Clive and Alice Cooper
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Sprocker dog, 2 Burmese cats & a tortoise in Exmouth, Devon, UK

20/11/2016

 
Testimonial from Lawrence & Marianne
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We have known Clive and Ali for many years, and have followed their housesitting adventures around the world, but this was the first time they have sat for us.

They are super reliable, very organised, and love the animals they look after. We have two cats, a Spaniel and a tortoise, and they were all equally pampered (even the tortoise!). Bolly, the Spaniel, has never had so much fun, running on the beach, and swimming in the sea. We know this because Clive and Ali send us photos, and videos, of the house and animals while we are away to reassure us that all is well. This makes so much difference when you leave your pets behind for several weeks.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Clive and Ali for house and pet sitting, and we hope that they might be available for us next time we plan a long trip away.
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White Labrador, 2 Jack Russell Terriers (1 puppy) & chickens in Bramshill, Hampshire, UK

14/11/2016

 

Testimonial from Lucy & Shaun

2nd sit: November 2016 - split sit
1st sit: November/December 2015
Extract from post sit email
​"So many thanks once again for looking after everything so well during our visit to USA. The dogs look so well and obviously had a great time with you."
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52, 65
Click here for full 2015 testimonial

Black Labrador in Windlesham, Surrey, UK

1/3/2016

 
Testimonial from Hannah & David

1st sit: February/March 2016 (Split sit)
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​Clive and Ali came to stay in our home for the month of February whilst we were abroad.

We were attracted by their professional background, international experience, and their evident love of animals.  

These attributes were confirmed during a face to face meeting with them two months before they were due to come.  

​Using their computer skills they created a detailed spread sheet of how the house works and our Labrador Max’s daily routine, all very impressive.

Whilst we were away they entertained us with “a day in the Life of Max” on You Tube, expertly done.  They also sent pictures and videos of Max and reports on what was happening at home.

We were so relaxed knowing they were in charge while we were away and on our return we found the house and Max in first class condition.

In summary, we were impressed with their professionalism as house sitters and we would not hesitate to recommend them. We hope they will be back again before too long.

56, 67, 80

Spanish Shepherd dog & Jack Russell Terrier in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, UK

31/1/2016

 

Testimonial from Moira & John

4th Sit: January 2016 (split sit)
3rd Sit: September 2015
2nd Sit: January 2015 (split sit)
1st Sit: August/September 2012
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This was our 4th time sitting for Moira and John. 

We only ever ask for written testimonials twice and Moira and John have not only done so but they have also recommended us to their friends.

​In addition, they have also been kind enough to endorse their references on several occasions for other prospective house sits.

You can read their earlier testimonials by clicking on the buttons below.
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79, 54, 48, 40, 21 

2nd sit testimonial - January 2015
1st sit testimonial August/September 2012

Wheaten Terrier dog in Romsey, Hampshire, UK

21/4/2015

 

Testimonial from Laura & Tim

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Clive and Ali contacted our family to register their interest in caring for our Dog, Tommy and came to visit us at home.  

Immediately, we considered that they were very experienced, trustworthy and animal orientated.  

They were very easy to communicate with made planning our care of our dog and home while away much easier than we anticipated.

While we were away they kept in contact with email and made a wonderful video of our dog and his daily routine which is now on our Facebook page proudly there to be watched, It was most amusing.  

Our dog seemed to love both Clive and Ali and when we skyped them he sat proudly in the middle of them an gave them both a kiss each.  He was groomed beautifully, had learned lots of new tricks and very settled upon our  return, obviously due to the care and love he received. 

Clive took Tommy on lots of walks and we would like to thank both of them for this level of care as it did ease any concerns and enables us to relax while away from home.

The house looked better than how I left it, with 3 children, tidying up before holiday is so hard, upon our return, it was immaculate and very welcoming to return to.

We would recommend them to anyone who needs their house and or animals cared for, we would have them back in an instant.
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Buddy the cat in Ascot, Berkshire, UK

12/4/2015

 

Testimonial from Emma & Russ

A huge thanks to Clive and Ali for looking after our cat Buddy, while we sunned ourselves in Mexico. This was the first time we've used house sitters, after using a cattery and cat feeding service in the past, and both Clive and Ali were superb. 

