Therese Kopiwoda, your pet sitter

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the animal lover in my family. As a kid, I was the one who brought home the strays, rescued the neighborhood birds, rabbits, and other small animals who were injured or for some other reason, abandoned. I’ve trained dogs, taught others to train their dogs, worked in an animal hospital, and worked for an aquarium shop, where I did aquarium maintenance in homes and businesses. I have also rescued and found loving homes for numerous pets. At various times I've had parakeets, fish, guinea pigs, mice, turtles, and frogs, as well as dogs and cats. Today I share my home with a lynx point Siamese cat named Tequila, a border collie named Archie, and an Australian Shepherd mix named Lydia. All three of them had a tough life before they came here…where they now have a home forever.

I have quite a diverse background in the working world. In addition to my pet-related experience, I’ve been a children's entertainer and entertainment agent, an office manager, and most recently, held positions doing editorial and internet work (research, community building, web design), which I now do on a freelance basis. In spite of the type of work I've done professionally, one constant has remained for as long as I can remember. And that's my love of animals. I've always enjoyed the company of pets and working with animals, but the inspiration for LucyGirl Pet Sitting came from my best friend Lucy.

...and just who is LucyGirl?

LucyGirl Puppy Mutt was my best friend, my constant companion, for 13 years.We found each other when she was just 6 weeks old and it was obvious at first sight that we were meant to be together. In an instant she had my heart. She was gentle and sweet with a touch of attitude and independence. This little girl had spunk and smarts that reflected in her eyes and in the way she investigated the far reaches of the yard, while her siblings huddled together for safety.

Lucy was a die-hard Frisbee player and at the mere mention
of the word, she was ready to go, day or night, rain or shine. Her unique Lucy jump became famous...well, famous with family and friends anyway. She would jump 4 feet high, do a fancy mid-air twist and catch the Frisbee with amazing ease and grace. Except when she was chasing her Frisbee, Lucy was most often found at my side.

When she was eleven years old Lucy developed pancreatitis.
As a result, it was necessary for her to be checked on and fed at least 3 times a day. Because I was working a full time job, it was sometimes difficult for me to get away and come home to check on her. I'm fortunate though, that my Mother lives close by and was more than happy to visit Lucy during the day. With her help, Lucy never went more than 4 hours by herself and I felt comfortable knowing she was being cared for by someone who loved her. After nearly 2 years though, Lucy's battle with pancreatitis came to an end and she died in my arms. Although she isn't here with me like she was for those 13 years, her spirit lives on in my heart.

It's in Lucy's memory that I offer my services to you. My goal is to provide you with peace of mind knowing your pet is safe in the hands of someone who cares, whether it’s while you’re on vacation, working long hours, or have a pet with special needs, like Lucy.