Leanne & Kirk

We are an Australian couple, 52 and been together since 1997. That's 25 years - almost a life sentence! ;-)

Since getting married in Bali in 2000, our travel bug has grown substantially and we have been fortunate to have visited Uk, Italy, France, Albania, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Fiji, Greece and the Greek islands, as well as most states within Australia.

In September 2016 we succumbed to our love of Thailand and sold our Australian home and most of our belongings and moved to Chiang Mai.

Prior to the overseas move Kirk worked for many years in Customer Service roles within the Transport/Logistics area, and Leanne was Regional Manager for a leading Australian employment provider.

Since September 2016 we have been operating eCommerce businesses, with Leanne also teaching English as a second language online. Because of our online work commitments, the only thing we really need from a house-sit is a reliable and fast internet connection.

Kirk is a musician (instrumental ambient piano), and also enjoys writing, attempting magic (not very well!), and completing online jigsaw puzzles. Leanne loves the outdoors and exploring places 'off the beaten track', and she also enjoys running. Together we enjoy our involvement, now remotely, with Adopt Me-ow (Kitten Rescue and Adoption Chiang Mai), we love hiking and exploring the outdoors, taking long motorbike rides and drives, and dining out.

We have owned several homes over our years together, and we have a sound understanding of home maintenance and care, both property and lawn/garden areas.

We are now back in Australia for the foreseeable future and wish to continue our pet sitting adventures.

Quiet and responsible, we are happiest just pottering about, maintaining our businesses and otherwise indulging in new experiences.

In November 2020, we returned to Australia and we are now living in Newcastle NSW, where we are enjoying exploring our own backyard :)

Why we want to house sit:
House and pet-sitting appeals to us both as being the next step in our life-journey.

Our experience in moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand and our subsequent involvement with 'Adopt-Meow' has nurtured our need for interaction with animals in need, whilst traveling, as well as meeting our desire for adventure through travel.

We love the feeling of responsibility that comes from caring for animals, and as prior pet-owners in Australia we understand the need to have them well cared for in our absence.

We also take great pride in helping others, and we understand that by us looking after your home and pet, we are offering you an opportunity to get away and relax.

Aside from this, we really enjoy travel and the mystery that comes with exploring a new part of the world. Meeting new people, tasting different cuisine, understanding a different culture - it is a big world out there and house/pet-sitting offers us a chance to experience more of the world AND help people at the same time.

Kirk also enjoys writing and photography, and the diverse range of travel experiences will offer something well-worth capturing, which can then be shared and enjoyed by family/ friends and others.

Our experience:
Over our lifetimes we have both enjoyed the company of a diverse range of pets, from cats (domestic short-hairs, British short-hairs, Siamese, Burmese, Bengal, Maine Coon) and dogs (Jack Russell, Maltese, Silky Terrier, Shih Tzu, Husky and mixed breeds) to chickens and ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish and 'Speedy' the turtle!

Based on this experience, we are confident in knowing how to take care of an animal's needs and are actively engaged in both play and exercise and in maintaining their general health.

Aside from pet ownership, more recently we have been fostering cats and kittens through 'Adopt-Meow', a cat rescue and adoption service here in Chiang Mai. (Please contact us for a link to their website.)

Since August 2017 we have had approximately 40 cats in our care, all of which were rescued in some way, i.e. they were abandoned by their previous owner/s, abandoned by their mother, found wandering roads and highways looking hungry, or had sustained injuries after being hit by passing traffic.

Aside from attending to any immediate health needs, i.e. vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, antibiotics, wound dressing etc, our responsibility as cat foster carers has been to socialise them so they are ready for adoption with a loving family. Our experience has taught us how to decide which treatments can be managed in the home or whether a visit to the local vet is required.

We have experience in caring for neonatal kittens through to mature cats, including caring for cats with behavioural issues. We are also certified in Pet First Aid (advanced).

A couple of our many Success Stories:

At 6 months old 'Cleo' and 'Sheba' were rescued from a large Hotel complex where they were threatened with being put down. Initially frightened of humans, they have grown to love human interaction with their current foster family, and enjoy playtime and cuddles. Recent photos of them show they are now enjoying a wonderful life with their new forever family.

5 month old 'Burma' came to us as a scared Burmese, wide-eyed and terrified. She was constantly hiding and would nervously shiver at human contact. After much attention and interaction over an intensive 8-week period, she learned to trust being around humans and became a very active and playful cat, and not just in our presence, but also around visiting friends. Burma has now successfully been adopted to a caring family, and is thriving in her new environment.

Our experience with dogs ranges from small pedigrees to larger 'soi' dogs that roam the local villages here in Chiang Mai. Our responsibilities have included feeding, providing fresh water, exercising and general interaction and play, as well as administering medication and offering Veterinary care as necessary.

What about general home care and maintenance? Whatever needs doing while you are away, we are able to assist with mowing (both ride-on and push mowers), whipper-snipping ('strimming or weed-whacking'), weeding, watering, pruning, maintaining vegetable gardens, spa and pool maintenance plus general maintenance jobs that may need attention.

Concerned about security? We are respectful of your privacy and proactive when it comes to protecting your assets. Kirk has safely delivered over 250,000 parcels during his time as a delivery driver, and this role required yearly Police clearance checks. Aside from this, Kirk was also cleared to enter secure areas of the local airport as part of his role.

Last but not least, do you also operate a Bed & Breakfast or Gite? Leanne has had many years experience with helping within her family's Motel business. Her responsibilities included guest relations, taking bookings, check-in/check-out, room preparation/cleaning/laundry, and preparation and serving of breakfasts and dinners.

To get to know us a little better, including references, you can view our website. Please contact us for a link.