Ruth

Available to house-pet sit: NSW & ACT 1 November - 8 November 2024 and 19 November - 24 November 2024. QLD, ACT & NSW 10 January - 30 June 2025. From 1 October 2025 any State or Territory.

Note: If owners expect me to live in a filthy house, don’t accept my application or message me. Since I will walk out if I arrive & find you disrespect sitters/me, Yet expect us to take good care of your animals. You’ll have to find another sitter at short notice if you’re one of these owners. Maybe even cancel your trip. Shouldn’t need to be said but been burnt, compromised too many times.

I plan to travel Australia possibly for the next 8 years in my camper van. House-pet sitting & working as a WWOOFA (Willing Worker on Organic Farms) or paid jobs I find along the way. Happy to go wherever the roads take me.

I travelled a lot in Australia & overseas when I was younger. Not so much recently. Last trip overseas was to NZ in Nov-Dec 2023 to help my friend in Central Otago.

I'm 67, have good health, am average fitness & strength. I can do most (labour intensive) jobs around the house. Except if looking for specific skills e.g. carpenter, painter. Happy to learn what is needed to care for your pets - dogs, cats, farm animals.

I don't currently have any pets. I was brought up with german shepherds & have had a staffy & blue heeler in the past.

I've completed house-pet sits for owners at 16 places in Qld, NSW, Vic & South Aust. Learnt a lot more about different breeds of dogs, all types of animals & birds.

I enjoy spending time with other people’s pets even more than I anticipated when I set out on this journey 2 years ago. Lot of unconditional love. Quality time for all of us. I find it very therapeutic being with all these different, special beings who are loved by their owners. Some have been rescues. It's a privilege to be welcomed as I have been into different homes all over Australia.

First sit was in Townsville. I cared for Teneille & Rodney's 2 dogs - blue heeler & german shepherd - 2 cats, 7 goats, 6 chickens & a parrot for 2 weeks on 5 acre property.
Then I cared for Craig's 2 cats & 4 birds for 4 months in Wingham.
Then in 2022 I cared for Matt's blue heeler, cat & chickens for 9 weeks in Woodburn on NSW South Coast on his 60 acre property. I completed a 3 months 1 week return sit for Matt in 2o23 and will be returning again in 2024 for a 3rd sit. I think being trusted to care for Matt's pets and his property, asked to return for a third sit is a good recommendation. Especially long sits.
Then Debbie & Bill's 2 dogs - staffy & x-breed rescue - for 3 weeks at Ingleburn in Sydney.
Then Shelley & Trent's jack russell, miniature foxie & fish for 2 weeks in Brisbane.
Then Bec & Stephen's 3 golden retrievers & 4 belted galloways for a week at Fisherman's Pocket near Gympie Qld.
Then Margherita's 3 dogs - a maremma, mastiffX & Heinz mix - 14 chickens, 17 guinea fowls, 25 geese, 2 goats & a horse for 3 weeks on her 200 acre property at Yarrowyck NSW.
Then Kathy & Matt's jack russell for 9 weeks in Mudgee.
Then Dione & Craig's 4 dogs - an english springer spaniel, maltese & 2 x 8 month old bellamy english cocker spaniel pups - 3 horses, 1 a dressage horse needing special attention & rugging for 4 weeks in Manar, NSW.
Then Sam & Paul's toy poodle for 3 weeks in Kyneton.
Then Tanya & Phil's blue heelerX & pomeranianX for 2 weeks in Melbourne.
Then Dianne & Tony's 2 dachshunds for a week in Adelaide.
Then Jo & Craig's 7 cavoodles for 5 weeks in Paringa, SA.
Then Gordon's staffy for 4 days in Reynella, SA.
Then Cass & Ray's pomeranian for 3 weeks in Mt Barker, SA.
Then Samara’s blue heelerX for 4 days in Enfield, SA.
I’m on my 17th sit now. Looking after Anna’s kelpie & dalmatian in Hartley, SA.
I've also been a house-pet sitter before for random friends. I house-pet sat my friends' rural 25 acre property twice, when they went to Portugal for 3 months, cared for their 2 cats. I also house-sat a friend's Unit for 7 weeks in Brisbane & cared for her cat & property in Central Otago NZ.

I can ride horses well. I learnt when I was 4. I lived on a farm with all sorts of animals. I've worked at Riding for Disabled in the past.

I've also helped a Wildlife Carer, predominantly caring for Joeys, but other wildlife too.

Also worked in a commercial dairy wayback.

I have a small off road motorbike, registered for on road, on the back of my van. So I can get around any larger properties that may need looking after. Whether on my bike or a trail bike or quad. Or on horseback. Walking too.

I'm fairly flexible about what type of place or pets I'd be happy to mind. Not snakes.

I like both country and city life. I'd prefer longer housesitting jobs. 1 month or more. So I can settle into the house sit with your animals if you have any, into the area and community. I generally can be flexible with starting & leaving dates. Even less than a month position could be fine if I'm already around your area or going to be, or in between house-pet sits or WWOOFA work. I have done short 6 days, 2 weeks & 3 weeks house-pet sits. Also many months. Length of time, dates will slightly depend on where I am, how far I'd have to travel, if I might have another destination already locked in after the dates you need someone. That type of thing.

Happy to answer any questions anyone wants to ask. On Aussie House Sitters website or over the phone.

Thanks, Ruth.