Clive and Alice Cooper
  • Home
  • Why Us?
  • Why we do it
  • Who are we?
  • Our limitations
  • References
  • What next?
  • Availability
  • Contact

Terrier & Chihuahua dogs and an elderly Russian Blue cat in Mesa, Arizona USA

1/9/2019

 

Testimonial from Mary Beth & Tim

Next sit: May - September 2021 - cancelled due to Covid 19 travel restrictions
Next sit: May - September 2020 - cancelled due to Covid 19 travel restrictions

5th sit: June - August 2019
4th sit: July & August 2017
3rd sit: July & August 2016
2nd sit: July & August 2015
1st sit: May 2015
Picture
We are pleased to provide a reference for Clive and Alice Cooper.      

This past summer marks the fourth time in five years that Clive and Ali have been our house sitters for three months each summer. From the very beginning they provided absolutely the highest quality care for our home and pets that we could expect.  They are reliable, resourceful people who can find their way through every challenge encountered in housesitting.

Through the years they have coped gracefully with car troubles, desert monsoons, pool equipment breakdowns, veterinary emergencies, a rattlesnake in the yard, and whatever else has been thrown at them.  This last summer, our ageing pets created extraordinary demands. 

Our very old cat declined suddenly and had to be put down after multiple veterinary consults.  We absolutely trusted their judgment and appreciated their sharing information from the veterinary office quickly and accurately.  They provided video updates which helped us see that it was time to make the tough decision, and they treated our kitty with tender loving care throughout.
Picture
Picture
Shortly after this sad event, Clive saw our elderly dog falter and faint.  They rushed her to the emergency vet, where she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.  Their quick action literally saved her life – only 30% of dogs survive acute heart failure.  They made multiple veterinary visits, sometimes recording the consultation to keep us in the loop.  They picked up prescriptions, worked out a thrice daily medication routine, and made sure that Maya got more frequent breaks outside because of the meds.  She was here to greet us and happy when we arrived home, thanks to them. 

We know that they did all of the same things we would have done, with just as much tenderness.  And somehow in the middle of all of this they put the finishing touches on our rescue chihuahua’s potty training, which had been a very slow process.  We are so grateful for their patience and caring relationship with our pets, no matter how trying.

Our home and car are always in tip top shape when we return, and they appreciate and enjoy our warm weather, sunshine, and desert environment.

We have referred them to others, creating a bit of competition for their services in Arizona.  We introduced them to many of our friends and they have met others in the area on their own.  They are such fun, sociable, and interesting people, and such great raconteurs, that they are much in demand during their time in Mesa. Our only disappointment is that we are always rushing away or returning home so don’t get to see as much of them as we’d like! 

Clive and Ali are fine people who have become cherished friends as well as house sitters.  We feel so fortunate that we found them and that they have been able and willing to return year after year.  We hope to continue that tradition!                                                           
1st sit Testimonial - September 2015
Mary Beth used to run a small dog-minding business from home.  During our time here we have looked after a number of her regular clients.  Click below to read the feedback from one of the dog owners.
Cindy's Testimonial - September 2016
94,73,63,48,47

Beagle & Bichon Frise dogs in Mesa, Arizona, USA

17/9/2018

 

Testimonial from Lee & Amy

Picture
​This was our first experience with Trusted House Sitters - or ANY house sitter company, for that matter - and we were nervous about leaving our 12 year old beagle Chesstur, his pal Dillon, an 8 year old Bichon mix, and our Arizona home with complete strangers during the hottest 3 months of the year. 

Enter Clive and Ali Cooper, and looking back, we know we found the BEST house sitters we could have possibly found!

Clive & Ali saw our post on the Trusted Housesitters website, and responded to us via e-mail.  We already had received multiple inquiries for our house sit, but Clive's comments and explanation of why they wanted to come to our house struck a chord with us... they had spent the 3 prior summers in Mesa, AZ, already knew what they were in for weather-wise, knew the area, and most importantly, had a strong desire to return to the area during the intense summer heat to look after our dogs.  After the initial e-mail, followed by a Skype interview, it was mutually agreed to proceed with Clive and Ali Cooper!

Our hopes and expectations of the service provided by Clive & Ali were not only met... they were exceeded at every turn. 

