Shauna was a wonderful housesitter during my 7 weeks away. She is very capable, and was an excellent communicator, both when we were messaging about arrangements before her arrival and during my absence. We had a couple of days together after she arrived and before I left, to run through how everything works here, and the tasks required, and she “got” all of it, only messaging me a couple of times to ask about things that seemed “off”, or that she had a question about. My place is not that easy to look after, especially in the hot, humid rainy season, but Shauna was obviously quite capable of dealing with a home that isn’t an automatic condo-type place.

The house was very clean and tidy on my return, the cat alive and well, and the yard and gardens in as good shape or better than I expect during the rainy season when everything grows out of control. (I don’t expect housesitters to weed, or care for plants beyond watering if necessary, just to keep the few small grassy areas weedeaten and chop back anything that’s flopping over into the paths)

Shauna had asked if it would be okay to bring her large, calm, senior dog with her, although said she could leave him with a friend if necessary, but I said it was fine. It never occurred to me that the cat would freak out, as I had had a large dog she was used to until the dog passed away 3 years ago. The cat took off as soon as the dog appeared, which really didn’t concern me very much- she is an outside cat who was feral in my neighborhood for a couple of years until she decided she lived here. She reappeared during the night when the dog was inside the guest bedroom with Shauna, and the next day I carried her within proximity of the dog, which she wasn’t too happy about, but didn’t disappear again, just stayed inside the house. Shauna had gotten up before me the morning I left, made friends with the cat, and within a day or two after I left, Shauna messaged me to say all was well, and the cat had resigned itself to the dog and was no longer in freak-out mode. When I returned, Shauna said the cat actually often slept with her.

She also came and picked me up from the bus station when I returned, which was greatly appreciated.

I would highly recommend Shauna as a housesitter and would definitely love to have her housesit for me again.