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Domestic / Farm Animals & Wildlife Carer

ID: ekr

Name:

Rhonda

Status:

Solo

Age group:

55 plus

Profession:

Retired Pathology Medical Scientist &TAFE Teacher

Years active:

1 year

Preferred locations:

NSW Northern Rivers
QLD Brisbane North, Brisbane South, Gold Coast, Logan and Redlands, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast

Reply rating:

5 out of 5

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More information about this house sitter

I apologise for not being able to accept any more "requests" to housesit at the moment. Thank you for thinking of me though.

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile and well done to the few with such fortitude to make it to the end! :-)

MY AIM: to continue to experience the wonder of animals while inviting new experiences and challenges and to make their experience of being cared for by some-one else be an enjoyable one (and peace of mind for you) ensuring their safety and very importantly, that their routine / life style will continue as before; to keep your home in the condition you would naturally and rightly expect; and to do other "me" things "if" time and opportunity permit, like happily living closely with my indoor roomies and maybe doing quiet, indoor hobbies; and to explore and indulge in my bird-watching, wildlife spotting and photography after so many busy years working. In saying this, on my sits so far, the "me" box of things rarely made it out of the car boot as the particular needs of the animals or other challenges dictated differently. Even so, my time was ten times more enjoyable and fulfilling so that I wonder if I should take it at all - well maybe the little binoculars. I will be the only person who is applying for your sit position; won't usually have visitors, even if the sit is local to me without discussing it with you first; and I am really looking forward being onsite virtually 24/7.

Additionally, I seek varied types of placements, both in requirements by you, variety of animals (hope I never run out of new ones), lengths of sits and types. I especially welcome out-of-the-way places and I am very resourceful and adaptable (as already proven in my sits) - I also think 16 years as an outdoors / survivalist / naturalist type Girl Guide leader who still thinks "Be Prepared" very relevant. Additionally, I attack problems that may arise with an attitude of "there's a way around everything, you just have to be think outside the square" and then falling back on my well tested skills. I also endeavour where possible to visit beforehand (even if it means a long trip and stay at a local airbnb) so both the animals and yourselves meet me and to go over things needed to know for the sit so that you don't have to do it at the last minute before you leave. I will happily catch up for a cuppa, if you wish, at times when I am in the area especially when sits are booked so long in advance. It's nice to touch base again and also may give comfort that I am no longer a stranger by the time the sit comes around.

I am a 62-year-old retired professional woman and have been married for 39 yrs. We own our own home on the Gold Coast and am very fortunate to be married to a man who is quite happy for me to "do my own thing" while he gets to concentrate on his golf, garden and "not" - I repeat "NOT"- have to travel. Besides, our present beloved human posing as a Jack Russell x needs caring for :-)

I am a person who has had a life deeply rooted in animal care and nature but also busy with work, raising a family and a huge commitment to volunteering in the community. I've never been without the company of animals during my life. They include purebreds, numerous rescues and many homeless, which were either dumped or escapees who found it too tough to make it in the big world by themselves, or maybe they just got lonely - at any rate, they literally came and found me! and decided that they were going to claim me and my home as theirs. They know a soft touch when they see one :-) Although the constant denominator has been dogs in our home, I have also owned or been closely involved with so many others: cats, birds (hand-raised, aviary, wildlife), fish, mice, ducks, rabbits, horses, chickens, sheep, and wildlife. We even have some pets still with us (although now in urns) as our children didn't want to leave them behind if we moved - after all, they were family. My husband jokes that he will probably end up next to them :-) Don't worry, we don't kill off our pets, it's just that i later years we have looked for older rescue ones as they have a harder time finding a home. Our last deceased pet was a Jack Russell who we inherited from my parents at age 9 and she lived happily until she was 18 even though she was blind with cataracts, profoundly death and extremely slooooowww as we still walked around the block with her every day until the end. Hey, who needs sight and hearing when you have smell to keep track of the oldies and the newbies visiting the area ?!!

After discovering the world of house / property and pet sitting through a young friend, and a chance meeting with the wonderful photographer / naturalist Steve Parish, who encouraged me "to get back to nature", I am now eagerly looking forward to continuing my return to my roots in a life as fully immersed in animals and nature as possible. I also thrive on new experiences / challenges. My sits so far have only fuelled my passion for this way of life - no matter how experienced one is, I find something new is learned or experienced on each, mainly because of the variety of animals there are, each with its own personality and needs. It's even more satisfying to get to truly know each one. The harder won the trust, affection or respect of a creature, the more precious sometimes, because being accepted so, makes it such a privilege. I will say though, I'm a real sucker for animals with disabilities.

I am not applying to your ad just for the novelty of it, to get a cheap holiday or to save money. My sole purpose is to be able to look after and enjoy the animals. There are many troubled animals, just as there are people, and both deserve our love and willingness to help - on their terms. Those of you who have an animal with special needs know what I am talking about, and I don't mean just a visible difference, but one of the mind which, and because most humans can't "see" and "understand" what they are trying to tell us, their health and wellbeing suffers. Some of the most satisfying and defining moments for me have been to be able to reach them and help them in some way to heal or in the least, have them feel comfortable, safe and secure while I am looking after them.

Having wildlife on a sit, be it grounded or airborne, is a huge bonus for me and to connect with them is immensely exciting, as you are allowed through the door for a brief visit into their world. Many soon accept you once they have studied you and sussed you out. Even if there is not direct contact, simply being able to watch and observe is magical - I feel grateful that I can feel part of that natural world without feeling like an outsider. I have also been an avid bird watcher for years.

I am a completely open book and often too honest for my own good. And caring? Yes, over a life time that can attract a lot of pain too but I wouldn't change any of it. By now in this narrative, hopefully I am left with the people who see the animals in their life genuinely as part of their family, the ones that have connections to them, the naturalists and the people on the land who appreciate them.

I could list all my general ethical and personal attributes, but it would be shorter if you check out my attached documents to my profile of the Girl Guides Motto and Guide Laws. I was a Guide Leader for 16 years and although they are simple words so the girls can relate to them, the leaders take the same vows and sometimes the simpler things in life can speak volumes. Even though I finished eight years ago, I find those values still form the framework of how I live and treat others and which also kept me in touch with my love of the outdoors, thus giving me a way of still connecting with animals and nature as well as engaging our youth in the same. My husband and I were also foster parents (of the human kind) for 21 emergency placements over 4 years when our daughters were young. I can't remember a time that I wasn't involved with some kind of volunteer work and see undertaking animal / house sitting as another way I can also help people have that well earned rest or find support when "life happens" suddenly.

I look forward to meeting you, lovingly care for your multi-footed / feathered friends and any that don't fit this picture.

Warm regards,

Rhonda :-)
p.s. I am a non-smoker and a police check and further references with contact details are available upon request.
If you leave me your number, I am happy to call you
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