Mandy & Andy's Animal Sanctuary
Animals We've loved
and looked after
A portfolio of every creature who has shared our
home, our paddocks, our travels, and our couch.
My Own Dogs
Frankie
Australian Bulldog
Frankie was our boy for ten wonderful years. Classic bulldog in every way - deeply devoted, absolutely certain the couch was his, and utterly impossible not to love. He had a habit of pressing his full weight against you the moment you sat down, just to make sure you knew he was there.
He was gentle and affectionate with everyone he met, and would happily sleep through the afternoon if you let him. Which we usually did.
Years Together
10 years
Personality
Loyal, gentle, stubborn in the best way
Kuta
German Shepherd • My first dog
Kuta was the family dog when I was born - a beautiful, sweet German Shepherd who was exceptionally well trained and completely devoted to us. Dogs have been part of my world from the very first day.
Personality
Beautiful, sweet, very well trained
Significance
My very first dog
Sophie & Max
German Shepherds
Sophie and Max were the shepherds of my teenage years. Two big, loyal dogs who were constant companions growing up. German Shepherds have been in my life since the beginning and Sophie and Max are a big part of why.
I loved spending my weekends at the German Shephard obedience club training them and being involved in competitions. This taught me from a young age how to be firm but fair, and most importantly, have fun with animals.
PERSONALITY
Max: Silly, a bit dopy but very loving. Sophie: Intelligent, sweet and loyal.
Trixie
Whippet x Dachshund • Grandma's girl
Trixie belonged to my grandma, and I was completely devoted to her from a young age. When my grandma passed away, we adopted her - and Trixie lived out her very best life with us, the company of our German Shepherds keeping her young in spirit right up until she was 14.
Seventeen years. A little Whippet-Dachshund cross who outlasted everyone's expectations and gave back every bit of love she received.
Originally
My grandmother's beloved dog
Lived to
14 years old
Rescued & Rehomed
Yuki
Rottweiler x Kelpie • Meaning: Happiness
Yuki came to us through Starting Over Dog Rescue, anxious and withdrawn after a stressful separation from his owner. He needed time, patience, and a lot of quiet reassurance before he started to trust again.
Over eight weeks, we watched him come back to himself — curious, affectionate, and deeply loving. We came very close to keeping him. Instead, we found him the most wonderful home with a young vet student. His name means happiness in Japanese. It suited him perfectly.
Rescue
Starting Over Dog Rescue
Duration
8 weeks
Outcome
Rehomed with his forever family
Personality
Gentle, sensitive, deeply loyal
Special Squishy Faces
These are dogs Mandy has cared for over the years — and squishy faces hold a very special place in her heart. Flat-nosed, wrinkled, and completely irresistible.
Homer
(Homie)
French Bulldog • Sam's Boy • Frankie's Best Friend
Homer is my best friend Sam's white Frenchie — and I should know, because I was in on the surprise. Sam's husband and I bought Homer together as a gift for Sam's 30th birthday. Watching her meet him for the first time was one of those moments.
I've looked after him for many weeks at a time over the years. He is exactly what you'd hope for in a bulldog — gentle, kind, unhurried. Completely unbothered by the world.
Personality
Gentle, chilled, classically stubborn
Cared for
Many weeks over several years
Roger
French Bulldog • Sam's Boy • Rescue
Roger is Sam's rescued tan Frenchie, and he needs a little more from the people who care for him. He came with anxiety and dog aggression — the kind that takes patience and consistency to work around. Once he trusts you though, he is completely devoted.
Background
Rescued
Needs
Calm environment, no off-lead dog contact
Personality
Anxious at first, deeply loyal once settled
Loui
French Bulldog • Rescue • Best friend's boy
Loui is my other best friend's rescued Frenchie. Like all bulldogs, he requires a watchful eye around heat and food. Get those right and he is the most relaxed, affectionate company. Between Loui and Bella I've clocked up around five months of combined care over the years.
Needs
Heat management, careful diet
Bella
Cavoodle • Rescue • Best friend's girl • Loui's Wingwoman
Bella is a rescued Cavoodle who takes her time with new situations and new people. She's also Loui's wingwoman — and quietly keeps him in check in a way no one else quite manages. She needs trust to be built slowly and consistently. Do it right and she opens up into the sweetest, most affectionate little dog.
Needs
Patient trust-building, gentle handling
Hugo & Louis
Pugs • Black & Fawn
Hugo and Louis were an absolute comedy duo. Hugo — all black and deeply serious about everything — and Louis — fawn, wide-eyed, and permanently looking like he'd just remembered something alarming. Together they were completely hilarious, non-stop entertainment from morning to night.
