About Me
Iris Salsman
Pets are my passion. As a lifelong dog owner and animal enthusiast, I have more than 45 years experience caring for everything from man’s best friend (and feline friend) to fish and even ant farms.
I’m devoted to all of them. And now that I’ve retired from corporate America, I have the time to indulge my true love – looking after them and lavishing them with affection.
I don’t just love animals; I know how to take care of them.
My experience includes owning and looking after large dogs including collies, golden retrievers, German shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Great Danes and Great Pyrenees as well as smaller breeds such as Maltese, pugs and daschunds, and cats. Some have been a handful while others were couch potatoes.
Over the years I’ve attended training classes with dogs that were aggressive or timid. I know how to give medications to cats (not easy). I can clean a bird cage, fish tank and rabbit or hamster cage. The only thing I haven’t done is feed a live mouse or rat to a snake. Even I have my limits!
As a pet nanny I bring maturity and sound judgment as well as experience. I’ve lived in my own home for many years so I’ll treat yours with respect.
Need your mail and newspaper taken in? Your plants or yard watered? Pets brushed and hair vacuumed? You can count on me. I’m prompt, reliable and conscientious. You and your pets will love me!
Experienced
More than 45 years experience caring for pets.
Trustworthy
I’m prompt, reliable and conscientious.
Bonded & Insured
Bonded & Insured, your pet is in good hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Pet sitting” is defined as “the act of caring for a pet in its own home while the owner is away.” Dog walking is also a form of pet sitting since it involves coming to the pet’s home to provide exercise and companionship. Caring for pets in the clients’ homes is what separates pet sitters from boarders or doggie daycares.
Pets are happier and experience less stress at home in their familiar environment.
Diet and exercise routines are uninterrupted.
Travel trauma for both owner and pet is eliminated.
Pet's exposure to illness is minimized.
It’s often more economical because many pet sitters do not charge extra for more than one pet.
Occasionally, extenuating circumstances (i.e., a pet with special health issues or severe separation anxiety or repairs taking place in the pet’s home) warrants a pet sitter caring for a client’s pet in his or her own home.
As the definition above indicates, pet sitters care for clients’ pets in the clients’ homes. Pet owners often use pet sitters when they go on a vacation, travel for business, work long hours or when they are too sick or injured to care for their pet(s).
Pet sitters often offer more than one pet-sitting visit per day, and some pet sitters offer overnight stays as well.
During the pet-sitting visits, pet sitters perform a variety of tasks, including:
Feeding the pets and changing their water bowls
Providing exercise and play time (may include walking the dog)
Cleaning litter boxes and cleaning up any other pet messes
Administering pet medications, if needed
Providing lots of TLC!
Pet sitters also often bring in mail or newspapers and alternate blinds and lights to give the home a “lived-in look” if the owners are away. Pet sitters may also perform other tasks as requested by the pet owners.
First, I don’t just love animals; I know how to take care of them.
I’m mature and responsible rather than a kid, neighbor or family member.
This is my fulltime job.
I’m insured and bonded to protect you, me and your pet.
I do what’s best for your pet – not what’s convenient for me. You won’t find me sitting on the sidelines or talking on the phone while your dog runs around a dog park. Your dog’s walk is his exclusive time to get attention and affection as well as exercise, and I do what he wants.
I have a detailed form I have you complete for each pet (even fish) so I know all of their habits.
I leave you a Report Card after every visit – or I’ll text it if you wish.
I’ll send you photos or do Facetime to show you how he’s doing.
