One of the things I love most about pet care is that no two households are ever the same. This week was a perfect example of that.

While their humans headed off to Florida for a wedding, I had the privilege of looking after a small but wonderfully varied crew: Benji the dog, Dasher, the cat, a chameleon called Lizza, and a fish. For four days, I stopped by twice a day, making sure everyone was fed, comfortable, calm, and cared for in their own familiar space.

And honestly? It was a joy.

For a long time, I was the person leaving town. Packing a bag, double-checking flight times, and hoping everything at home would be okay while I was gone. I’ve travelled extensively over the years, both for work and for my personal life, and no matter how exciting the destination was, there was always that quiet knot in my stomach when it came time to leave my pets behind. Anyone who loves animals knows that feeling.