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Flyer the Retriever: Golden in more ways than one - Deborah & Russell’s story

TrustedHousesitters blog writer Lydia Paladina
Lydia Paladina
20 March 20253 min read

When Deborah and Russell first collected their then 2-month-old puppy, Flyer, they knew he was an outgoing and loveable pup. However, little did they know, he would go on to steal the hearts of everyone he met.

With such a loveable pupper, Deborah and Russell needed to find the right person to care for their pup when they were away. Luckily, a friend of theirs recommended TrustedHousesitters…

“Previously we had to hire someone to housesit and care for Flyer. This was often difficult and expensive. TrustedHousesitters was the perfect fit not only for us but also for Flyer. The sitters LOVE him!”

TrustedHousesitters was the perfect fit for both us and Flyer

Discovering the right pet care solution 

Flyer lives along the Colombia River in Portland, Oregon. Known for its idyllic and peaceful surroundings, Flyer loves nothing more than sitting on the dock watching the wildlife and being around people. Especially, his family! So, when his pet parents booked a vacation, they wanted to find the right person to provide Flyer with the TLC he needed.

“We would like to take Flyer with us, but it isn’t always possible. After numerous attempts to find a reputable dog/house sitter, a friend suggested TrustedHousesitters. At first, we were reluctant but we needed to find someone we could trust. So, I [Deborah] researched the site and decided to create a listing. The process was easy. Within the first day, we had numerous applications from sitters.” 

From reluctance to relief - finding the perfect sitter

To ensure they and Flyer were happy with their sitter, the three of them organized a meet-and-greet Zoom call. Turns out, it was Flyer who decided for everyone…

“When we opened the Zoom meeting on the computer, Flyer jumped up, licked the screen, and barked. We knew then this couple would be perfect. And they were.”

With Flyer’s strong recommendation, the couple booked their first pet sitters and, since then, have welcomed many more sitters into their beautiful home.

“Since that initial booking, there have been numerous couples and individuals who have taken care of Flyer and loved him. He runs to greet each visitor. They love it and Flyer is no longer sad when his mom and dad go away for a short time. He knows they will come back, but in the meantime, he can play with his new friends from TrustedHousesitters!”

“This was the perfect option for us”

With Flyer’s seal (or lick) of approval, the couple hasn’t looked back and now only use TrustedHousesitters to find pet care for their precious pooch.

“We were surprised! This was the perfect option for us. We have a home many people might feel like it is a vacation in and of itself. Flyer is a bonus! We only use TrustedHousesitters now. Every one of our reviews has been 5 stars.”


Thank you, Deborah, Russell, and (of course) Flyer for sharing your heartwarming story with us!

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If you’re also looking for an alternative to dog boarding, check out our blog post about the pros and cons of both dog sitting and boarding. To hear more inspiring member stories, check out Diana & Paul’s incredible story of using TrustedHousesitters to enable their IVF treatment goals. Or, Deb & Scott’s story where they discovered the perfect pet sitter for their kindhearted therapy dog, Maisie.

Our pet-loving community is full of inspiring stories. Got a tale to tell?

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