So happy to be back in beautiful British Columbia visiting one of my favorite furry pals, a senior (but young-at-heart) poodle!
Due to Covid 19, my last sit in BC was two and a half years ago. In dog years that’s a LONG time, and sadly, I could tell “my” sweet poodle had aged a bit since I last saw her. She turned 14 just before I arrived. Her hair was a bit more gray, her eyes were somewhat droopy, and she didn’t have the stamina she once had, but happily she still exhibited little bursts of energy where she’d want to play and run around with me. The energetic spurts never lasted long and usually required a nap after (for us both) but it was nice to see there was still some puppy in her 🙂
All I can hope is that she lives at least a few more years and that I can at least come up and see her one more time before she goes to doggy heaven 🙁
Duties:
– Care for 1 dog (included daily walks of 3+ miles, trips to vet and groomer, and giving pills/supplements )
– Fertilize a few outdoor plants on a weekly basis
– Spray driveway pavers for weeds
– Gather mail and receive mail deliveries
– Coordinate with contractor company doing work on the property and sent pics to home owners of the work being done
– Leave the house as spotless as the owners left it for me 🙂
Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:
– While the locals were not a fan of the cool, cloudy summer they were having, I was LOVING it! Cooler weather is ideal when caring for a black poodle who loves to go on walks but gets overheated very easily.
– Not only did I love the cooler weather this coastal area provided, but I was also a fan of the extra 45 min or so of daylight that this latitude provides!
Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:
– Not long before I arrived for the sit, the poodle had a health scare. She ingested something on one of her walks that caused a very bad reaction. When I arrived to this sit, she was still recovering from the ordeal. Poor girl was moving slowly and I could just tell by her face that she was not feeling great. So the first few days she and I just took it really easy and for the rest of the sit I let her dictate the distance and pace at which we did our daily walks. By the end of the sit she had vastly improved, but I still couldn’t help but think there were some lingering effects, such as an intermittent shudder/tremor and losing her appetite at times. Needless to say, I kept a close eye on her and kept her owners informed of any odd behavior.
