Hello,

My name is Pauline Cochrane, also known as "Aunty P" to the pets I look after on the Kapiti Coast. If you live between Paekakariki and Otaki I can assist you.

I am a retired, fit and healthy professional woman who loves animals and can provide peace of mind for you and your fur babies while you enjoy your holiday or short break.

I have owned a home for most of my adult life and understand and applied what is needed to take care of a home in the suburbs and on acreage. I always took pride in my different homes and enjoyed beautiful relationships over the years with my fur babies. Below is a little about my background and philosophy on life.  

Although I was born and raised in New Zealand, from 1974 I spent my adult life living and working in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia returning to New Zealand upon retirement in 2016. My professional work background includes 32 years employed as a professional sales representative with multi-national pharmaceutical companies in Queensland and a total of 6 years teaching in TAFE and at two private secondary colleges. I purchased my first home in Brisbane in 1976 and owned property until 2014. 

In the mid-1990’s my partner and I owned a 17-acre Demeter-certified biodynamic property on the Sunshine Coast hinterland growing Echinacea for the natural health market and ran a few head of cattle to help keep the grass down, while both holding down full-time employment. I sold my interest in the farm in 1999 and purchased a 1-acre block of land in Palmview on the Sunshine Coast and built my home, which I lived in with my two cats and dog. 

I believe in lifelong learning and a holistic approach to health and wellbeing for all species. I am a qualified Reiki Master with a special interest in animal Reiki. Most animals I have encountered over the years enjoy receiving Reiki’s universal healing energy. The animal decides whether they wish to receive the energy. I find they often position their body to where they want my hands to rest and when they feel they have received enough Reiki energy they will move away. Most animals relax and fall asleep during a Reiki session.

I have also completed an Acute Diploma in Homeopathy in 2021. 

As part of maintaining my own health, fitness and well-being I like to go for a 30 mins -1 hr daily walk (weather permitting). If your dog is trained on a lead, I am happy to take your dog for their daily walk.    

I have been registered as a Pet Sitter with Pawshake since October 2022.

Pet-sitting with Dogs, Cats, etc

I am available for short (minimum 2 nights) or long-term pet-sitting staying in your home with your pets. 

I will feed, care for, and comfort your pet. I am available to house-sit with multiple pets, and feel at ease caring for cats, dogs, birds, chooks, horses, cattle and sheep.

I believe the benefit of in-home pet sitting is the love and companionship it offers your fur babies and reduces their anxiety and stress if they remain in their home environment while you are away. In-home pet sitting also provides you with the security and peace of mind that it affords you and your family. I like to provide daily updates during your travels thus providing you with reassurance that your pet is being well cared for during your absence.  

I currently undertake pet sitting on the Kapiti Coast between Otaki and Paekakariki.   

Bookings:

Currently, my calendar can be viewed up to 180 days ahead and confirmed bookings already in place will be displayed with a circle around the respective dates.

As it is not uncommon for me to receive requests for dates that cross over, early confirmation of your booking ensures your pet/s are fully booked in - and other clients can see my availability on my Pawshake
calendar, before requesting my service. Therefore, in fairness to all who wish to use my service, I ask that you please confirm your booking within 7 days, of my indicating that I am available to look after your pets for the dates you requested.

Payment Process:

"This is how the payment process works in full detail.

Credit card:

• When you send a booking request to a pet sitter, the amount for the booking is authorised and reserved on your credit card. At this time, there’s no payment, just an authorisation for the amount.
• The sitter has 72 hours to accept or decline the request.
• Once the booking is confirmed by the sitter, the amount is withdrawn from your payment card. At this time, there’s a payment.
• Should the sitter decline the booking request or do not reply in time, the authorisation will be released and you won’t be charged. You will have your funds back within 10 days.

Debit card (Maestro):

• When you send a booking request to a pet sitter, the amount for the booking is taken out of your account.
• The sitter has 72 hours to accept or decline the request.
• Once the booking is confirmed by the sitter, is all set.
• Should the sitter decline the booking request or do not reply in time, you will receive a full refund. You will have your funds back within 10 days.

This means that the amount for the booking is taken out of your account when you send a booking request for all bookings that are less than 365 days in the future. It is held securely until the end of the booking, which is when we pay out the sitter.

We keep a contribution of 19%, which we use for the maintenance and development of the site/app, insurance, customer support as well as our team."

When your booking is confirmed, we can all move forward confidently knowing that the pet-sit can proceed.  

I thank you in advance for your understanding.

Cancellation Policy:

I understand and appreciate that the best-laid plans may need to be changed. After paying for your booking/s if your plans do change and you need to cancel your booking, if you cancel before midday 7 days before the booking starts, you should receive a full refund from Pawshake for the cancelled date/s. It takes a few days for the refund to show up in your nominated bank account or credit card. 

If for some last minute reason you find you need to cancel within 2 days, I will hold those days over in credit for you to use at a later date.

Meet and Greet:

If you feel I am the person you wish to trust with your pet/s and home, I believe it is important we have a "meet and greet" first to see if we are a good fit before confirming a booking. I like to spend around 1/2 - 1 hour to get to know you and your fur babies first.

I have personal character references available if required. 

I look forward to chatting with you.  

Have an excellent day ...

And, keep on smiling!