Dillon developed kidney stones and Chesstur suffered an ear infection during our summer away.  Trips to the Vet and medicines were administered in stride, reassuring phone calls, texts and e-mails were received from Clive and Ali, and all the while they assured us everything would be fine...and it was!  Our swimming pool pump suffered a failure - Clive caught it prior to any serious damage occurring , and coordinated repairs with our pool maintenance company.  Car license tabs came up for renewal, and Clive took our car to the AZ Emission Test Facility to get our tabs renewed... no problem!  Anything and everything that came up involving our dogs or our home, Clive and Ali communicated instantly to us, and handled exactly how we would have done it.

We received frequent photos of Chesstur & Dillon via text along with hilarious video clips of the dogs (some with amazing special effects) throughout our time away, which was also greatly reassuring.  At the end of it all, we were completely and totally satisfied with this very special couple for house sitting our dogs and home, and hope to coordinate their services next summer. 

It's no surprise to us that Clive and Ali perform multiple repeat house and pet sits... they are simply the best!
Picture
Picture
Picture
88

Terrier dog & a Russian Blue cat (+ 2 guest cats) in Mesa, Arizona, USA

6/9/2017

 

Testimonial from Mary Beth & Tim

5th sit: June - August 2019
4th sit: July & August 2017

3rd sit: July & August 2016
2nd sit: July & August 2015
1st sit: May 2015
This was the fourth time that Mary Beth and Tim invited us to sit for them.  In addition to the usual house pets, Mary Beth's son's cats came to stay for four weeks during our sit.

The following quote is extracted from an email we received at the end of our most recent sit.
​Thank you, again, for all the ways you go above and beyond...as house sitters...and now as friends.
Click here to read Mary Beth & Tim's full reference from 2015
Picture
Mary Beth runs a small dog-minding business from home.  During our time here we look after a number of her regular clients.
Read a testimonial from one of Mary Beth's clients here
46,47,62,72

3 rescue dogs in Mesa, Arizona, USA

5/9/2016

 
Testimonial from Cindy
Cindy is a day client of Mary Beth & Tim, the home owners in Mesa where we were house sitting.  We visit with her dogs every week day during this and subsequent sits.
4th sit: July & August 2017
3rd sit: July & August 2016
2nd sit: July & August 2015
1st sit: May 2015
Picture
Picture
Picture
Who does that?  Only Clive and Ali, that’s who!

I first met Clive and Ali, the dog whispers, two years ago when they came to AZ to house/pet sit for my local pet sitters Mary Beth and Tim.  (see link to their testimonial below)

​My first impression was that Clive and Ali love all animals, so I was delighted when they volunteered to continue the day visits to my 3 dogs when my local sitter was on vacation.

On the second day, they arrived at my house and found my elderly husky No Se’ splayed out on the tile floor and unable to right herself.  They immediately called me and when I arrived, 45 minutes later, I found them sitting on the floor with her, talking to her and calming her so that she would not further injure herself.  They helped me get her to her feet, gently coaxing her to allow us to move her.  Later that month, my beloved No Se’ passed over the rainbow bridge, Clive and Ali sent me a beautiful note, expressing their condolences and acknowledging the very special nature of my special girl.  

Who does that?  Only Clive and Ali, that’s who!

Later that summer Clive and Ali returned to AZ for a longer house sit.  They again asked if they could come by and sit my pets.  They were surprised when they came by to visit with me; the pack now included a new rescue that I was having difficulty integrating into my pack. Frankly, I was afraid to work with them on my own due to the volatile nature of their past interactions.  Not only did Clive and Ali fall in love “with my boisterous one”, their affectionate name for him, but they also offered to come by every other night to help me work to unite my pack.  Without hesitation they continued to do that for over a month, until they departed AZ.  I looked forward to the visit of my dog whisperers, not only for the progress we made with the pack, but also because they regaled me with entertaining stories about their incredible life adventures.

Who does that?  Clive and Ali, that’s who!

Fast forward to the summer of 2016, the pack and I anxiously awaited Clive and Ali’s arrival! They immediately volunteered to come by daily to sit the pack.  This time my pack included a new little one, a rescue described as a feral dog.  Little Scarlett really is a little sweetheart, but that personality was buried deep and only seen by me.  By the time they left AZ Scarlett was able to take treats from them and very close to allowing Ali to actually pet her.  With their care and love Scarlett made great progress, learning to accept strangers.  