After making initial contact we arranged a Skype call and after just a few minutes we knew that our house, and especially Buddy, would be in good hands. 

They are very calm, practical and friendly and you feel they could easily deal with any crisis should it arise. We were able to head off on holiday without the usual worries about whether he would be ok for the first time in a while and were even happier when we received emails and photos showing all was well. 

The only problem was that Buddy appeared to be giving them more love and attention than he gives us and didn't seem too keen to have us back either! 

We have already sung their praises to our friends and would highly recommend Clive and Ali to anyone. We are tempted to book our next holiday around their availability!

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1 dog, 2 cats & 7 sheep in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK

21/3/2015

 
Testimonial from Rachel, Heather & Polly

2nd Sit: February/March 2015
1st Sit:  December 2014

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Clive and Alice are ***** FIVE STAR ***** house sitters. 

We have nothing but praise and gratitude and admiration for the way they looked after our homes and animals (1 dog, 2 cats and 7 sheep), and the care and attention the animals received.

Ours was a rather unusual situation - 3 ladies, 3 dwellings, 10 pets, all within the same private property and grounds.  


Clive and Alice sat for us on two occasions this winter; first of all for the month of December 2014 when all three of us went on holiday together and again for six weeks in February/March 2015 when just two of us were away.

If you, like us, were nervous about having someone you don't know looking after your house and animals, put that fear away right now.  Clive and Alice are completely responsible and reliable people who treated our home with the utmost care and respect. While they were in our house, everyone who visited felt very welcome, including our dog walking friends and neighbours.

A personal word from Rachel

Perhaps one of the things I was most anxious about was leaving my sheep throughout the winter months.  I needn’t have worried as Clive and Ali took to their shepherding duties with the same practical and caring approach as they did with all of their other wards.  When I left for the second time in February, I did so happily in the safe knowledge that my ewes and lambs were once again in capable hands.

The biggest compliment though comes from my cat Muffin - a very discerning judge of people, who usually steers a wide berth of most humans.  I was therefore surprised to receive reports from Polly telling me all about Muffin spending time each evening lazing on Clive’s lap by the fire and supping the milk straight out of Ali’s cereal bowl - before she had a chance to finish it herself!  It was delightful to see it for myself as well in one of Clive and Ali's regular video updates.
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A personal word from Polly

Clive and Ali are a delightful couple with a great sense of humour and a real affinity with animals, which I was able to witness first-hand during their second spell at our home.

My cat - Plum, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after they had been looking after her - thought I was a very poor substitute for them and is looking forward to their next visit!
A personal word from Heather

I can’t thank Clive and Ali enough for loving my dog Pipit so wonderfully.  She has had a holiday of a life time while I have been away and is, I am sure, beside herself with disappointment now they have gone. 

I am so so happy that they came to us and that I left her there being happily spoilt beyond measure.
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Finally, again from all three of us

We so much appreciated how they kept us in touch with reports and photos . The videos are a sheer delight and great fun.  There Is no doubt they really love looking after animals and are completely dedicated to what they do . We have already recommended them to several friends.

Don't hesitate to book them if you need house sitters, your animals are in for a treat and you are in for the most worry free time away you have ever had.   We sincerely hope they are available next time we go away. They look after our animals better than we do ourselves!
38, 42, 55, 70

Jack Russell Terrier & 3-legged cat in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, UK

13/2/2015

 

Testimonial from Cathy & Alan (split sit)

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A huge thanks to Clive and Ali for kindly agreeing to split up while we went off sunning it in South Africa.  

They were recommended by good friends of ours who were, co-incidentally, going away almost at the same time. They generously suggested that, if Clive and Ali agreed, we could share their services.  Thankfully they said yes, with Ali coming ahead to look after our little Jack Russell and three legged cat. Clive joined her for a few days before he had to leave to go on to their next house sit.

Clive and Ali were an absolute godsend!

We managed to meet up before we left, so could explain everything about the house, pets etc, which was good for both sides.  Everything ran smoothly and we were able to go away and know that we did not need to worry about anything.  

