Hi! I’m Sara, an Italian student from the Amalfi Coast, currently living in The Hague, where I study Creative Intelligence and Technology.

I have always grown up surrounded by animals. Back home in Italy, I have three dogs — a German Shepherd, a Pinscher and a Pitbull — and a little black cat. Over the years, I have also had rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and other dogs.

My dogs are a huge part of my life. In Italy, we spend a lot of time together between the mountains and the sea of the Amalfi Coast. I often take all three dogs for walks together and even bring them swimming, so I am very comfortable managing different breeds, sizes and personalities at the same time.

I also have previous pet-sitting experience. I regularly looked after a Pitbull with heart problems who needed medication, so I was responsible for giving him his pills and monitoring his wellbeing. I also looked after a Cocker Spaniel for an entire day during his owners’ wedding.

For dog walks, I normally offer walks of around 45–60 minutes, depending on the dog’s age, energy level and usual routine. I am happy to walk around the owner’s neighbourhood or in nearby parks and green areas.

For home visits, I can usually stay around 30–60 minutes. During the visit I can feed your pet, refresh their water, clean bowls or litter trays, give medication when clearly instructed, play with them and spend time giving them attention and company.

For pet sitting at the owner’s home, I always try to follow the animal’s normal routine as closely as possible, including feeding times, walks, medication and sleeping habits. I am also happy to send pictures and updates while you are away.

I joined Pawshake because I genuinely miss having animals around me here in the Netherlands. My pets are still in Italy with my family, so being able to care for someone else’s animals here would make me very happy.

I am quite flexible because I organise my schedule around university, and I can also travel outside The Hague depending on the distance. I also work as a bar lady in an Italian restaurant in The Hague on Friday and Saturday evenings, usually from 6 PM to 10 PM, so I am not available during those hours.

I am comfortable with both small and large dogs and always adapt my care to each pet’s personality, needs and normal routine.