Who does that?  Only Clive and Ali, that’s who!

I cannot say enough about the level of trust, admiration and respect I have for Clive and Ali.  They are always welcome in my home and by my pack…not an easy feat.  

I can recommend them without hesitation and believe that anyone lucky enough to meet them will have similar stories to share.  
Click here to see Mary Beth & Tim's reference for Clive & Ali

Golden Retriever & Havanese dogs, 2 tabby cats and an Angelfish on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

16/8/2014

 

Testimonial from Jamey & Karen

Picture
Picture
Of the 11 house sitters we've had Clive and Ali are, without a doubt, the best!

We have a large secluded property, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a fish in our household and from the outset we were impressed with Clive and Ali's professional approach; they travelled from their current house sit on another part of the island for a pre-sit meeting and from the questions they asked, the experiences they shared and their immediate engagement with our pets it was obvious that our home was going to be in good hands.  So much so that when the opportunity to extend our vacation dates arose we were able to do so without any concerns and were very grateful to Clive and Ali for altering their own travel plans to accommodate us.

We loved the videos they made of our animals and sent to us via YouTube while we were away - it was a great touch, especially appreciated by our children.  Our 18-yr old daughter had to travel home a day earlier than the rest of the family and thanks to the videos she felt confident in spending a day/night with Clive and Ali. She quickly relaxed in their kind and generous company before dropping them off at the ferry terminal the next day en-route to pick us up.

When we got home our greeting was joyful but we could tell that, although pleased to see us, all of the animals had been so well looked after that their greeting was not pitiful in any way.  Even our geriatric fish seemed surprisingly sprightly!  I took the dogs out for a run the next morning and was delighted to find that they were not only in fantastic shape but they also looked beautiful.  

The house looked great too; when I was out with the dogs my husband went from room to room admiring their care and when he spoke with the tenant in our adjacent property he too was full of praise for Clive and Ali.

We are truly thankful for Clive and Ali's hard work with our furry, finny loved ones and our possessions.

Our son graduates from high school in three years and we have already started the planning for this next extended family vacation.  Clive and Ali are an integral part of our plan and we are very happy that they have already agreed to sit for us!

In summary

We can honestly say that Clive and Ali are exceptional - they do more than just care for your home and pets - they care about them.
34

Border Collie on Oahu Island, Hawaii, USA

20/6/2014

 

Testimonial from Denise & Henrik

Picture
After a less than stellar experience with a house sitter last year, my husband was VERY hesitant about having another stranger taking care of our pup and home while we were gone for 2 weeks.  

I will say now that we have been incredibly spoiled by Clive and Ali and we feel we won't ever get lucky enough again to have a couple so wonderful to care for our dog and home.
What was great:
  • Communication before the dates was quick and easy.  I never felt that they would back out or leave us hanging.
  • Knowledge of usual expectations.  They knew more about what I wanted than I did. Really refreshing.

What was FANTASTIC:
  • Communication during the time we were gone.  They made video updates for us and sent them to us while we were away!  Seriously!!!  It took so much worry off our shoulders…you have no idea.
  • Cleanliness.  They left the house in better shape than we gave it to them.  And we cleaned the daylights out of the house before we left.  Our place isn't easy to keep clean either!  Especially with our dog and the beach and all the dirt that comes in.  
  • Conversation.  Really nice to chat with them.  Very friendly and open. Approachable and sincere.

What was above and beyond any expectation:
  • The professionalism and seriousness in which they took care of our dog.  I can't stress this enough - they look at pet sitting as a very serious responsibility and I felt that they lavished our dog with genuine affection.  Not fake, or "for us."  Our girl clearly took to them, was comfortable with them and didn't show signs of any stress at all when we returned.  They followed her schedule to a "T" and really concentrated on her as the focus of their stay.  Not to "visit" or play "tourist."  It was so different from any other pet sitter we've ever had.  

All this being said, we would PAY Clive and Ali to watch our girl.  They are worth it by far and if you have the opportunity to have them house/pet sit for you, consider yourself more than just lucky.  Consider it a privilege.  Mahalo and Aloha!

