In just over a month, I’ll be making a cross country trip for my next adventure caring for 2 mid sized dogs. Meanwhile, my doctor has given me a medical device to wear.
I’m the active sitter, my partner is the co-sitter; I’m still able to watch our grandkids, drive, perform household activities, etc. I’m not concerned that I will have an issue holding up my end of the agreement whatsoever, but wonder if the pet parent will be nervous, worried or overlook the issue.
As a pet parent, what are your thoughts or have you experienced a similar situation with a sitter?
It depends on the medical device so you need to be more specific. That could be anything. If it was a boot that meant that you couldn’t walk the dogs, I’d want to be sure that your partner could walk them. If it was glucose montor on your arm, I wouldn’t worry.
Answering your question depends on the medical device in question. I presume you’re not comfortable sharing what it is so I’ll conjure up some medical devices that are 1) obvious and 2) might raise concerns.
If you’re talking about an orthopedic device that might raise questions about your mobility AND the pet(s) you’re sitting require that you be mobile (say, walking dogs or herding a small flock of sheep), you might consider preemptively reaching out to the host to let them know what’s going on and why you do not think it is a problem.
If your doctor has saddled you with an oxygen tank or oxygen concentrator, a caring host will be concerned about your health and welfare. What can you tell them that lifts those concerns?
Wearing a body brace that limits your ability to bend over or squat would be concerning as it raises questions whether handling pets might be a problem.
Cardiac monitoring or any device with dangling wires or tubes would definitely cause us concern. We have cats and dangling anything becomes a predatory target for one of our little monsters. Dogs might be a risk for entanglement which becomes a medical risk for you and a liability risk for the host.
If there is a real medical risk doing the sit, maybe look into where you will turn should the need arise.
I think you need to be very honest with yourself and ask whether you are taking on more than you can chew. If I understand correctly, there will be two of you on the sit which mitigates most risks and concerns. But if you will be alone and you have not had a frank discussion with your host about something they will obviously notice, you are setting your host up to be worrying about you on top of their normal anxieties about leaving pets and home in the hands of a stranger.