"Our sitters went above and beyond to care for our Goldies"

Updated 18 June 2024

Meet Liza and Tom - pet parents to pups Sophie and Stanley in Canada’s Ottawa, Ontario. Like many pet parents, the pair had always relied on friends to care for their two Goldies. But since moving to their new home, they were stumped on what to do for the best when it was time for trips away.

Choosing between lonely, cramped kennels and waving goodbye to vacations altogether, it was lucky that the couple came across TrustedHousesitters while at their petcare crossroads.

In fact, they’ve never looked back since joining our pet-loving community - so take a look below to find out about the wonderful sitters they’ve welcomed, and the friends they’ve made for life.

Welcoming sitters can mean friends for life

Since moving into their new home and welcoming in a new life, the pair had to say goodbye to the friends they once relied on to care for their two Golden Retrievers, Sophie and Stanley. 

And with Stanley blind, it was vital that the couple found a pet care solution that would meet all of their pups’ needs (TLC, sofa snuggles and fetch included, naturally).

But like many pet parents, Tom, at first, was reluctant to have people in his home that he didn’t know. And luckily, soon after discovering TrustedHousesitters, he took the leap of faith (with a little persuasion from partner Liza) and joined our pet-loving community.

And not to our surprise, the pair’s first experience with welcoming sitters to care for their Goldies was a great one. In fact, they told us, ‘CJ and his wife were fantastic, and if we could give them 6 stars, we would’.

Say goodbye to pet care favors with our sitters

After realizing that moving home didn’t have to mean giving up on vacations or the pet care their two Goldies deserve, there was no turning back for Tom and Liza. 

First connecting with a couple from Ontario to care for Sophie and Stanley, the couple knew that welcoming like-minded animal lovers to care for their Goldies was the only way forward. 

With daily updates, pictures of the pups and medication top-ups from the vet, it’s no wonder that at the end of the sit, Tom and Liza ‘felt like old friends were leaving’. 

And it wasn’t just Tom and Liza raving about their sitters - Sophie and Stanley had something to say about their newly found human pals, too.

“Aunt Dee and Uncle Patrick made our week away from mom and dad so much FUN. They took care of my brother Stanley who is blind and made sure he was always safe”

When the time came to plan their next trip, Tom and Liza told us they ‘didn’t hesitate to use TrustedHousesitters again’. Instantly drawn to Patrick and Dee who had sadly lost a Goldie of their own, it was clear that a wonderful new friendship was forming.

And after an amazing sit, the couple were entered for TrustedHousesitters' 2019 Sitter of the Year awards by Tom and Liza.

“Our experience with Patrick and Dee was so positive, we felt compelled to enter them for the TrustedHousesitters' Sitter of the Year awards”

“This has been the most enriching experience”

After finding fellow Goldie lovers in all the sitters they’d welcomed so far, it’s safe to say that Sophie and Stanley’s tails didn’t stop wagging - even while their humans were away on vacation.

“We all admit that this has been the most enriching experience for our beloved dogs and for ourselves”

And with the happiness of their two fur babies at the heart of it all, we weren’t surprised to hear that since their first sit, Patrick and Dee have looked after the pups again. 

In fact, the doggos had such a good experience with the couple (described as ‘bliss’ by Stanley) that they agreed to stay in their home while their humans enjoyed a vacation at a nearby resort. 

And with the trusting bond they’d built with their new dog sitters, Tom and Liza told us, ‘We love the fact that TrustedHousesitters has opened so many doors, and we have made friends for life’.

Hear from sitters, Patrick and Dee

Sitters Patrick and Dee were thrilled when they were picked to take care of adorable Goldies, Sophie and Stanley. After the sad passing of their own Golden Retriever, house sitting has allowed the couple to have the pet-filled adventures they’d always enjoyed.

“We've made friends for life and we have the promise of more wonderful travel and pet stays"

“Cobweb could sleep in her own bed and get to know the sitters”

With pet care favors often unrealistic and catteries a simple “no”, Tom and Chloe welcomed cat sitters and have never looked back. Explore their story here.