Kahina

Being raised in Alaska definitely played a role in my love of nature, the great outdoors and animals. For nearly 25 years, I had the honor and pleasure of being the human companion to three phenomenal dogs and a turtle. I have experience taking care of friends' pets while they were away from home. During a summer between my junior and senior years in college, I worked as a cattle-hand for a young couple who were members of the Black Rodeo Circuit. I've had some amazing experiences looking after animals.

It was in 2021 when I learned about using housesitting as a tool for traveling affordably. (Many thanks to Stephanie Perry for this gem.) Taking Stephanie's House Sitters School and applying the insights she provided allowed me to secure my first house sit on TrustedHousesitters within three days of creating my profile.

Between December 2021 and June 2022, I dealt with the failing health and subsequent passings of my two dogs. After the second one passed away, I refocused on housesitting as a way to find comfort, joy and healing in caring for others' animal family like I did my own for so many years. I secured numerous housesits in my local commuting area where I could work remotely and build up my experience and reviews.

In 2023, after securing enough reviews, I decided to take a Career Break and find some international housesits. My work paid off because I spent two months in Europe housesitting in Scotland, England, and Germany. Accommodation for seven of the eight weeks was covered through housesitting.

Two of my clients in Scotland asked if I would be able to return the following year. So, in the fall of 2024, I traveled back to Europe for those two repeat clients along with additional housesits in other locations in Scotland, England, Hungary and Switzerland. A new client from 2024 has asked me to return in 2025.

I will say that finding a niche has truly helped me. I specialize in large dogs, senior dogs, dogs that may have some anxiety, and multiple pets. It's truly been a game changer!

Feel free to reach out to me via the Xpat App! (https://www.xpatinc.com/xpat-app)