This is in memoriam of the pets we lost in 2023.
There is no way you can be an animal lover and not get very attached to pets you care for while housesitting. In the 19 months we spent housesitting full-time, we met and grew to love so very many pets.
We are so grateful to the homeowners .
We full-time travelled around the world for 19 months through travel exchange using platforms like TrustedHousesitters. This let us arrange accommodation in exchange for pet and home care. You do not have to commit to full-time to enjoy this way of travel. Many sitters, like us now, use the platform to arrange for their yearly vacation.
Molly in Tideswell
One of our very few repeat sits was in the beautiful picturesque village of Tideswell in the English Peak District. We spent three weeks with them the first time, housesitting and getting attached to pets. The pets in question were 2 adorable elderly King Charles Cavalier spaniels and two gorgeous kitty cats. Molly was one of those King Charles Cavaliers. She was a little wonky on her hind legs, but she still loved to bark at anything and nothing (especially the wind) when we went on walks. She loved pottering around the garden, and she LOVED snuggling next to her partner in crime, Bertie, on the sofa.
Molly was still alive when we came again a little over a year later for our repeat sit. We were actually more worried about Bertie who had had a stroke and was staggering around a little drunkenly. But poor Molly’s back legs just weren’t working like they were supposed to, and we didn’t really get her out and about to bark at the wind again.
It was with great sadness that we learned of her passing a couple of weeks ago. We know life can be tough when things don’t work any more, and we are glad to know that she is not in any pain any more. We will definitely miss her goofy little face if we come back again. Amazingly, her buddy Bertie, has improved a great deal since his stroke and seems well back on his feet!
Petey in Massachusetts
The oldest cat we have ever sat for was a gentleman by the name of Petey outside Boston, Massachusetts. He was nearing 20 years old when we met him. He chose his owners. When he was very young, he sauntered up to them at their house and never left. He used to go for walks with his owners in the woods behind their house.
When we looked after him last April he spent most his day in his lovely warm window seat, but he still enjoyed a saunter around the garden – supervised. It had to be supervised, because by then, he was completely deaf. The deafness made him very unaware of how loud his chats with us were, but that was ok. He loved to announce his poops and that he was hungry at 4 am! We know he is sorely missed by his cat mom and cat dad!
Gyzmo in the South of France
In February and March last year, we housesat in little village in the beautiful South of France. We were sitting for three animals. One of the two dogs was this very very special terrier mix: Gyzmo.
Gyz loved walks, catching balls and absolutely LOVED walnuts! She was a rescue from a walnut farm in Cyprus and knew her way around a walnut shell!
I mean, just look at her beautiful button eyes! we spent a month with this gorgeous lady, and we were absolutely heartbroken to learn of her passing later in the year. I still get emotional when I look at her pictures. She was a very very sweet dog.
Goodbye sweet things
I wanted to give tribute to these cherished companions who passed the rainbow bridge in 2023.
We loved them all and we grieve with their owners who must miss them very much.
It was a true privilege and joy to have met them.