Rufus & Lincoln
Australian Bulldog & French Bulldog
I fell in love with Rufus straight away — an Australian Bulldog with the same gentle, devoted, utterly loveable energy as Frankie. It felt like having a piece of our boy back for a little while. Lincoln is the Frenchie counterpart — compact, characterful, and full of that quiet bulldog charm.
Cared for
Multiple stays over time
Max
British Bulldog • A project
Max arrived with very little training and a strong sense of his own authority. Dominant, stubborn, and completely sure that the rules applied to everyone but him. Not a mean bone in his body — just a dog who had never really been asked to do much differently.
Four weeks of love and healthy boundaries later, we got there. By the end he was sleeping calmly next to Andy on the couch.
Stay
4 weeks
Outcome
Calm, settled, boundaries respected
Slim
Australian Bulldog
Slim had the full bulldog presence — big, broad, and completely unbothered by anything that wasn't a comfortable couch or a chin scratch. A classic Australian Bulldog in every way.
Dogs We've Cared For
Ava & Wilbur
Samoyed & Golden Retriever
Their owners travel extensively for long hiking trips overseas, and over time Andy and I became their people. Three months combined across multiple stays - long enough that it stopped feeling like a sit and started feeling like family. Ava is the quietly devoted Samoyed; Wilbur the warm, toy-obsessed Golden. We adored them both.
Combined care
3+ months
Daya & Fudge
Rhodesian Ridgebacks • 35kg & 40kg
Two big, beautiful Ridgebacks with the most adorable temperament. Daya and Fudge both slept in the bed with their owner - which meant they slept in the bed with us too. At 35 and 40 kilos that's quite the commitment, but they were worth every inch of mattress space.
Sleeping arrangements
In the bed. Non-negotiable.
Hugo
Newfoundland • 50kg+
Hugo came to us over Christmas and needed special care. A 50-plus kilo Newfoundland is not a small responsibility. What we didn't expect was how completely he'd take over everyone's hearts. He became part of the family within days. Everyone who met him fell in love.
Weight
50kg+
When
Christmas holidays
Pink & Demon
Dalmatian & Whippet • Both rescued
Pink and Demon's family were going through a difficult period - several illnesses and disabilities meant they needed real, reliable support over several weeks. Both rescues, both gentle and sweet. It was a privilege to be trusted with their care.
Support
Extended care during family illness
Effie & Sami
German Shepherd & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Effie and Sami were our last house and dog sit before we left Australia for overseas — and what a way to go out. The odd couple in every sense: a big, alert shepherd and a little silky Cavalier who hadn't read the memo about being intimidated. Both completely sweet and gentle. A perfect send-off.
Holly
Cavoodle • MumMY's Girl
Holly is my mum's Cavoodle - completely spoilt rotten and absolutely fine with it. She loves me, I love her, and every visit involves a lot of fuss from both sides.
Holly
White Swiss Shepherd
Holly was looked after several times - a sweet, gorgeous girl with all the calm elegance you'd expect from a White Swiss Shepherd. One particular stay will be remembered: the weekend before we moved out of our house, she was sick all over the carpet. We still loved her.
Barley
Yellow Labrador Retriever
Barley was still very much a puppy - full of energy, full of cuddles, and absolutely convinced that laps were beds. He was gentle and easy to love.
Missy
Greyhound
Missy was calm, quiet, and completely content to spend the day curled up on the couch. She had that classic greyhound gentleness — soft eyes, easy company, no fuss at all.
Ruby
Airedale Terrier
Ruby had the full Airedale personality — big, bouncy, and impossible to ignore. She was playful and smart, and wore a permanent grin that made every walk feel like an adventure.
Jet
German Shorthaired Pointer
Jet was powerful, cheeky, and full of energy — the kind of dog who tests every boundary just to see what happens. He needed firm, consistent handling. Once he understood the rules he was completely lovable.
Shep
German Shepherd
Shep was alert, loyal, and all watchful intelligence. German Shepherds need to know who's in charge and Shep responded beautifully to calm, consistent handling.
Jax
German Shepherd • My brother's dog
Jax belongs to my brother and his family — high energy, cheeky, and deeply loved despite all of it. The whole family is devoted to him.
Frankie
Bull Arab
Sleek, alert, and all long legs — Frankie had that classic Bull Arab energy. Smart and attentive, the kind of dog who keeps one eye on you at all times.
Molly
Hungarian Vizsla
Molly was all golden warmth and lazy afternoon energy. Perfectly content to find a sunny spot and stay there as long as someone was nearby.
