Kia ora! My name is Max, and I offer walks, day visits, and overnight care for almost all pets.

I adopted my first dog when I was 6 and have lived with pets—my own and others’—for most of my life. In middle school, I started walking dogs and pet sitting for neighbors. By high school, I’d become the neighborhood pet sitter. When I went away to university, I adopted my first cat, who was a chronically ill senior. As an owner, I learned how to leash-train a cat, teach them commands, administer oral medicine, and watch closely for small behavioral changes that could indicate potential health problems. I also lived with a puppy during that time and helped house train her. After graduating from university, I went back to professional dog walking until I started my career. During 2020, I adopted my second cat, who was also a chronically ill senior. When I lost my job in 2021, I returned to pet sitting for friends. After starting a new job, I continued to pet sit for those friends. I love being around animals because they are authentic and have an astounding ability to heal.

With my experience as an owner and sitter, you can trust me to take the best care of your pets.

"Max is the only sitter who made us feel like we were able to relax when leaving our two cats in someone's care other than our own. We left Max with an instruction sheet that was probably too detailed to be helpful, and we couldn’t have been more impressed and grateful upon return. Max followed all instructions perfectly, and even went above and beyond by spending extra time playing with them and sending us daily updates with photos. When we got home, the cats were relaxed and happy, and seemed to have even missed Max for the few days after they left. It's clear Max genuinely loves animals, and they love Max. They take their responsibilities seriously, we wouldn't hesitate to trust them again."
- Matthew and Liz

"Max took care of our two 4-month-old kittens while I was on vacation and out for work trips. They did a great job of making sure they got plenty of play time, interaction, and food. My kittens were eating a ton, so Max made sure they were well fed and loved. Max was extremely flexible with our schedule, and I appreciate the love, attention, and care they gave to my cats! I would recommend Max to anyone needing a reliable and caring pet sitter!"
- Katelyn and Rob

"Max was a stellar housesitter who stayed in our home while we were out of town for a week. The experience was above and beyond what we hoped for as homeowners. Max is extremely respectful, conscientious, and fun to talk to. Max was also very kind to our cat and took good care of her, which was not expected but very appreciated. We would gladly recommend Max to any homeowners and gladly have them house-sit again."
- Richard and Meg

Important note about my pricing: Pawshake has a very simple pricing system that doesn't allow for nuance. My prices may go up or down depending on your location, your pet's needs, number of pets, etc, but I will always let you know why I am increasing or decreasing the price before you book. I also offer a discount for returning clients.