Melissa p.
Austin, Texas, United States
About Melissa p.
53 years old
|
Senior Consultant in Technology - Education Services
Very responsible and reliable Freebirds ready to care for your home and beloved pets!
Some would call my husband and I empty nesters, but I prefer to think of us as Freebirds - a more positive take that aptly describes this next phase of our life together. And what better way for us to spread our wings than to be temporary caretakers for your beloved home and/or pets while traveling a bit too!
My husband and I have spent ~30 years in corporate America, working for large technology and retail companies as well as consultancies and CPA firms, working our way up from entry-level jobs to becoming inspiring and compassionate leaders. We have also volunteered for several non-profits over the years, including performing arts and arts education, children's and family services, and our local no-kill animal shelter.
I had lots of pets while growing up -- dogs, cats, hermit crabs, gerbils, fish (salt and fresh water), and rabbits -- and have been around lots of other types of pets including hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, iguanas, spiders and even hedgehogs. I've always enjoyed visiting, playing with and taking care of many types of animals throughout my life. Unfortunately, we can't take care of cats since my husband is allergic. For the last seven years, we have donated to and volunteered time to our local no-kill animal shelter, helping to care for the kittens and cats (me) and dogs (my husband).
For the last 10 years, my husband has been buying, renovating and renting homes. He is very handy and able to do most day-to-day repairs, painting, and carpentry. We appreciate how important it is to know that your home is in good hands while you are away and I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed. We keep a close eye on things and are very tidy. We also believe in open lines of communication in case anything comes up...we'll always work with you to problem solve if needed.
We are both US citizens, have US passports and enjoy traveling for extended periods of time. I am a seasoned traveler both professionally and personally, with time in over 25 countries across Europe (England, Ireland, Italy, France, Slovakia), Africa (Morocco), Asia (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Philippines), Central / South America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil) and the Caribbean. My husband adds southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa) and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) to that list. Outside of travel, I enjoy organic and landscape
My travel companions
Hiten, 57 years old, Consultant, Spouse / Partner
Language(s) spoken
English
Compliments received
Community opinion
Austin, United States - November 2021
Top-notch! Mature, communicative, warm, and loving to our pups. We can't recommend them highly enough.
Austin, United States - November 2021
Melissa and Hiten are top of the mark. Our dogs still look for them (a few days after they finished caring for them). They went above and beyond maintaining the house. The house is better than we left it for Melissa and Hiten's stay here. Our neighbors tell us how much they enjoyed meeting them. You can't ask for or find anyone better!
Austin, United States - October 2021
Melissa and Hiten stayed in our home with our two pups for a week in October. We received daily updates and pictures. They demonstrated extraordinary kindness, courtesy, and warmth in their actions and words. They comforted our nervous dogs through a thunderstorm, cuddling them close to relieve anxiety. The house was spotless, complete with decorative touches and milk and bananas when we returned. Our dogs whined at the door of the room where they stayed; they missed Melissa and Hiten. We miss them too and hope they return for another stay.