Crystal's Pet Care — Dog Boarding & Housesitting, Walnut Creek

01

Trailhead — who’s watching your dog

A licensed therapist, at home, and genuinely glad you’re here.

Hello! I’m Crystal — a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and for the past thirteen years, a dedicated house- and pet-sitter for local families I’ve worked with in varying capacities since attending graduate school at Saint Mary’s. My work as a therapist means I bring a calm, structured presence into every stay: the same steadiness I offer my clients, offered to your dog.

I live in Alma Park, which means daily walks and neighborhood strolls are simply part of how we spend the day. I’ve been offering pet care through Rover since moving to this park in 2018, alongside direct client relationships I’d already been building for nearly a decade before then.

Aerial view of Alma Park and the neighborhood

The neighborhood, from above.

02

Stop two — the depth behind the care

200+ dogs and cats — and quite a bit more than that.

My care isn’t limited to dogs and cats. I’ve also looked after 200+ chickens and fish, tended aquaponics setups and gardens, maintained chicken coops, and cared for caged animals like bunnies, guinea pigs, and turtles. One standout role involved independently managing a goldendoodle’s full care for more than half of a year — supplies, training, grooming, vet care, and air travel — while tracking and invoicing every related expense along the way.

Beyond routine boarding and housesitting, my pet care work has included assisting three breeders with puppy and kitten litters; post-operative recovery care following veterinary surgeries; support through acupuncture and hydrotherapy appointments; and comfort care during pet hospice, euthanasia, and cremation — the harder moments that call for a steady, experienced hand.

This sits alongside years of related trust-based work: nannying and childcare (including: up to two-week continuous care during family travel, event childcare, destination childcare) as well as family assistance (including: home organization, holiday decorating and un-decorating, Christmas shopping for an entire family, staging for appraisals and real estate shoots, coordination and oversight of service appointments, confidential tasks involving sensitive legal and financial information). If you have an unconventional pet or an unconventional request, I’m glad to talk through what a special arrangement could look like. NDAs welcome, if that’s something you’d prefer to have in place.

Communication

96% response rate to initial inquiries
Usually responds to initial inquiries in under an hour
Scheduling confirmations
Detailed daily narrative updates
100% bookings with thoughtfully composed photo updates

Skills

13 years of pet care experience
Senior & special needs dog and cat experience
Oral & injected medication administration
First aid & CPR
Can provide daily exercise
Can provide training reinforcement

03

Stop three — rates & what’s included

Boarding and housesitting, priced plainly.

Booking directly means no platform fees on either end — just a straightforward rate for the same attentive care.

Boarding

From

$275 / night

For one dog

Stay at my home
One dog at a time, unless from the same family
My bed & furniture are theirs
Daily park visits & walks
Daily photo updates throughout the stay

Housesitting

From

$325 / night

For one dog/cat

I stay at your home
Mail, plants, trash & routine pet care
All specified security protocols followed
Daily photo updates throughout the stay
Home left exactly as you left it

Housesitting service area Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, and surrounding areas.

Add-ons & fees Additional dog, same family: $100 per extra dog per night, for both boarding and housesitting.
Additional cat: $50 per extra cat per night, for housesitting.
Drop-off & pick-up transport: $150 per round trip.

Booking policy A payment card on file is required to secure your booking. Cancellations made with less than 7 days’ advance notice are non-refundable.

04

Stop four — safety & trust

Handled carefully, every time.

I never take the trust placed in me lightly. A few specifics on how I keep every stay safe:

Meet & greetPreferred before booking, to make sure it’s a good fit for everyone. A phone/video intro beforehand is optional, and can substitute for an in-person meeting if you’re not local.

One dog at a timeWhile boarding, I only accept one dog at a time (unless from the same family) to keep things safe and fun for everyone.

Written care instructionsPrinted instructions preferred over texts or shared docs — medications, allergies, habits, and any quirks worth knowing.

Daily updatesPhotos and check-ins throughout the stay, so you always know how things are going.

Leashed, alwaysEven if it’s not your usual practice at home, leashes stay on in unfenced outdoor areas.

Crate-trained, onlyComfortable crating dogs that are already crate-trained, using their own crates.

Senior & special needsComfortable with complex, higher-touch care.

