Ash

Hello all! We are currently not booking any requests for homestays (boarding) through Fall and Winter as we are figuring out our plans.

Apologies for this temporary inconvenience! We'll post updated availability in late September.

Greetings! My name is Ash. I moved to Belgium from the United States just this winter, to join my Belgian spouse. We are in our 30s, and are both working from home for the foreseeable future. This means I get to spend my days with my pup Billie Jean, exploring the great outdoors and of course, snuggling inside to watch football these days!

I have been an animal lover from day one, growing up with cats and a dog. Ten years ago I began fostering dogs in Albuquerque, New Mexico where I lived at the time. In those ten years I fostered 15 different dogs, and helped them find permanent homes. I've worked on a farm in Costa Rica caring for horses, nigerian goats, a rambunctious pack of dogs, and an amazing tiny jungle cat named Solomon. In Denver, Colorado I volunteered with an animal-assisted therapy center caring for horses, goats, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats. I've helped to raise chickens, and interned with a birds-of-prey rehabilitation center near Portland, Maine, where I worked with owls, hawks, songbirds, vultures, porcupines, opposums, and baby squirrels. I haven't met an animal I didn't adore. Besides mosquitoes, if I'm being honest.

We like to adventure to dog parks and hike around the outskirts of Leuven, with our trusty car and mud-proof back seat cover. We're also excellent at staying low-key and snuggling for those who prefer a slower pace of life. Having a car makes it quick and easy to zoom over to house visits and be rapidly responsive in case of any emergency.

If you are considering boarding with us, Billie Jean gets along easiest with dogs smaller than herself, but her best friend in the US was a black lab twice her size, so meet-and-greets can always be arranged to make sure your dog seems like they would feel comfortable in our home. We live in a large, ground floor apartment, with many doors to open or close, depending on the needs of different pets. They could have their own bedroom if it is helpful! We have a big grassy backyard and a fenced-in patio to lounge in when the weather isn't so hot. My husband also works from home and adores animals, and I have seen him looking at the cat shelter websites lately so we may soon add a member to our family! All pets are welcome to sleep in our bed, the sofa, the armchair, any of the furniture, but we'll also abide by your rules if they are different.

I am patient and comfortable in working with different dog dynamics and general pet anxieties. I will ensure that your pet is feeling as safe and secure as is possible while you are away, whether this is on a walk, seeking out and giving love and attention to shy kitties in their own homes (or not, if instructed!), or creating a cozy space for them as part of the family in our home. We provide doggy daycare, dog boarding, and I do dog walking and home visits.

I speak English, and my husband speaks English, Flemish, and French.

Thank you!