I just wanted to let you know that I have moved to Kerikeri. I unfortunately won't be taking any more bookings at this time.

Animals make a house a home. Animals have always been a part of my life as far as I can remember. It was a struggle when my family moved to New Zealand from South Africa in 2011, we brought our Golden Retriever Max with us. It was the longest four months while he was in quarantine. I will never forget the look on his face when we went to pick him up, I don’t believe his smile could have gotten any bigger. When he saw grass for the first time in months he was like a puppy again bouncing like a springbok and rolling in the grass. It wasn’t long after that we adopted my cat Alex and my Golden Retriever Emily. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our Max in 2017 and our Emily in 2021.

I started pet sitting in 2019 for friends, when their Cavoodle Bella had puppies. I’ve looked after Bella and Waffles since Waffles was a puppy and every year since. My pet sitting expanded by word of mouth and soon Trixie (Huntaway), Kasha (Border Collie), Beau (Golden Retriever), Tilly, Rosey, Meela Yo-yo (Cats), Zazu and Cookie (Budgies) and Dexter and Riley (Staffies) have become family.

Our family has grown exponentially over the years, particularly since we moved to a more rural setting. We have four Pilgrim Geese (Lucy, Luke, Lilly and Leo), seven Silver Apple-yard Ducks (Roger, Ruby, Anna, Elsa, Chloe, Jasper and Bo), four Indian Ringneck Parakeets (Cy, Blu, Weasley and Granger), Lyndsey our Labrador cross Huntaway, who we fostered for Saving Hope, we fell hopelessly in love with her and adopted her, and in 2022 and we have welcomed our fourth Golden Retriever, Buzz. I live with family, there are three of us living in a large house on a lifestyle block with lots of animals.

I run my own cake business, Simply Kates Cakes from home. When I get orders I usually get them a week before they are due. March is my busiest month. I'll be getting into markets on weekends close to home. My calendar will be updated accordingly and as often as possible.

I am more than happy to stay with your pets when you go out of town for a few days. When I look after your pets while you're on holiday, I'm always there. The only time I'll leave your home is to take your dog/dogs for their morning and evening walks up to 30 - 45 minutes per walk. I can walk two dogs at a time. I always walk with water for your dog and myself. I have experience in dog training, puppy training, and hand-rearing birds and ducklings. I offer grooming, baths and I can administer oral medications. Your pets come first when I'm house sitting or when I visit them during the day to take them for walks, trips to the beach or a trip to Animates for a bath.

Unfortunately, I'm unable to look after your dog at my house, my Lyndsey has some anxiety issues and doesn't interact well with other dogs.

If you have birds in a free standing cage I am more than happy to look after them at my house. My birds would love having some new friends to chat to. My birds live in our sunroom, with a 180 view of our farm. I have OCD when it comes to cleaning, I clean their rooms (cages) everyday and do an intensive clean once a week. During summer they come out in the evenings when it's cooler, I close all the doors, latch the windows and put on my fans to circulate cool air. I sit with them either reading or sketching. During winter they are out constantly. My birds love having Harry Potter read to them, giving hairdos and playing peek-a-boo. I have a cat, but he won't bother your birds. He will be curious for a couple days, but he won't jump on their cage. My Lyndsey is very protective of her birds and will chase him off, if necessary. I can look after any breed of bird, however I have more experience with Indian Ringneck Parakeets and Budgies. Birds are the smallest pet I am able to look after.

In 2018 I was in a car accident which resulted in a mild concussion and other injuries, since then I’ve preferred being around animals to people. I found animals more accepting and understanding when I struggled to speak. There was no pity or judgement in their eyes. I didn’t need to prove myself to them. They are my world and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.

References are available.