Ali kept in touch by email just enough so that we didn’t worry, sending pictures of happy animals.  It was lovely to be greeted by Ali’s smiling face after a long overnight flight,  and warm house and milk in the fridge.  

I would be very happy to recommend them to anyone wanting a relaxed holiday knowing their pets and home are being looked after so well.  I am trying to work out how we could go away again in October, so that they could come back, but if not,  I am sure we will be trying to go to South Africa again next February. 
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Spanish Shepherd Dog & Jack Russell Terrier in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, UK

31/1/2015

 

Testimonial from Moira & John

2nd Sit: January 2015 (split sit)
1st Sit: August/September 2012
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​Clive and Ali came and house sat for us for the second time in January for 3 weeks.  Our two dogs greeted them enthusiastically and obviously remembered them.  We returned to the most beautifully cleaned house and dogs who were content, happy and beautifully cleaned too.

Clive and Ali kept in touch with us while we were away and it was lovely to see a video of our dogs playing in the park with them via e-mail.

​They coped with a blocked drain without fuss only informing us on our return.  It’s so nice to return to a warm house with the dogs in it and some basic essentials after a 24 hour journey knowing you can just relax rather than dash around.

We have recommended Clive and Ali to friends as they are extremely professional and care very much about their job.  They are currently undertaking a sit at some friends locally.  They are returning to us in September for another four weeks and we would have no hesitation in recommending them.

If you’re new to house sitters, give it a try with Clive and Ali as they understand what works about housesitting.  It is no exaggeration to say that we can allow ourselves to travel for longer periods knowing that all is taken care of at home.

Clive and Ali have our contact details and we’re more than willing to speak to or e-mail replies to people who want references.

79, 54, 48, 40, 21

Click here to read our 2012 testimonial for Clive & Ali

German Shepherd & Miniature Schnauzer in Colden Common, Hampshire, UK

23/2/2013

 
Testimonial from Julie & Richard
2nd sit: February 2013
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1st sit: August 2011

2nd sit reference

This is the second reference we have written for Clive and Ali and we are pleased to do so.

Last time Clive sat for us because as a couple they were already booked when we approached them.  Luckily the other sit was in England and (with the other home owner's agreement) they were able to split up.  We couldn't believe it when the same happened this time around! 

Fortunately for us, Clive and Ali's existing booking was with another family that they had sat for previously and they agreed to "share" so we were delighted that Ali was able to help out.

All the good things we said in our original testimonial regarding Clive as a sitter apply to Ali too - with the added bonus that she even did my ironing!

We have our fingers crossed that in 2014 we'll manage to have both of them come to us at the same time!  We know now that we have to book early to avoid disappointment!

1st sit reference

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Clive sat for our two dogs (A German Shepherd & a miniature Schnauzer) for 11 days. 

He was truly amazing, we had a video clip sent to us whilst we were away. He kept to their routine, groomed them, walked them and loved them! 

I know the boys missed him once he was gone. We left him the use of our estate car so he could take the dogs out for long walks which he did. 

We had a quick turnaround when we got back but Clive had kindly left us a 4 page handover detailing everything you would ever want to know. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I have my fingers crossed he will be back to do it again!


8, 23

Labradoodle & Guinea Pigs in Preston, Lancashire, UK

22/2/2013

 
Testimonial from Dom & Ruth
2nd sit: February 2013
1st sit: July/August 2012
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2nd sit reference

Having sat for us before, we invited Clive and Ali to come back to sit for us again last February and were delighted that they were free to do so. 

Before coming to us they received a request to sit for another family that they had sat for before and they asked our permission to do a split sit. Our holiday this time around was only a short one and we knew that either of them would be more than capable of looking after our home and pets. 

Most importantly, we appreciated the respect shown to us in seeking our permission, so we agreed to the request and Clive came to us whilst Ali went elsewhere. It was such a relief knowing that once more our home was in secure hands and that our pets were being cared for by someone that they know and trust. 

Please see our earlier reference for a more comprehensive testimonial but in short, we consider ourselves lucky to have found Clive and Ali and we look forward to seeing them again.

