrets), Tia (indoor cat), four hens, six feral cats & a plethora of local wild birds!
Susan, United Kingdom, 29 May, 2018
What a guy.
Henry was fantastic with my dogs, he had so much time for them and even taught me things about Rio (Saarloos Wulfdog) and Tia(a Staffy with cancer). Henry is a very thoughtful and honest sitter. We kept in touch almost daily by video phone. I will most definitely ask him back. Rio and Tia miss him so much. Thanks Henry.
CHRISTOPHER, United Kingdom, 28 February, 2018