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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Dog Sitter Issues: WWYD?

    I went on an extended vacation out of the country and hired a dog/house sitter. She had references and is the cousin of a friend and her cousin/roommate, both of whom know a lot of people I know in the dog world. She has dog-sat for her cousins with five Labs, who referred me to her. We talked at length (on the phone and in person) and I really had a good feeling about her and liked her. She dog/house sits full-time, but it's not like a real professional outfit. I paid her over market to stay with my dogs while I was gone and take care of my house. Because she was there 24/7, I felt fine paying her more.

    I left her a thoughtful and very organized document with everything she needed to know about everything. Despite all this, we had some issues. She didn't call me when she showed up like I asked her to (to make sure she got there OK, the key worked, etc.) and was not very communicative. However, I looked at this as more of a preference thing. Maybe she doesn't typically dog-sit for people who want updates every other day.

    But, when I got home...

    • All my bedding was missing when I got home after 20 hours of travel and a 15 hour flight, and I had to text her to find out where it was located (at a landromat). She had left it there for several hours instead of staying with it. Not sure why she couldn't have done this in the morning and left a clean and made bed for me. My dryer belt had broken a week before I got home and they had to order a part so it didn't get fixed, hence the laundromat.
    • Then, I realized my comforter and duvet were missing. I had to text her and oops...she forgot to tell me it was at the drycleaners (cat peed on my bed because she was not happy about a stranger in there). She forgot to leave the ticket for me, too so we had to work that out.
    • I have butcher block counters and when I came home, they were thrashed. Black rings from dirty dishes sitting on it for days, standing water, etc. I had to sand them.
    • She cleaned the litter box with paper bags and didn't even close the bags when she put them in the trash. I specifically asked her to put them in poop bags. Gross!
    • She forgot to take out the trash. I have every other week pick-up that I pay for regardless (it's expensive) plus that is really disgusting. Good thing it wasn't hot outside.
    • When the dogs carried plush toys outside, she left them. So there were like 10 soaked, muddy dog toys all over the yard. Who does that?
    • My bedding was stained all over the pillows, like she spilled on them. Bizarre and now I have to buy new pillow cases.
    • I am missing a bath towel (assuming it got lost at the laundromat?).
    • I am also missing a plate. When I asked her about it she said she didn't know anything about it.
    • When I vacuumed my kitchen I noticed a kick-plate under the counters was broken.
    • She scratched my wood floors moving the sofa; I'm assuming looking for dog toys/Kongs under the couch.


    Accidents happen and if one, maybe two of these things happened, I would not be too irritated, but because they ALL happened, I was pretty irritated! I calmed down and decided that maybe after three weeks she became too comfortable. Afterall, the dogs were fine and happy and so was the cat after she got over the stranger in my house. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, I paid her, and then, I made a mistake and let her come back.

    I had already planned a work trip months ago and asked her to come back before I went on vacation and because I didn't have time to deal with it, I just decided to have her again and I thought maybe it would give her the opportunity to redeem herself. I asked that she contact me when she arrived, check in and be gentle with my counters. And, she did a lot better this time.

    However, when I came home last night...I drove into my driveway and saw that the house was lit up. I thought maybe she was there and didn't get my text that I had landed and she could leave. I opened the door (she did not lock the top lock as instructed since the door can blow open without it) and was hit by a wave of heat. No one was there but the dogs, who were panting. I went to the thermometer and she had turned the heat up past 75 degrees. My house was close to 80 degrees and had been for hours (I got home at 9pm and found out later she left around 4pm). I specifically told her to keep it around 68 because my house gets way too hot and the dogs suffer. Then, I went to let the dogs out back to cool off and go pee and noticed they are out of water. I have one of those bubblers and she didn't refill it when it was low and the dogs drank a ton because of the heat. To top it all off, I was putting away groceries that I had stopped for on the way home, and reached over the stove and noticed heat. She left a burner on medium-high.

    So, now I go from pissed to worried and I texted her. She said she was fine and what had happened was that she turned up the heat because she felt a fever coming and must have forgotten to turn it down and the stove must have been on because she was cleaning it and must have accidentally turned it on. I call BS on that because it was exactly on a number (five, so more than half-way turned) and no other dials were on. I clean my stove all the time, I know how it works.

    I was too mad to respond. I need to tell her how I feel about all of this but without being a raging b!tch because of our common friends and acquaintances. I also, frankly, don't even want to pay her! I mean, we have an agreement, but she cost me (I am afraid to see my heat bill!) and was no where near worth what I paid her. She acted and treated my house as if she were doing me a favor and was extremely careless as well.

