Take care of dogs in foster care in Andalucía (dates flexible)

About this assignment

Looking for a responsible, dependable, non-smoker who is experienced taking care of dogs and plants.

Dogs: I currently volunteer with a local dog shelter, and short term foster dogs so they can recover from surgery or before they go to their adoption family for example. While I'm not there I'd like to find a sitter who can stay in the home with the dog/s and - with support from other shelter volunteers - give them the care and love they need. You'll need to be calm, patient and caring.

Plants: You'll need to love plants, have some plant-care experience and be genuinely interested in their wellbeing. It would be amazing if you are a step beyond this and interested in other planty activities while you're there (propagation etc), but not compulsory!
It would also be nice to have somebody environmentally conscious in the house.

I need help from a person who is friendly and comfortable communicating remotely and proactively keep me up to date with any problems or worries etc.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Dogs: you'll need to sleep at the house every night but during the day are able to leave the dogs for up to 4 hours and can go exploring. Depending on the dogs, you may be able to take them with you, leave them home alone or I might need a
Shelter volunteer to cover for you if it's a dog who can't be left alone. We can discuss this depending on your dates. Taking care of the dogs involves feeding, local walks, keeping food bowls and their bedding washed regularly, keeping an eye on them so eg a dog with a broken leg isn't left to jump off sofas, and just given them lots of love and attention. It also involves staying in contact with me and coordinating with the volunteers who will assist you with dog care for dogs who eg can't be left alone or have more serious wounds, or trips to the vet.

Plants: need watering and some possible weather dependent activities (eg move plants under the roof if it's raining). Keeping me up to date with plant wellbeing and eg administering plant liquid food when looking unwell.

House: treating it with care and respect, letting me know if there are any problems, and keeping it clean.

What are the good features of the property and location

The house is in a beautiful little town - (last year it was voted the most beautiful pueblo blanco in Cadiz region by National Geographic). There are often cultural events taking place, although it has very few non-Spanish tourists/residents.
It's a hill-town surrounded by olive groves, so easy to get out in nature for a walk or hike through the hills. It also has the start of the via verde which is great for cycling and running. It has a really nice roof terrace with a great view over the hills and lovely sunsets.
The town is traditional and staying here offers a great chance to practice your Spanish, as there aren't many expats and very few people speak English.
It's a very active population and can be fairly lively when there's an event on, but the house is in the old town which is mostly quiet. On my road there's a corner shop that sells everything you need, a fruit and veg shop round the corner, and everything else is within walking distance (delis, restaurants, main supermarket, gym, bars, tennis and padel courts, clothes shops). There's a rock-climbing and yoga teacher in town (who speaks English), and a bike in the house you can borrow. I have lots of books if you like to just relax in the sunshine and you can get some basic art supplies if you'd like to do some drawing/painting from the terrace maybe. If you bring a car there are lots of great places to visit in the region.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

This is a big old townhouse which has some quirks, that suits somebody creative or interested in experiencing authentic Andalucia.

Almost the entire town is on a hill and my road is very steep, so this sit is not suitable if you have mobility issues.
If you're driving: I have no garage and parking outside the house is almost impossible, so expect a 5-10 min walk to the car (plus being you'll be parked on the flat so won't be doing a hill start!).
If you're using public transport: There is a bus service to the cities (Sevilla, Malaga, Cadiz and Ronda), but depending on what you're hoping for it might not seem ideal (1-2 buses 5-7 days a week depending on destination). Blablacar is popular in Olvera and handy for Cadiz, Granada and Malaga but you will normally have to walk to the edge of town for the pickup.
The closest beach is in Cadiz which is 1ish hours by car/2-2.5hrs by bus.
My neighbours (and the population generally) are very friendly, but you will need to comfortable with your own company as it's a traditional family-oriented community and that's hard to break into.
The house is big and the air can be dusty which means floor mopping is a bigger task than normal.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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