Ginger
Groodle
Ginger was pure, uncomplicated joy. Big curly coat, tongue permanently out, orange ball permanently nearby. She approached every walk like it was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Lola
Groodle (allegedly)
Lola's MadPaws profile says Groodle. Lola disagrees. Whatever her actual origins, she was sharp, characterful, and immediately Andy's best friend.
Bella
German Shepherd
Bella had all the presence you'd expect from a German Shepherd — alert, dignified, and completely in charge of any room she walked into. Deeply loyal once she knew you.
Heather
Greyhound
Heather was all elegance and quiet wisdom — the kind of older dog who has seen enough of the world to know that a sunny patch of grass is really all you need.
Harper
Old English Sheepdog
Harper was an absolute cloud of a dog - all fluffy white coat and soft brown eyes peering out from under that fringe. Calm, gentle, and the kind of presence that makes a house feel instantly cosier.
Nellie
Poodle
Nellie was quietly brilliant — the kind of dog who listens carefully, figures things out fast, and doesn't make a fuss about any of it. Super smart and perfectly content with calm company and a good walk.
Jet
Mixed Large Breed
Jet belonged to my personal trainer, and looking after him came with an extra layer of responsibility — he needed retraining during his stay. Smart, responsive, and a real pleasure to work with once he understood what was expected. He left better than he arrived.
Cooper
Coonhound Cross
Cooper had ears that arrived in a room before the rest of him did. Big, gentle, and absolutely obsessed with sniffing everything within a 50-metre radius. He leaned his whole body into you when he wanted a cuddle, which was always.
Luna
Staffy Cross
Bruno's preferred mode was horizontal. He found the best spot on the couch within about ten minutes of arriving and spent the rest of the stay defending it with great conviction. Soft eyes, steady temperament, excellent company.
Luna
American Staffordshire
Luna was all grey velvet and slow blinks. She moved through the house like she owned it, found her blanket, and stayed there. The pink studded collar was entirely appropriate — she had opinions about aesthetics.
Archie
Australian Shepherd
Archie had the kind of face that made it impossible to say no to anything. Tricolour, perpetually delighted, tongue out at all times. He needed to know what you were doing every second of the day, which he communicated by sitting directly on your feet.
Dot
Australian Cattle Dog
Dot was suspicious of everyone until suddenly she wasn't. Once she decided you were acceptable, she was right there beside you — watchful, alert, and quietly devoted. The pink bandana was hers from day one and non-negotiable.
What pet owners say
37 reviews. All five stars.
★★★★★
5.0 / 5.0 • 37 Verified Reviews • MadPaws
★★★★★
"Amanda looked after our two dogs incredibly well. She communicated clearly and provided care and love. She also left our house in great condition. Highly recommend!"
Emily E. • Sitting • Jan 2026
★★★★★
"Amanda was amazing! She went above and beyond — not only looking after our dogs and keeping us updated, but also looking after our worm farm, plants, and staying an extra day when our flight was cancelled."
Nicole T. • Sitting • Oct 2025
★★★★★
"Amanda did a great job caring for my dog Shep. He was anxious at first, but she handled it with patience and care. Very communicative throughout, which gave me peace of mind. I would definitely recommend her."
Laura R. • Hosting • Aug 2025
★★★★★
"Amanda was a fantastic sitter! Took great care of our bulldog Slim and our home. Very responsive and sent updates while we were away. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend her."
Abbie M. • Sitting • May 2023
★★★★★
"Couldn't recommend Amanda more highly. Our pups had a great stay and she gave us complete peace of mind both before and during their time with her."
Christie M. • Hosting • Dec 2022
★★★★★
"Amanda is a wonderful sitter. Very loving and caring with our bulldog, Max. Will recommend and consider Amanda again for future care requirements!"
Tjahjadi L. • Hosting • Apr 2022
★★★★★
"Our dogs were very happy staying with Amanda — we would highly recommend her as an experienced and reliable pet sitter!"
Erica R. • Hosting • Nov 2022
★★★★★
"We were very happy with Amanda looking after Barley and weren't at all worried leaving her. Amanda has a nice calm personality and is very much a dog lover."
Helen E. • Hosting • Jan 2022
★★★★★
"Amanda is highly recommended! She's punctual and very reliable. Asha was well looked after which was most important."
Su-lin and Bret S. • Sitting • Oct 2022
★★★★★
"Amanda is a caring and conscientious sitter and really looks after the pets' comfort."