1st sit reference

When we discovered that our daughter had been accepted on an NHS programme to receive 8 weeks of medical treatment in The States we were faced with a dilemma. We didn't like the idea of putting Cookie, our Labradoodle, in kennels for 2 months or finding a temporary home for the three Guinea Pigs, whilst leaving the house empty for so long was a worrying prospect. Cautiously we discussed other possibilities and finding house-sitters seemed like an option worth exploring. 

After a Google search we found Trustedhousesitters.com and placed an advert. Within the hour we had the first of several replies – it was from Clive and Ali. All our initial fears about letting complete strangers into our home quickly dissipated as we read their response – it was clear from their experience, professionalism and flexibility that they would be the perfect people to entrust our home and pets to.

From the off communication from Clive and Ali was excellent. They recognised that this was new to us and helped us through the process. They also traveled a considerable distance to come and meet us (and the pets) face-to-face, before we had any agreement in place.

It was fantastic to be able to leave for our stressful 8 week trip to The States knowing that everything was in safe hands but it was even better receiving their regular video updates. Witty and fun, the fortnightly movie reports from the UK kept us entertained but more importantly reassured the children that all was well with the pets. We also kept in touch via live Skype calls which the children loved - it was great for them to see their pets in such capable hands and it was obvious during these calls that that Clive and Ali had created a really strong bond with Cookie.

When we returned the house was spotless, the pets well fed and we were also delighted to find the car valeted and full of petrol. Sadly our travel arrangements meant that we didn't get to see Clive and Ali on our return to thank them in person, but we have absolutely no reservation in recommending them to anyone looking for a house-sitter. We definitely hope to invite them in to our home again in the future.
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Black Labrador in Sydney, NSW, Australia

18/4/2012

 
Testimonial from Rob & Judy
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Clive and Ali looked after our home and pet dog for 3 weeks in April 2012 while we travelled to London for our daughter's wedding. They did a wonderful job.

They were very flexible in meeting our travel dates, which was greatly appreciated.

They are both very professional in their approach to house and pet caring. We found both Ali and Clive to be very friendly and easy to get on with, and they took great care of our home and dog.

Guinness, the 4 year old black Labrador, obviously had a great time with Clive and Ali. He was taken on great exercise excursions, and got to swim regularly - so much so that we think he actually missed his minders when we returned.

We would certainly engage the services of Clive and Ali again if the circumstances arose. We have no hesitation in recommending them to any prospective client.

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Siberian Husky in Sydney, NSW, Australia

15/4/2012

 
Testimonial from Michael
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Clive & Ali house-sat & cared for my Siberian Husky, Misha for 3 weeks in Sydney, Australia, while I went on an overseas vacation in March-April 2012.

This was my first experience of having ‘strangers’ stay in my home & take care of my pet, so I was very apprehensive at first, as Misha has not previously been separated from me for this length of time. However, Clive & Ali allayed my fears immediately when they came to visit us a couple of weeks before the house-sit date. The first time we met, I felt like I was chatting with old friends, & more importantly, Misha loved them from first sight.

They kindly offered to arrive at my home at 6:30am on my day of departure, & drive me to the airport – something I doubt most house sitters would do. So I bade farewell to Misha, knowing he was in excellent hands. During my absence, Clive & Ali took Misha walking twice daily, & even drove him to the beach for his morning exercise. They also groomed him daily. They emailed me regularly with the latest photos of Misha & themselves enjoying their time together, & posted 2 videos on Youtube for me to confirm that he was doing well. I was able to have a relaxing holiday, with the knowledge that Misha was having a great time as well, with his new aunt & uncle.

On my return to Sydney Airport, I found Clive waiting for me at 6am, to drive me home. He kindly offered to take Misha for his morning exercise while I was unpacking  – for which I was immensely grateful, as I was exhausted after my sleepless overnight flight.

I have no reservations whatsoever in recommending Clive & Ali to you as excellent house-sitters & pet-carers. They are honest, open, caring people who are able to communicate & bond with animals (& people) immediately. My only regret is that they have returned to the UK, as I was hoping to ask them to house-sit again for my vacation next year!

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    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.

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