Ecologist/Non-profit Leader + Musician/Engineer Exec = Animal Lovers !

About this sitter

We are passionate about nature, animals, and plants and enjoy immersing ourselves in different cultures by “living like locals”. Because we both have technical/science backgrounds, we are very detailed-oriented when taking care of your pet(s) and home. We understand that companion animals have their own personalities and preferences, just like human family members! We adore wise, older pets as well as frisky youngsters. If your pet needs medications we have experience administering pills, liquids, etc.

Regarding “police checks”: Kit’s high level roles serving in the US government required that she undergo several FBI background checks. This included credit and reputational vetting. This is much more stringent than a normal police check. As a former senior engineering executive, Eric also has had significant financial, brand, and people management responsibilities. We don’t party, use drugs or run illegal businesses!

Why they want to house sit

House- and pet-sitting provides a way to experience living as a resident in a different community. We have both worked and lived internationally. While we no longer have pets ourselves (because we ourselves love to travel) we enjoy meeting new animal friends (yours!)

Kit is a writer (academic and personal) and finds the house-sitting environment to be conducive to her work. Eric finds a change of scenery helpful for his guitar practice and music composing. We enjoy dogs and cats as well as more uncommon pets such as parrots, canaries, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes, fish, frogs, lizards, etc.

Their experience

Our many years’ of owning and caring for pets plus living and working around the world prepare us to help you. We treat your home and pet(s) as if they were our own.

Because of Kit's background in research ecology, as well as the variety of pets she has owned or cared for, she deeply understands the biology and social behaviours of many animals. Her experiences caring for pets range from elderly and rescue dogs, parrots and chickens, rabbits, puppies and kittens, and turtles and lizards. She has owned several horses and cared for a friend's goats. Eric grew up with several poodles (very large to small) and has cared for friends' cats.

Kit grew up in many older homes and most recently owned a 100+ year old house in humid Charleston SC that needed constant attention due to its old wiring and wooden construction. Eric himself has renovated a house boat and upgraded modest homes. Detecting possible causes of a sudden house problem is a puzzle that Kit and Eric can tackle.

What can they bring to the assignment

Trained as a research ecologist, Kit has spent most of her professional life working with arts and cultural nonprofits (including museums and libraries). Her work has taken her across Europe, the UK, Central and South America, Canada and the Antarctic. She has owned or looked after various dog breeds (including German Shepherds and Norwich Terriers), cats, parrots, finches, canaries, rabbits, turtles, fish, lizards, goats, donkeys, and horses. She is originally from Charleston SC.

Eric is a former materials engineer executive. He lived and worked for over 20 years in Germany and Scotland for multinational corporations. He is fluent in German. He now devotes his time to his music (drums and acoustic guitar playing blues, rock, and Celtic). He also enjoys woodworking and restoring antique auto hood ornaments. He hails from Chicago.