Today, I want to dedicate this blog entry to Saint, a four-year-old, super energetic, hyper puppy who gave me quite a challenge during his one-day stay at our doggy daycare. From the moment he arrived, I could tell he was bursting with excitement. A new environment, new people, and four other playful pups—it was almost too much for him to contain! His energy was boundless, and I have to admit, I had my hands full trying to keep him calm, even with a leash.
Adding to the challenge, Reno’s typically dry weather took a turn for the worse. The morning was drenched in rain, and by the afternoon, we were hit with a full-on snowstorm, making it feel like winter had returned. The unpredictable weather meant I couldn’t just let Saint run wild with the smaller pups as much as he would have loved to. But luckily, there was a brief break before noon, and the sky even tricked us into believing it was clearing up. I seized the moment and let everyone loose in the backyard. They had an absolute blast! Saint, with his strength and speed, became the center of attention, and even though the little ones seemed to gang up on him, he held his own like a champ.
Back inside, Saint continued to challenge me as I tried to focus on some work-related tasks. Normally, my blog highlights the fun-filled adventures of all the dogs in our little doggy resort. However, today, I need to be honest—dogs like Saint, with his size, age, and energy level, are not usually the ones I take in. The only reason I made an exception was because I genuinely wanted to help his parent, Jae, who was going through a much tougher challenge—moving homes. I know firsthand how stressful that process can be, especially in Reno’s increasingly expensive and demanding environment.
From the moment I met Jae during our meet-and-greet, I could tell she was a responsible, independent, and incredibly kind person who was simply trying to give Saint a stress-free day amidst the chaos. And I was not wrong. Jae turned out to be one of the nicest pet parents I’ve met on my Rover/dog-sitting journey. Lately, I had been feeling the weight of burnout, dealing with some (not all) ungrateful dog parents who didn’t appreciate the extra care I provided for their pups or struggling with dogs who were difficult to manage due to being spoiled. I treat every dog that walks through my door as if they were my own fur babies, sometimes even better. My wife often questions whether all the time and effort I put in is truly worth it.
But then, there are people like Jae. She didn’t take anything for granted. Her heartfelt appreciation, especially her kind review on Rover, melted my heart and reminded me why I do what I do. Even after I insisted that she didn’t need to bring us anything before she picked up Saint (she asked to bring dinner for us), she still surprised us with mooncakes and a fortune plant, gifts that we will cherish for a long time.
I sincerely wish there were more pet parents, and just people in general, like Jae—kind, loving, and thoughtful. She turned a challenging day into a meaningful one, and I’ll always be happy to help her, even if her little pup is a handful! Saint may have given me a run for my money, but thanks to Jae, I ended the day feeling inspired and grateful. This experience reaffirmed why I opened my home and heart to pups in need, because sometimes, it’s not just about the dogs. It’s about the incredible people you meet along the way.
Leave a Reply