My Poor Co-Worker - Pet Sitting Horror Story!!

[sasvermont]

I would have called to confirm, for sure. People mix up dates all the time and that is all the more reason to confirm. I would say the blame is 50/50. Just my opinion - doesn't make me right!

All in all, it is ashame that the poor animals went so long without proper care.

I consider my pets my family and would have called to make sure things were running smoothly.

Sad story with an ok ending.

[caseysmom]

I watch my sisters bunny all the time. Sometimes she is just gone for a long weekend so he would be fine without me but I like to stop by and give him fresh fruit and veggies.

About 2 weeks before one of their long weekends she asked me to check on him, she never reminded me and I forgot. I get home one monday and there is a message on my phone saying "were back thanks for checking on truffles".

I was mortified and called and told her I forgot and to please call me the day before she leaves to make sure I remember.

[chocolatepuppy]

I'd be on the phone every day to see how my babies were doing - would drive any pet sitter mad

same here, and certainly would have talked to the petsitter the night before I left.

[krazykitties]

I would also call every day, and I would have everything confirmed before I left. I am the kind that drives the sitter batty! But this person thought things were all set, so right or wrong, she must have been frantic to get back to her pets! how awful! I would be pacing the whole time barely be able to sit til I could get back to them!

A couple years ago I had a neighbor watch my cats, what a mistake that was! But I didn't have a choice, and no time to find a new sitter. unfortunately I called my regular sitter and found out she was moving out of state so I didn't have a sitter.I was gone 5 days, in the hot July weather, and if it was not for the fact that I had the ceiling fans in each room on, and big bowls of water, I really believe they would have died. She checked on them but not very carefully. when I got home, it was hotter than**** in my house, my air conditioner had broke down! I called her each day, and she told me I didn't need to call-- everything was fine...!! after I got home and talked to her, she said "oh yeah I thought it was hot in there"...!! I told her if not for the water and fans they would have died!! why didn't you tell me when I called? I thought she was a conscientious person, I never guessed she would be so careless of their care.

since then I have gone on vacation once, and brought all my cats to a well known pet hotel, big mistake again. the care was wonderful but the accomadations were pitiful! the "rooms" were only cages that were adjoining!
since it was a well known name I didn't check it out first, and I felt terribly guilty the whole week. I called that place 2-3 times each day! I still miss my former cat-sitter, I am still looking for a good sitter or place to leave them at, but I am picky after those past mishaps.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I feel so sorry for the animals in this situation. I rarely travel but when I do, I've used a co-worker, friends I could trust, or my roommate who would be living with my cats any way. I always go over everything a fews days before I'm going to leave and I write down all of the information,my contact number, vets number etc. I'm usually not gone for any length of time so I usually don't call. I guess I just assume that they'll call me if something is wrong. So far I've never had any problems.

[Mad Mags Moo]

As professional catsitter , I make sure i phone my clients a week before and then a couple of days before they leave to check that all is ok and confirm dates, times, any changes in the cats - health, behaviour whatever i should be aware of. I also offer them a daily text service to their phone if they want a report on their babies and they can phone me as many times as they want to I am only to happy to chat to them any time. I am saddened to hear of some of the horror stories and i just do my very best for all my furry felines when mum and dad are on holiday I also give the cats a present of an organic catnip mouse and leave a Cats diary for the owner to read all about their cats holiday with their personal holiday slave aka Auntie Maggie!!

[signorelli21]

i'm scared of leaving my dog at the vet next week for ( overnight observation) to be spayed, i could never imagine leaving her for a whole week if i did though i would take her here
http://www.puppysplaypen.com/services/facilities.htm

[Twisterdog]

Thank GOD the animals survived. How very scary, tragic and unfortunate.

But, I don't necessarily 'blame' the petsitter. She obviously DID think she was sitting the next month. Who in their right mind doesn't call up the day before they leave to make sure plans are set? I mean, really.

I agree. Sounds like an honest misunderstanding. Who hasn't made that kind of mistake ... misunderstood a word or two? I cannot imagine leaving and not verifying that everything was set up properly and still ok with the person who was taking care of my pets! Wow! That's really irresponsible on the part of the pet-owner, IMO. I would have called a couple of times, once about a week before and definately the day before. You never know what happens to people ... deaths in the family, illness, accidents.