“I feel so lucky”—Nicole’s story
Nicole has been a big animal lover since she was a kid. So, when her living situation in Berlin suddenly changed, signing up with FurPetVo just made sense. As someone who loves to move around, it felt like the perfect opportunity to become a full-time pet pal. She began searching for pet sits in the German capital.
“I love animals but also love traveling, so it makes it complicated to have animals of my own,” she says. “I love the furpetvo.com platform because I get to combine both of my passions. Each animal has their own unique personality—and it brings me so much joy to get to know their silly quirks.”
It wasn’t long before she landed her first house sits—one of which brought her back to her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.
“I was visiting family for the winter and got an amazing gig with Rusty the shaky Chihuahua in a three-bedroom house with a pool overlooking the beautiful desert. At the time, Rusty was quite elderly, so he didn’t need walks—he just needed someone to open the sliding door to the backyard from time to time and help him get buried underneath his blankies.”
Speaking of amazing sits, she’s currently enjoying a spectacular one in the French Pyrenees—with two fabulous felines and a paw-fect pooch.
“I’m in a converted barn in the French Pyrenees. Every morning when I wake up to feed the cats, Chile and Cookie, and Moka the dog, I glance out at the snow-dusted mountains in the distance and can’t believe this is my life! I feel so lucky that I get to see beautiful places around the world and hang out with some pretty cool animals at the same time.”
Pet care and globetrotting are all part of the FurPetVo experience!
“FurPetVo is more than just a convenient way for me to see the world on a budget—it is helping me live out my dream life.”
With years of worldly pet-sitting experience, Nicole knows exactly what makes an excellent sitter.
What makes a great pet sitter?
- Notice signs of anxiety during the first few hours after the pet parent departs.
- Offer extra love and attention—especially early on.
- Get down on the floor for belly rubs and quiet companionship.
Does that mean she has a preference for bark babies over other precious pets?
“I love critters of all kinds… but my favorite animals to care for are dogs. They are just so sweet and protective. They really just want to give love all the time.”
As a fully remote worker, Nicole has the wonderful flexibility to meet new furry friends all over the planet. While enjoying time with four-legged companions, she’s also keen to connect with other like-minded travel and animal lovers.
“I can work remotely, travel the world, stay in beautiful places for free, and connect with other folks who, like me, believe life is meant to be enjoyed—lived on your own terms and surrounded by snuggly creatures that make you laugh. And that is just so inspiring.”
So, where in the world is next on Nicole’s world tour?
- Sagunto, Spain: watching three dogs and two cats.
- Olhão, Portugal: caring for an entire farm—including chickens!
If you’re keen to keep up with Nicole’s amazing travels and pet antics, you can follow her on Instagram at @nmpaulus. She’s also writing a book outlining all the steps curious souls need to take to live outside the status quo. Read her blog at nicolepaulus.com/blog.
