We have owned cats for almost 30 years, and with that we have had experience with many pet/house sitting services. We were very recently compelled to change pet sitters on short notice, and on the recommendation of our vet we tried While Away. We never knew that a pet sitting service could be like this! We can't say enough - from the first communication and interaction with Nicole in terms of assessing our needs and matching us to a specific care giver, to actually having that care giver (Amanda) look after our home and precious "kids" (D. and S.) over the course of a recent extended vacation. The extraordinary mix of professionalism, care, and compassion exhibited by While Away and Amanda is more than we ever imagined possible. What probably strikes us most is that Amanda obviously cares on a very personal level - not just about watering, feeding, and littering, but more importantly engaging with D. and S. and getting to know and understand them as the special little souls that they are. At one point she was described to us as a "cat whisperer", and of that we have no doubt. From the first introductory visit it was clear that she had a connection we hadn't seen with other pet sitters, particularly with S., who is extremely wary (actually hostile!) of strangers. Combine all of that with timely and fulsome visits, daily reporting, an extra complimentary visit (at her insistence) after a somewhat harrowing and stressful day with our alarm system going off, and we can't imagine wanting anyone else to look after D. and S. going forward. In our post-vacation review with Nicole at While Away, we said that we got the sense that Amanda cared as much about D. and S. as we do. Leaving loved pets behind is always a stressful proposition, but we now know that the "kids" are in the best of care with While Away and Amanda. read more

We had a fantastic experience relying on While Away during a two week vacation. Both of our cats require a lot of love and attention, and after reviewing the website and calling for additional information, we were confident that they would be well cared for. The application and payment process was fairly straight-forward, and everyone we were in contact with (phone/email/text) was extremely responsive and helpful (Shout out to Nicole! She was awesome throughout the entire process, even checking up after our trip). When we meet our caregiver, Cheryl, she instantly put us at ease. It was readily apparent how much she cares about animals, and she was super adaptable to any requests/instructions we had. While we were gone, she updated us every day via text, often providing photos of our critters hanging out or eating. Additionally, she let us know when she got the mail and sent photos whenever she cleaned the litter boxes. It was so nice not having to worry about the state of our cats for our entire trip. When we returned, both cats seemed happy and healthy. Usually they don't eat much when we travel and lose a bit of weight, so this was a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend While Away for anyone looking for the most stress-free experience for both you and your pets. We will definitely be calling them for any future trips. read more

We have used While Away twice when our original pet sitter was not able to do it at the last minute. They are always friendly, and willing to help, and work hard to find the best fit for your pet and house situation. We have come home to a relaxed dog, clean house, and peace of mind. When we first met Gail to see if she and Simon (our dog) would be a fit, I knew right away she would be an awesome pet sitter. Simon took to her right away, which let us know he trusted her, which as a rescue dog being in five homes before us, he does not trust easily. Being a dog with special needs, she was able to adapt her routine to Simon's easily. She sent regular pictures and updates, and we did not worry at all while we were away on vacation. Gail took Simon for good walks, which was much appreciated as Beagles need exercise. In addition, our home was spotless when we came home, which was not necessary, however appreciated very much. She also watered our plants and flowers, and gave a written report of all that occurred while we were away, and also took in our mail and newspapers. You will not regret having Gail as a pet sitter, she is a lovely person and your pets will adore her. While Away will ease your mind while on vacation, they are the best home and pet sitter!! read more

I can't express enough our gratitude and thanks to Nicole at While Away for helping us out on very short notice. We were unable to find a pet sitter to cover our entire vacation period but Nicole made it happen and put us in touch with Jessica. Jessica did a wonderful job looking after our home and our two cats. We were quite concerned about our twenty year-old cat, Sylvester, who struggles with a thyroid condition and renal failure, but Jessica was very diligent in following our guidelines for his food requirements and medication. As per our request, she sent photos and updates every day. We were impressed by her diligence and overall professionalism, and her genuine care for our pets really set our minds at ease. This was our first experience using While Away Pet Service and we were extremely satisfied. We would not hesitate to recommend both While Away and Jessica to anyone in need of a trustworthy house/pet sitter. Thank you. GD . read more

I have used While Away 3 times and have been so happy with their service and care for our dog. Our dog, PJ has diabetes and needs an insulin shot twice a day and I know he is in good hands when I leave. We met with Emile before we left to go over everything at the house as well as to show her how to give the insulin shot to PJ. She made me very comfortable with leaving him with her as she came across and trustworthy, kind and loving to animals. We had Emile come and stay at the house with PJ over the Thanksgiving weekend and I loved how I received a great picture of PJ and update of his adventures every day. She spoiled and cared for him as though he was her dog. He loved it!!! When we came home the house was tidy and clean and the her sheets and towels where in the wash and most importantly PJ had been well taken care of. I would highly recommend While Away House Sitters & Pet Care to care for your pets. They are the BEST!!! read more

I hired While Away to come over four times and feed my 9 year old high needs fat cat while I was away for a couple days. He had never stayed home alone before so I was a little bit nervous about it. Right from the beginning the service was awesome. I was emailed a contract and once I filled it out, I was set up with my cat sitter (Angelique). She came over a week before I left to meet my cat and learn about his daily routine. She was friendly, attentive and immediately formed a bond with fatty who doesn't really like people. She texted me an update every time she came to visit him. When I got home, my house was clean (I think she even swept up kitty litter) and my cat was happy and wondering where his new best friend was. He didn't even miss me. It is a bit pricey but worth it if you have a high needs cat that you can't just leave food out for. Will definitely be using them again in the future. read more