Denise and Henrik Van Rzyin
33

Brittany Spaniel & Shepherd mix on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

6/4/2014

 

Testimonial from Toni & Frank

Picture
It's difficult to express our appreciation for Clive and Ali Cooper.

We organized for them to come to Vancouver Island and House/Pet sit for us for three months.  

Their references were glowing and a Skype interview went off grandly.  With our trip still 9 months away, we did hope that they wouldn't loose interest in coming to our part of the world.  To their great credit, they regularly updated us as to their whereabouts as they housesat through Europe and England prior to their trip to Canada. This regular communication put any fears to rest, and we felt that we got to know the both of them and their plans a little better. 

The day arrived and we picked them up at the Airport. We would have less than 24 hours to “hand over” our house and pets.  While we were excited about our trip, we felt some nervousness.  But not to worry.  Even though they were both jet lagged, their enthusiasm for their chosen lifestyle was unmistakable.  Their professionalism was evident as they asked pertinent questions about the house and pet, videotaped many of the instructions that we were providing them (in order to review later) and interacted with our two dogs in a way that can only be described as “dog friendly”.

So off we went, feeling confident, but still a little concerned that all would be well.  All concerns were put to rest within our first week away, as they sent us a video link demonstration of how they were feeding the dogs (many additives and meds) and harnessing them for their walks.  They asked us to confirm that they were doing everything the way that we wanted and the dogs were used to.  The “non verbals” in the video were also important to us, as the dogs were obviously relaxed and comfortable with both Clive and Ali.  All said, a great match.
Video and email updates continued every few weeks throughout our trip. The video's provided us with a way to see and continue to feel comfortable with both how the dogs and the house were being taken care of.  Clive and Ali captured our dogs so well on video (both sleeping and at play) that these are some of the best footage we have of either of them!

At one point, there was a health concern with our older dog.  Clive and Ali emailed and texted us to let us know and a quick Skype call that same day ensured that we were all on the same page. Fortunately all was (and remains well).  We appreciated their call and concern and the fact they would connect. 

On our return home, we found the two dogs to be happy and healthy and the house to be clean and well cared for.  It was evident that both dogs missed Clive and Ali's company after they left. We know that if our dogs could talk, they would give Clive and Ali a glowing reference (and ask them to stay longer).

In retrospect (and during our trip) we recognized that we were extremely lucky to have this couple house and pet sit for us.  They are wonderful, caring people who love pets and are careful and respectful of other peoples' homes and possessions. Their approach to housecaring and pet sitting is  professional in every way. 

We have no hesitance in recommending them to you and in fact have asked if they are available to come back in the future already. 

Please feel free to connect with either of us, we'd love to speak with you about our experience. You can contact us at ftmacdonald@gmail.com or on our cell at 778 426-0622.

Sincerely
Toni & Frank MacDonald
32

2 Yellow Labradors & a Chihuahua in Santa Monica, California, USA

5/8/2011

 
Testimonial from Diane & Steve
Picture
We really needed someone to look after our two labs and Chihuahua whilst we were in England. 

We couldn't have wished for nicer people who cared for our animals as if they were their own. One of our dogs walked around the house looking for them for a week after they left!

It was such a relief to know the house and the dogs were in such capable hands. 

Clive and Ali will be house-sitting and dog-caring for us again next year...we are really looking forward to seeing them again.

7

    References

    We have outstanding testimonials from all of our house sits. 

    All of the comments can be verified as genuine & contact details for home owners are available on request.

    Check availability
    Contact us

    Search by Category

    All
    Australia
    Axolotl
    Birds
    Canada
    Cats
    Cats & Dogs
    Chickens
    Dogs
    Dogs: Big
    Dogs: Medium
    Dogs: Puppy
    Dogs: Show
    Dogs: Small
    Dogs: Working
    Ducks
    Fish
    Guinea Pigs
    Hamster
    Insects
    Multiple Animals
    North America
    Pet Free: Home Care Only
    Portugal
    Poultry
    Rabbit
    Repeat Booking
    Reptiles
    Sheep
    Spain
    Split Sit
    Totroise
    UK
    USA

    Search by date

    September 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    September 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    April 2011
    January 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.