Hello! My name is Ava. I’m an expat from New York living in Christchurch on a working holiday visa. I dearly miss my pets back home and joined Pawshake in hopes of filling that hole in my life.

I am generally available in the evenings after 5:00 PM, though I’m happy to be flexible and work with you to find a schedule that suits us both. I offer pet sitting, dog walking, and house sitting services, and I’m confident administering oral medication—I have experience giving medication to my senior dog twice daily and understand the importance of staying on schedule with treatments. 

My dog walks can last up to two hours, and for more active dogs, I’m happy to take them on hikes or to the beach when the weather allows. I have a car and enjoy getting out into nature, especially with a canine companion! 

While I’m unable to host pets in my own home due to having flatmates, I’m available for home visits and overnight house sitting. I take home security seriously and will always follow your specific instructions—I personally make a habit of locking all doors and windows before leaving or going to bed. I’m also more than happy to assist with light housekeeping, watering plants, and collecting mail to help keep your home running smoothly while you’re away.

Throughout my life, I’ve cared for dogs, cats, birds, geckos, hermit crabs, and tortoises—and I even worked at a pet store—so I consider myself very experienced when it comes to animal care. I take pride in being responsible and have been entrusted as both a house sitter and pet sitter for several families back in the United States.

When I’m not petsitting or working, I love playing guitar, hiking, swimming in the ocean, attending live music events, and visiting the local comedy club!

I’d love to be a companion for your furry (or scaly) family while you’re away, and I’m more than happy to arrange a time to meet—either in person or over the phone—before you decide to book with me!