Hi, my name is Rachel Waterstradt and My Pet Friends is my pet sitting venture.  I am a resident of Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania.  In my life before pet sitting I was a Paralegal at Linowes and Blocher, LLP for 8 years.  I graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies in 1998.  I am married to a computer network engineer and we have two young children and several animals.  We have two dogs, nine cats, one guinea pig and a hamster. 

I have always owned pets and always wanted to work with animals.  When I first started college I started with veterinary medicine in mind.  I followed this track for the first two years.  In my third year I learned that math is really not my strong point and had to find something I could work with.  I started on the law track and did really well with it so decided to become a paralegal.  I had a great job and enjoyed the people I worked with.   Now I'm married and have two kids and kept accumulating more animals so something had to be done!  My husband and I decided I would quit my job and become a pet sitter.  Taking care of other peoples pets would fill my need to love on animals all day and hence I would not need to get any more of them.  Also, it would allow me to spend more time with my kids.  So far my pet sitting venture has worked out well, I have great clients and lots of fur kids to love on every day.

I have spent time volunteering for Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue, Days End Horse Rescue, Montgomery County Humane Society and Jefferson Parish SPCA.  I am currently volunteering at the York County SPCA and at Friendship Elementary School, although most of my volunteer time is going toward the school right now.

NEW FOR 2008

I was just certified in January 2008 by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

Check out my new pet bakery!!  I have expanded my business to include the sale of home made pet treats.  These are great treats made from human grade products and tested on my own pets and other willing test subjects (clients).

Summer is getting busy and I might need some help.........

Meet Wade Harper (my Dad)

Since the pet sitting business is really picking up this summer I thought I should have an independent contractor to help me out.  So, meet my Dad, Wade Harper, independent contractor to My Pet Friends.  Wade spent most of his life in Goodbee, Louisiana.  He started out in the Navy, then worked for the Post Office and ended up being a self-employed house painter for the past 30 years.  Wade is a "Hurricane Katrina" victim and has lived with me since August 30, 2005.  He has picked up a few house painting jobs but mostly acts as our live-in baby sitter and yard keeper.  Wade is also an animal lover, six of our nine cats are his and came from Louisiana with him.  He has owned cats and dogs most of his life.  Wade also has experience with cows, horses, pigs and chickens. 

Currently I use Wade as my emergency back up in case I become too ill to pet sit or sustain some injury.  I have also used him (with client's consent) in times when someone might need a last minute pet sit and I have been unavailable.  He is also my personal pet sitter, he takes care of all my animals when I am away.

My intentions are to "try out" an independent contractor.  You may always request that only I or he be your sitter.  I am at a point now where you may call and a particular week might be booked.  Instead of turning people away, I thought having my Dad help me out would be a better route.

Your satisfaction is my goal.  Please feel free to click on the feedback link at the upper left portion of the screen to leave anonymous feedback.  I welcome feedback about my web site, my ideas and my service.