Dog mom + 8yo gentle, nature- and animal-loving boy, ready to look after your fur/feather/wool babies

About this sitter

Hi! My name is Petra, I work remotely as a copy and content writer, mostly in the fields of travel and IT (random pairing, I know). I would like to start housesitting with my 7-year-old son, Alex, with whom I share a love of animals, mountains, forests, and coastal scenery, and just travel in general. We live in Prague, Czech Republic, and have an amazing dog (larger mix), 7 yo Loki, whom we adopted from a shelter 3 years ago. Alex calls him his brother, and he's really good with him. We love hiking, camping, sports, being lazy, I love early mornings, coffee breaks, and just being in the moment.
I'm looking for houses in locations that are surrounded by or close to beautiful nature, with any type of animal that need a loving temporary caregiver. We would love to care for farm animals!

Why they want to house sit

I homeschool Alex and am looking to start with housesitting with him as a way to immerse ourselves in different places and communities, travel more (since we have the freedom to do so), and also as a way to be with animals. We have a dog and all dogs will be given the best care by us, but Alex absolutely would love to have cats (my husband is allergic), and he has a thing for chickens, goats, birds, and fish. Since we don't have those at home, we would be very happy to care for someone else's while they travel.
To me, housesitting also means a connection to my fellow humans, since accepting somebody into your home is a big extension of trust, and an exchange of kindness and neighborliness, even if we aren't even from the same country. It's a way to know that all is still right in the world!
I'm a passionate traveler, and travel has opened my eyes and my heart in more ways that I can describe. But sometimes with travel, we tend to "see the sights" but don't take enough time to really live as the locals do, and housesitting is a special opportunity to do just that.

Their experience

No housesitting experience so far per se, but we have traveled extensively, often using homestays, Airbnbs (the real ones, not the ones that are really bed and breakfasts), and I have tried wwoofing, and have been a Couchsurfing host and guest many times in the past, so I know what it's like to open your home to someone, but also to be mindful in other peoples' homes. What I'm trying to say is that I know to treat people's homes with respect, am tidy, and would never do anything that I wouldn't appreciate in my own home.
As for experience with animals, we have our furbaby Loki, who is definitely a part of the family. I always say I have two kids! Since we adopted him as an adult dog with no knowledge of his past, we, and Alex especially, learned how to be mindful around animals, read their mood and body language, and always treat them with kindness. I can imagine the trust it takes to rely on someone else to take care of your pet.
We've stayed in Airbnbs with cats, and Alex has always thought they are just so cool! We go to cat cafes in Prague, too. We can't have a cat of our own because of my husband's allergies, so we're excited to meet some kitties during housesitting.
We've spent time at farms or places with farm animals, and we'd love to get to know some goats and chickens!
I've spent a couple of weeks wwoofing in Sardinia some years back where part of my job was taking care of donkeys. I have to say that was one of my favorite experiences, especially learning about how different they are from horses, personality-wise.
I know people can be cautious with kids around their animals, so I wanted to say that Alex is very much a follow-the-rules type of child, more introverted, gentle, and has a way with animals. He doesn't have a need to touch them unless they request a pet, just being with animals makes him happy. Alex can be anxious around humans, so maybe that's why he's so good with other creatures! He is overall a fun, curious kid that is mature for his age and will be a great sidekick on our housesitting missions.

What can they bring to the assignment

I'm responsible -- Your home will be taken care of, kept clean, and safe. Your animals will be treated as my own, making sure their needs are met, all rules and instructions are followed, and their happiness put in the forefront of our stay. I'll keep in touch with house owners, keep them updated, and will be able to quickly react to any changes of plan or unforeseen situations.
I'm caring and kind -- I will always behave as a guest in your home. Your animals will get all the care they are used to, and maybe a few cuddles more.
I'm a good human, and if you need someone trustworthy in your home while you are away, I think I'll be a good fit.
And I'll also bring Alex. Because he's an awesome kid!

non-smoking, driver's license, speak English and some German