    Thoughts?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
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    I'm not sure what I'd do but I'd be as mad as you are. It sounds as if she's either normally mentally scattered or else having problems of some sort. I sure wouldn't use her again or recommend her. I'd try to not go out of my way to bad-mouth her (not sure I could accomplish that) but would definitely tell anyone who inquired (perhaps thinking to use her "services") of your experience.

    I'm glad the animals seem to be OK...but I'd be wondering what really went on with them all along, too.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog sheltieluver's Avatar
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    Wow I would be angry too. I would prob sit her down and say you wernt happy with the job you were paying her for. She didn't follow your instructions and could have burned the house down. Last time she was there you weren't happy either but you gave her another shot. Tell her that you will pay her but maybe deduct some of her pay to go to your heating bill since she was asked not to turn the heat up. 68 is plenty warm enough fever or not. I would be looking for another sitter.

  4. #4
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    I think her lifestyle doesn't match yours and you shouldn't hire her again. She sounds sloppy and careless but probably nothing wrong with it in her own home and life.

    We used to have my BIL watch our dogs (YEARS ago when we lived in CA and only had Hudler and Maddy). He did a good job. Until the time we couldn't get in touch him with, came home to found all our liquor bottles empty and Hudler had pooped all over the house (which was something he hated doing, he must have really had to go!!!!). We stopped going away.

    I would have done a night or two trial before going away for 3 weeks.

  5. #5
    Senior Dog Doreen Davis's Avatar
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    Yikes, I don't use at home pet sitters, no matter who recommends them and definitely not family (same for business, just adds a layer to it I don't need). I had one that i thought was working until she forgot to come one weekend and the dogs were left in the house for over 24 hours. I am much happier with a kennel that has a top flight recommendation and that I personally have assessed over time, Stella and Anthony go racing in, love the kennel attendants and I know they are safe and well tended. And they even take the cat too, who is more of a PITA than any dog.

    I don't know if i would go after it either from a $$ or 'talking to' perspective. There are too many 'odd' parts to this and I wouldn't want to risk any residual impact. I'd probably just know I'd never use her and if anyone asked for a reference for her in the future, politely decline and give specifics if asked.

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  7. #6
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    I have no words. I would be livid. I would be sitting down with her and explain that she would not be paid for her time and she would not be hired by me again.
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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  8. #7
    Senior Dog
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doreen Davis View Post
    Yikes, I don't use at home pet sitters, no matter who recommends them and definitely not family (same for business, just adds a layer to it I don't need). I had one that i thought was working until she forgot to come one weekend and the dogs were left in the house for over 24 hours. I am much happier with a kennel that has a top flight recommendation and that I personally have assessed over time, Stella and Anthony go racing in, love the kennel attendants and I know they are safe and well tended. And they even take the cat too, who is more of a PITA than any dog.

    I don't know if i would go after it either from a $$ or 'talking to' perspective. There are too many 'odd' parts to this and I wouldn't want to risk any residual impact. I'd probably just know I'd never use her and if anyone asked for a reference for her in the future, politely decline and give specifics if asked.
    These are exactly my thoughts. Except that we don’t have a cat, LOL.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

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    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  10. #8
    Senior Dog arentspowell's Avatar
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    As tempted as I would be to want to not pay her, I would pay the agreed amount and never hire her again.

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  12. #9
    House Broken
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    What Ashley said. ^^ I think sitting down with her and telling her what she did wrong is going to do nothing but make you angrier. Pay her and move on.

    We had one pet sitter that we used for overnights. She was good until one time that I had her come to just handle dinner because I had to work late. She stuffed them so full of treats and dinner that both of them spend the next two days puking and pooping everywhere. After a $500 vet bill to get both of them straightened out, I said never again.

    The kid we use now is good but doesn't listen to my instructions of not riling up Thea. Everything needs to remain calm. It may look like she's happy to see you but it's really anxiety. He also doesn't bring the toys in from the yard that Miles drags out so we too come home to a toy littered yard. We just pick them all up and throw them in the washer. Now that we're moving, we're going to have to find someone new as these two are too old to be boarded. Thea 100% will get sick from anxiety. Every time.

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  14. #10
    House Broken kaialeena's Avatar
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    I am sorry to hear about that I don't envy your position at all. It does become a sensitive matter when it involves mutual people that you both know. But I think you need to be honest with her and tell her what made you unhappy. She could have burned your house down and the dogs could have been seriously harmed because of her carelessness. If there were little things that happened, then I would generally give those a pass, but these are serious things.

    This part isn't a suggestion for you. It is just something I would probably do if I were in your situation. I would ask her what I was paying her for.

 



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