It has been a memorable year since I joined this platform in March 2025. I came across it by chance, and I eventually joined because I still miss my Fox Terrier who passed away decades ago. I didn’t want to face the reality of having another furry friend leave me too soon again. So, instead of giving up, I decided to help pet-sit other people’s pets—to keep a warm relationship with different lovely furry companions.

I didn’t expect to keep receiving enquiries from so many amazing pet parents, especially since I already have a long-established business and my team runs the day-to-day operations. But I still love spending time helping pets and their families. Haha—my staff always jokes that the “furry kids” seem more important to me than the company business. What touches me most is how grateful pet parents are, and how they keep sharing great appreciations after I finish pet-sitting or house-sitting for their furry kids. Those messages truly mean a lot to me.

Over this period, it has been very interesting and heartwarming to care for many different pets—from a huge-sized Malamute, to a few-month-old Golden Retriever puppy, to gorgeous cats. They are all lovely and funny in their own ways, with very different personalities. Some can be a little naughty, and some are more cool and calm, but the most beautiful part is watching them feel comfortable with me quickly. It’s also one of the reasons their parents are often surprised at how fast the bond can form.

One of my happiest stories is Ziggy the poodle. I was first invited for his care, and after that first service, his mummy placed a lot of trust in me, so she kept requesting my help again. I ended up supporting Ziggy for the whole year: I provided day care every weekday, and because his mum (who is a doctor) sometimes needed to be on duty at the hospital, I also helped by house-sitting Ziggy quite often.

Our routine at the waterfront park became a special part of our days. Ziggy loved running and playing with his most important toy - a ball. I always joke that his running speed is like my Ferrari’s speed, because he could sprint so fast to catch the ball. Even though Ziggy has real legs that aren’t the same length (due to how he was born), his spirit is truly amazing. He was so positive-minded, gave me such great energy, and his speed could even be faster than other dogs - and often faster than people watching! In the park, he always attracted attention because his playful “performance” made people laugh. And even when he was off-leash running, he would always look back at me to make sure I was still there.

When the full year finally ended, it was very sad for me that Ziggy and his mummy returned to London for good. I still miss this sweetie boy a lot. I always remember that he would come immediately to my lap as soon as he knew I had finished my work at my desk. Ziggy, I love you - I'm sure you’ll have a wonderful time with your mummy in London. You’re smart and sweet, so I’m sure there will be many people who will love to play with you as well.

Another story I truly treasure is my emotional bond with a special trio of pets from an expat married couple. Whenever they traveled, I helped house sit their three furry kids in their big home on Lantau Island more than a couple of times over the years. One of the latest times, I stayed for over three weeks to take care of their Malamute, Fufu. Building great bonding with these three kids was genuinely one of the most meaningful parts of my experience.

I was very happy to motivate Fufu (huge-sized and often reluctant to walk far) with Poppy (the Mongrel) to the beach together at the right time. Step by step, it was successful - Fufu and Poppy ran and played at the beach happily, and I could really feel how joyful the moment was for them. Every day, I made sure to walk Poppy to the beach. She was such a sweet girl, and always wanted to stay close to me—even when she was off-leash.

And their cool Persian cat, Dusty, always liked to be my bedmate. Every night, she would come next to me to sleep through the whole night. I even told her parent that we had “pillow talk” every night :)

Of course, there are many other memorable moments too - too many to list, but each one stays special in my heart. The most recent one was taking care of a newborn Golden Retriever, Saffran, who started as a puppy and is now growing into a big standard-sized GR. I also helped a few other pets with their unique personalities: a shy Shiba named Yuen Yuen, who always wanted to turn back home right after pooping (and I’m glad she became more willing to walk further over time), and her high-energy sister Chi Chi (Border Collie), who kept moving and bringing energy to every walk.

I also had the joy of pet-sitting two cats in two different families. There was Zelie, a gorgeous and playful cat who came to Hong Kong with her expat parents. She seemed like a “good performer” because she would play so much and always felt so curious - most interestingly, she finally came to my lap after her play time. Her parents were so happy after seeing the photos and videos I sent. Then there was Kingston, a shy cat who isn’t easy with strangers. I was so glad when he finally became relaxed with me and started meowing in such a lovely, sweet voice. Every visit, he couldn’t wait for his favorite Churu - he’d be very excited to get close right away. He was funny, and we became pretty good friends. He even enjoyed my massage, and in the end, he was relaxed enough to sleep with his blinky eyes before I left.

To wrap up, I can’t list too many stories here—there have been so many wonderful furry friends I’ve had the pleasure to meet, and each one is special in their own way. What I can say honestly is that I truly enjoy the small routines, the trust-building, and the emotional comfort I’m able to provide for every pet I care for. My goal is always to make them feel safe, happy, and cared for like part of the family.