My husband and I would like to let you know how extremely pleased with are with the care and service that Tia provided for our cats while we were away. From the moment we met Tia when she came to pick of the key, we knew she was reliable, professional and caring. During our trip we greatly appreciated the regular email updates and the photos of our cats. Tia's detailed messages put our minds at ease that all was well with the cats and our home. Not only did she feed the cats and take care of the litter, she also gave them some one-on-one time. We arrived home to a clean house (normally there is lots of cat fur on the floor) and a hand written letter from Tia. Now that's service! We can't thank you enough for the amazing care you offered. read more

Very nervous first time users of a pet sitting company. Our experience with While Away was nothing short of wonderful. Right from the start we felt comfortable with the professional approach of Nicole the manager, which included prompt responses to our inquiries. Our fur baby could not have been better taken care of by Jackie our sitter. Jackie sent us updates daily, including pics and video. We came home to a perfectly tidy home and an extremely well taken care of doggie. Also got a full report of everything that happened with our doggie too! We will definitely be using this company again without hesitation. We are now confident that any caregiver they employ will be of high standards. read more

We recently hired Bryan from While Away to look after our cat and dog and would highly recommend the service. The initial contact and booking process was very easy and thorough. We were able to meet Bryan in advance and give him a detailed tour of our home. While we were away, Bryan was in regular contact with us, sending us updates and photographs. He went above and beyond, taking our dog to the dog park multiple times per day, watering the plants, cleaning the litter boxes, vacuuming and washing the linens. We are so happy to have found a service with people that we trust to take care of our pets and home. read more

We started working with While Away last year and have had nothing but great experiences! All of our caregivers (Nahla, Tia and Bryan) have been outstanding. We travel often and have six animals so it is great to know our pets are in very capable hands as all of the caretakers go above and beyond to make us feel at ease while we are traveling. While Away also has a great operations team who are easy to work with, very friendly and responsive (24/7)! I would definitely recommend While Away to anyone in need of a pet sitter. It is a great alternative to sending your fur baby to a kennel. read more

I've used While Away three times now and they always do an excellent job! The caregivers at While Away really have a strong understanding of the reassurance that pet owners are looking for. My dog has separation anxiety and needs a little bit of extra care when I leave him alone. Irene at While Away provided a great service, she went above and beyond to make sure my dog was healthy and happy, and I got consistent updates to give me peace of mind during my trip. If you're looking for folks who will give as much love to your pet as you do, I would strongly recommend While Away. read more

I have two wonderful rescue kitties that need a lot of love but are still quite timid. As a result, I am careful about pet and home sitters when I go away. Emillie was fantastic! She was kind and caring with the girls - they hardly looked up when I returned! Emillie sent lots of photos and updates so that I could relax knowing that she was caring for them. The house, including the bedding, was clean and the food and water bowls were "topped up". Big hugs for Emillie and While Away! read more

While Away is an extremely professional pet care organization - they have all bases covered for ensuring you are comfortable leaving your pets with someone while you're gone! Our sitter emailed us photos and updates during each visit, being sure to make note and send photos of everything we asked to be completed, as well as all of the things we didn't think of, like house temperature and locked doors! The peace of mind is invaluable and we will definitely be using While Away Again! read more

We went on our honeymoon and were gone for 3 weeks with a 7 month old puppy at home. Our family member was unable to make it home for lunch visits so we used While Away for a daily visit. They were absolutely terrific. The dog was ecstatic to have a new friend and the daily visit significantly decreased her anxiety with being home alone all work day. Nicole and her team were attentive and extremely responsive. I would recommend them to anyone and actually have. read more

We used While Away for the first time to care care for our home, two cats and fish during a recent holiday. Tia was attentive, dependable and cared for our cats as if they were her own. We loved the photos and regular updates Tia sent, and appreciated her attention to detail. After two weeks, we arrived home to happy and healthy cats, fish and a clean house. I highly recommend While Away and will definitely use their services in the future!! read more

We have been using While Away for a couple months now for our Pup Spartacus! He's a very large breed and it takes a special person to look after him as he can be pretty aloof. Jessica has been amazing and he loved her from the start! We couldn't be happier with the care she has given him! She is always on time, gives lots of love and is very respectful of our home! read more

Our Pet Sitter Jackie was above and beyond exceptional! Her care was most thoughtful! She kept in touch often, gave updates and sent pics/videos. We knew our pup was in good hands. He had issues while we were away with a food change and Jackie was so caring and thoughtful and helped him navigate the change. Thank you!!!!! read more

This was our first time using While Away and we were very happy with the care that Bryan gave to our dog and cat. He sent us many texts with photos of both our animals during our time away. Our critters were very relaxed and content when we returned home and the house was left spotless. read more

I need a service right away and Nicole from While Away was on it and I had someone booked with in the five days. Cheryl was excellent with the Cuba and Chanel and it was great having someone check in our house while we were away. I would defiantly use While Away again! read more