Francine has been our dog walker for just under a year and we are truly lucky to have found her! She is everything that we needed in a great dog walker:
*Reliable: Francine walked our dog every weekday afternoon for 11 months and we never once had to worry about her cancelling or changing plans. Moreover, there were numerous occasions where Francine accommodated our schedule changes or last minute requests for extra walks. The claim on her website - that she is there for your pet virtually 365 days of the year - is not an exaggeration!
*Knowledgeable: Dogs’ safety is the most important thing for Francine. Our dog does not get along with all other dogs, but Francine makes sure to take precautions like introducing new dogs to her on neutral ground, giving her her own space when she travels in the car, and walking her with older, calmer dogs. Her knowledge of dog behavior has given us peace of mind that our dog is in good hands with her.
*Caring: Our dog loves Francine! Francine really fulfills our dog’s needs by providing her with exercise, discipline, controlled socialization, and plenty of affection. You can just tell how much she truly loves animals.
In summary, I would wholeheartedly recommend Francine as a dog walker to any dog owner. We are so lucky to have found someone whom we could trust and whom our dog loves as much as Francine. We will miss her now that we are moving away!
Chris Mah, Mountain View
“Aunt Effie is a blessing. She's WONDERFUL with Bentley. He's a rescue with a possibly abusive past, and a classic (and so sometimes ornery) adult male Basset, and so Bentley's not always the easiest dog to deal with. And yet, he has never given his Aunt Effie an iota of trouble, and whenever I see the two of them meet, it's clear that he absolutely adores her (and vice versa). She's a kind, intuitive soul, and just sets Bentley right at ease.
Aunt Effie is also completely reliable. She never ever misses a day, shows up late, mixes up any instructions about feeding, medicine, etc... And she's often willing to do additional hours, if I need her to come back in the evening for a dinnertime walk, or come over on the weekend. She's very flexible, and totally dependable.
It's Aunt Effie and her services that make it possible for me to dote on Bentley to the degree I know he deserves, while still maintaining a busy work schedule myself. I know he's in good hands, and needn't worry about him all during my day. Aunt Effie is truly indispensable, to me, and to my beloved Basset Hound Bentley!”
Jessica, Palo Alto
“Francine from Aunt Effie’s Pet Sitting has been sitting for my cats for more than 3 years. She does a great job! She always takes time to pet and play with them while I am away, as well as to feed them. She will also put out the trash and change the lighting.
I travel a lot for work, often at the last minute, and she is very easy to reach and completely reliable. She is pretty much always available and happy to schedule things way ahead of time or at the last minute.”
Dr. Buckwalter, Palo Alto
"Francine from Aunt Effie's Pet Sitting has been my "chicken sitter" for seven years. I don't know what I would do without her.
I found her on Craig's List when I was looking for someone to watch my chickens. Not everyone is willing to take care of farm animals, but Francine was happy to help and willing to learn about my birds. She has cared for brand new chicks, healthy adults and even nursed a very sick chicken back to health, putting a feeding tube down the chicken's throat twice a day. She saved her life.
She is completely professional, reliable, caring, conscientious and generally just a nice person. Knowing she is back at home, caring for my pets while I'm out of town is thoroughly comforting. I would not have the peace of mind I do without Francine. I highly recommend Aunt Effie's Pet Sitting Service to anyone looking for reliable service."
G.S. in Palo Alto