Medication administrationComfortable with both oral and injected medications.

Emergency-readyCertified in pet first aid, with a first aid app on hand for quick guidance if minutes count.

CPR, chest-shape differentiatedCertified in pet CPR, trained to adjust technique by chest shape and weight.

Vet access on filePlease have vet info and payment on file at your vet’s office, plus pet insurance if applicable, for access to care if ever needed.

Constant careIf abnormally intensive care is needed, additional compensation will be required and determined by the specifics of the situation. For twice the original nightly rate, I will be able to provide constant care without stepping away.

05

Stop five — a look at the gallery

Moments worth framing.

Snapshots from around the neighborhood and recent stays.

A hillside view, tall grass and sunshine

06

Stop six — from repeat pet parents

What clients are saying.

“Crystal is hands down the best dog sitter we’ve ever had! From the moment we dropped off our two Pomeranians, we could tell they were in the most loving and capable hands. She went above and beyond to make sure they were happy, comfortable, and cared for like her own. Every single day, she sent us long, thoughtful updates along with adorable photos, giving us a glimpse into their day. She shared details about their walks, playtime, meals, and even their little quirks and moods. It was so reassuring to see how much love and attention she poured into their care. I could tell my dogs felt completely at home with her, they were always relaxed, happy, and clearly adored her energy! On top of that, Crystal is such a kind and warm person. Her apartment is in a perfect location, right next to beautiful Alma Park in Walnut Creek, where she took them on frequent walks. I’ve honestly never seen my dogs so happy while we were away. It meant the world to us knowing they were not just being looked after but truly loved. If you’re looking for a sitter who will treat your pets like family, Crystal is the one. We are beyond grateful for her and wouldn’t hesitate to book with her again!”

— Maite R., Boarding

“Crystal was an AMAZING dog sitter for our pup! We had scheduled travel during the summer and had originally planned to board our dog. But surprise, he hurt his leg and needed surgery. We needed a dogsitter who could be attentive and meet the unique needs of a post-surgerical dog. Crystal was exactly the right person. She loved and cared for our dog; asked lots of questions to make sure she completely understood the specific things our dog would need; then provided thorough daily updates and pictures during his stay. She really went above and beyond to make sure he was well taken care of. I knew he was in good hands and would recommend her to anyone!”

— Megan R., Boarding

“Crystal was wonderful! We (both human and pup) were very anxious, and Crystal was so patient and understanding. She gave our very nervous dog so much love and attention; he became more comfortable with her than I ever thought he would. She sent videos and detailed updates throughout our dog's stay, which greatly put us at ease. She even gave us great training tips. I would highly recommend Crystal to anyone.”

— Nicole K., Boarding

“Crystal was amazing! She took great care of our cat with tons of updates and pictures, which was so special to get while being away. She also took thorough care of our home and was truly wonderful throughout the process. We really appreciated everything she did and attention to every detail with our home and pet.”

— Edward C., Housesitting

“Crystal has been ‘in my dogs’ family’ for years now. We book her months in advance because we don’t want anyone but her. While we are away we still feel connected to our babies because Crystal is very communicative with paragraphs of detail accompanied by professional level photos of our pups. Crystal is the best!”

— Kellie H., Housesitting

“Crystal did an amazing job looking after our Frenchie! I would have zero hesitation in recommending her services and will certainly use her again. Crystal is courteous, professional, sincere and was flexible when our plans changed in a pinch. Our dog has some specific health issues that require careful care and Crystal was very patient, empathetic and took all necessary precautions to ensure our guy had a safe and comfortable stay. Thank you Crystal!”

— Andy W., Boarding

07

Stop seven — planning ahead

Availability at a glance

A quick view of my open and unavailable days — so you can see whether your dates line up before reaching out.

SuMoTuWeThFrSa

AvailableUnavailable

Updated periodically — confirm dates in your inquiry.

A note on cancellations

Because I care for one household’s pets at a time, holding your dates means turning other families away. A card on file secures your reservation — you’re not charged to book, and the stay itself is paid by cash/check, as always. The card is only stored in case of a late cancellation:

7+ days out — no charge.
Within 7 days — full rate.

In fairness to every family, these terms apply to all cancellations regardless of the reason.

A calm home for your dog, right on the trail.