Catherine

Hi there!  

My name is Catherine, I'm 30 years old and live in Northland, Wellington.  

I grew up in rural Manawatu, and have been around animals for most of my life. My current living arrangements means I’m unable to have a pet of my own so I thought Pawshake would be a great opportunity to spend more time with some furry friends.

Growing up my family had pet dogs, cats and rabbits, and I also rode horses competitively. As I attended a rural primary school I also had numerous pet lambs and calves over the years for Lamb and Calf Day which was always a highlight for me as a child! During my gap year after finishing high school I worked at a Summer Camp in the United States where I taught the horseback riding programme.  

You can see Molly (West Highland terrier) and Tim (Border collie) in my photos. They live with my mum and I always enjoy visiting them when I get the chance.    

My career has now brought me to Wellington. I work full time Monday to Friday,however due to the nature of my work I do have flexibility with my working hours. This means I can work from home throughout the week on days that suit me, and am very much available for walks or visits throughout the day.  

I have my own car (with plenty of space to fit pooches!) and am willing to travel to pick up pets, or to explore new areas around the city for walks.  

I love the opportunities Wellington offers for a range of walks and trails, and am especially excited at the idea of sharing these walks with a keen dog. I enjoy walking through Otari-Wilton’s bush, as well as heading up the Skyline walkway and exploring further afield like Belmont Regional Park. I’m aware of the rules around keeping dogs on leads in some of these areas due to pest animal bait stations so will strive to make sure your pet is well looked after. I enjoy running some of these trails so it would be an added bonus if your dog enjoyed
that too.  

I have some previous pet sitting experience from my time living in the United Kingdom. I was a member of Trusted Housesitters and occasionally house sat for a kiwi couple living in London, as well as a family down in the south of England. My responsibilities included looking after the house and gardens, as well as caring for the cat and dogs. Alongside enjoy the time spent with pets, it was a great way for me to explore different parts of the country.   

I consider myself confident administering medications, including subcutaneous injections. I also understand your pet may have specific nutritional or dietary requirements so am more than happy to accommodate these where required.  

Information on services:

Dog walking- very much catered to your pooch, generally walks are between 15 minutes and half an hour. I'm open to longer walks if required.

I look forward to hearing from you!