It's been a fairly uneventful week, for which I'm quite grateful.  The craziness of the holidays has ended, and I'm looking forward to a more regulated schedule allowing me (and my family) a bit more sleep.

I spent the majority of my time this week with two of my clients, "Chance" and "Zoe."  They are delightful pets who were rescued from a certain death in a high-kill shelter.  They have a happy and loving home, and I couldn't be happier to be their sitter.  Zoe is a playful one who frequently breaks out of her kennel to run rampant throughout her dad's house playing with his video equipment and sharpening her incisors on her dad's DVDs and CDs.  Chance on the other hand is left trapped trying to figure out the secret of her escape.  I have nicknamed her "Houdini" which describes the level of her talent.  I'm happy for every day when I arrive to find her safe and secure in her kennel and the house in good order.  No incidents this week which means I don't have to be the bearer of surprising news to her dad.  He's a great sport, though, and loves his "kids."

The only real challenge this week was getting to their house which is quite a distance from the road and down (and up) a long and winding driveway.  I mistrusted my car's ability to ever emerge from the deepening and driving snow in the driveway after my visit, so I never made the attempt.  Instead I parked at the top of the driveway and trudged through the snow.

The decision to become a pet sitter should not be taken lightly.  It is not just a quick way to make a few easy bucks.  You have an obligation to the pets and their owner.  You are required to make that visit - come hell, high water, or high snow.  Not only is the owner depending on you but, more importantly in my mind, the pet is depending on you.  Although you can phone the owner and explain that you have a conflict, illness or predicament, you cannot phone the pet.  They won't, don't and cannot understand why their beloved and trusted friend is not there when they need you.  I have the sweat on my brow from the trudge through the snow as evidence of a very strong commitment to the fur-babies in my care.  I have the wags of happy tails and the looks of gratitude and love in those deep brown eyes which is more than compensation, so I trudge on with a smile on my face and a full heart.