Shilpa V. • Hosting • Mar 2022
Our Own Cats
Between the two of us, the cat count across a lifetime is significant. Some are remembered in photos. All of them are remembered.
Smokey
Mandy's cat — childhood
Smokey was Mandy's throughout her whole childhood. The family had German Shepherds, which meant Smokey spent a considerable amount of her life being rescued from them. Her best refuge was the family boat, which she claimed as private territory and defended accordingly.
Sefer
Andy's cat — childhood
Andy's first cat, kept throughout his childhood. Named with the kind of confidence only a kid picking a cat name can have.
PC
Andy's cat — young adult
PC (Pussy Cat). Efficient naming. Andy had him after Sefer, before the family years set in.
Kramer
Andy's cat — family years
Kramer came along when Andy had two young boys at home. The name tells you everything you need to know about the energy in that household at the time.
Cats We've met & loved
Some cats you own. Some just find you, decide you'll do, and climb straight onto your lap. These are the ones that made an impression.
The Grump
Persian — house sit
The face of a cat who has many opinions and has given up trying to explain them to you. Deeply suspicious of new people, deeply soft once trust was established. Looked like he'd had a long week. Every week.
House sit
Persian
House sit
Persian
The Kotor Cat
Montenegro — Old Town
Kotor's Old Town is genuinely famous for its cats — they live in the walls, on the stone steps, in the courtyards. This one had a professional operation running: approached confidently, accepted scratches, moved on without a backward glance.
Kotor, 2026
Travel cat
Kotor, 2026
Travel cat
The Bali Cat
Ubud, Indonesia
Reading Dune on a velvet day bed in Ubud, surrounded by jungle, when this one arrived and made herself comfortable. Andy didn't move for an hour. Hard to argue with that logic.
Ubud, Bali
Travel cat
Ubud, Bali
Travel cat
The Tortie
Tortoiseshell — house sit
Classic tortoiseshell energy: arrived entirely on her own terms, stayed for exactly as long as she wanted, and stared into the distance like she was thinking about something far more important. Blue sky. Perfect morning.
House sit
Tortoiseshell
House sit
Tortoiseshell
Aunty's Farm
From a baby through to age 32 when Mandy's aunty passed away, regular stretches were spent at her property. She bred large dogs in her earlier years, then later managed an agistment housing up to 20 of her own horses alongside many others.
Where it started
A childhood on horseback
It started before there was enough sense to be nervous. A big grey horse and a kid who didn't know enough to be scared. Decades later, same farm, same energy — now with a chestnut foal on one side and a donkey demanding attention on the other.
Childhood onward
Family Farm
Childhood onward
Family Farm
The Little Ones
Miniature & young stock
The miniatures and young stock were their own world. Patient, curious, and completely committed to checking every pocket you had. The chestnut foal spent its first weeks following people around like a very woolly question mark.
Various years
Agistment
Various years
Agistment
The Mob
The full herd at large
At peak the agistment ran 20-plus horses across all ages and colours. Watching them move as a group across dry grass with the gum trees behind them never got old.
Queensland
The Herd
Queensland
The Herd
Trail Riding & Lessons
Hours in the saddle across some beautiful Australian country. The black horse experience came from a standout session with a horse trainer in Fremantle, WA, who focused as much on the relationship between horse and rider as on technique.
The Black Horse
Fremantle, Western Australia
A proper horsemanship experience with a trainer who understood that riding well starts with understanding the animal. The bond with this horse was immediate. Getting in the saddle and going somewhere felt completely different after those sessions.
Fremantle WA
Special Experience
Fremantle WA
Special Experience
Out on the Trails
Various locations, Australia
There's a particular kind of quiet you only get on horseback in the bush. That bay grazing mid-ride in the long green grass while you sit there doing absolutely nothing about it sums it up well.
Various
Trail Riding
Various
Trail Riding
Wild Horses of Montenegro
Durmitor National Park sits in the mountains of northern Montenegro — dramatic glacial lakes, dense pine forest, and canyon country that drops away beneath you. We spent hours up there with a herd of wild horses who live freely across the plateau. No fences, no handlers, no agenda. Just horses doing exactly as they pleased across one of the most extraordinary landscapes we've ever been in.
The Durmitor Herd
Wild horses · Montenegro
They came close enough to study you, then went back to whatever they were doing. A few foals in the group, a couple of older stallions keeping watch from a distance. The mountains behind them, the light coming low across the plateau. It's one of those encounters you don't really have the right words for — you just stood there, very still, and felt lucky.
Durmitor, 2025
Wild & Free
Durmitor, 2025
Wild & Free
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