Originally from the US, I have been an animal lover and carer all my life. Thinking about it professionally started with job shadowing at a veterinarian hospital where I cleaned cages, fed the animals, took the dogs for walks, played with the kittens and assisted with minor procedures like declawing, x rays, etc. Then I witnessed the vet having to put a dog down for the first time and knew it wasn't the career for me. Instead, I began volunteering at shelters and walking and pet sitting my neighbor's animals as my apartment and job (military) didn't really allow me to keep my own pets. I have experience with dogs and cats as old as 17-18 with specific medical needs and as young as a few weeks. For birds, I am most familiar with parrots, cockatoos, and lovebirds. I also have limited experience with fish, specifically tropical fish. I have even less experience with reptiles, but I am not afraid of them, so if you are having trouble finding someone to take care of your reptiles, we can talk. In fact, the only animals I have to say a hard no to, are tarantulas. I cannot do spiders.