We are looking for someone who can help us take care of our pets and home while we're away over the upcoming Xmas 2008 holiday. Please read on for what we are looking for and where we live. The most important reason for us looking for a housesitter is that we need someone to look after our two cats (strictly indoor cats), and two dogs while we're not here. They are all very sweet, gentle and good natured and very attached to us and we do not want to put them into a kennel/cattery situation mainly because the cats are now 11yrs old and quite 'set in their ways' at home, and the dogs (4--entire male but so gentle--& 2yrs old female you'll fall in love with), are too lovely to put through any anxiety that moving them might cause. Yes, they are our children in so many ways but we simply cannot take them to the US with us, and we must visit family we have not seen in over six years. So this trip is a big one for us emotionally. We live in a spacious town house that is detached and very comfortable, has a yard, jacuzzi and private garage. The neighborhood is quietly suburban, child friendly & safe and we have great views of the Illawarra escarpment from the back porch and upstairs. Our backyard is small but large enough for the dogs to run around in, it requires weekly mowing during the summer which is the time we require housesitting (we have a mower and the complete mowing task takes literally half an hour--from taking the mower from garage to putting it back). There will be one car space available in our enclosed garage should you have a car. We also have three push bikes you may use if you feel the need to ride. We usually take them into Wollongong's North Beach (15 mins drive from our house), then ride the bikes for a 2hr ride up to Stanwell Park. The dogs we walk every other day as they get plenty of exercise with Renee in the back yard, playing ball and learning tricks or just 'being.' The cats just need company and love to be hugged for 10 mins twice a day. Litter cleaning, poo patrols and feeding are their only other requirements. We are looking for someone reliable to housesit during the following four weeks, from 17/DEC/08 to 16/JAN/09. Sincerely and kind regards, Renee & David Ferguson