Hi everyone, currently on day 4 of a sit with a lovable doggie. I sent photos first and second day which the HO acknowledged with a heart emoji or a short text. She hasn’t acknowledged days 3 & 4 - a collage of photos and updates.I may be paranoid, but in a telephone conversation with a friend one evening, I described the area as soulless and characterless, but with good dog walking parks.
Later I noticed an Amazon Echo in the living room with the light on and thought the HO had heard this remark and that’s perhaps why the texts are not being acknowledged. It is unusual as the HO had texted first thing in the morning on Days 1 & 2.
The HO is on holiday- she’s not feeling the need to acknowledge you now- it’s all about her trip not you. Unplug the thingy, stop worrying or own your remark. A collage might be too many…. dial it back a bit.
‘dial it back a bit’ I do ‘own my remark’ - not every sit is in a super location and I was being honest in a private conversation. I have unplugged the device.
Do you send it in some channel (THS, WhatsApp…) where you can see whether it is “read”?
I wouldn’t worry too much. I’ve excperienced that many hosts aren’t that invested in the updates after the first couple of days. They want to put their mind at rest that everything is good with the pet and the sitter after they leave, and after that they’re not that into it. A couple of hosts said I could stop sending updates. I’d guess more hosts really would want me to stop, but find it hard to say they can do without pet-photos, actually… They don’t want to come across as bad pet parents..
That’s why I always ask them if they would like photos and if so how often. I stick to whatever they prefer. They are on vacation. They could be sightseeing or having a romantic moment out. Maybe they appreciate the photos but can’t acknowledge them at the time you sent them. It’s not important for them to acknowledge every photo. They are on vacation. They chose you and trust you will do a good job so they can enjoy their vacation and not think about home. I hope you discussed with them how often they want photos. Stick to whatever they told you until they tell you something differently.
It’s much more likely to be that she’s enjoying her break. Plus, she could have poor wifi, a cruise ship, or remote area for example.
Plus if she had of heard you, I think she would have messaged you discreetly to say ‘hope it’s not too quiet for you’ in an apologetic please-don’t-mark-down type of way.
I wouldn’t worry, she’s just having a great trip, that’s all it is likely to be.
While anything is certainly possible, on the off-chance she was monitoring you through the device, that she happened to be listening in the exact time you were having this conversation is highly unlikely. But as a fellow sitter, I get that paranoia! It is so easy to read too much into things and assume the worst.
I might be able to answer this for you, not in my role as THS Community Manager, but as someone with parents who have Amazon Echo devices in their home!
While there is a remote listening ability on the device through the “Drop In” feature, when the “Drop In” feature is activated, the device would light up and stay like that (if I remember correctly, it’s a green ring) and make a chiming sound. If you saw neither of those, I think you’ll be ok!
I agree with those who said that the HO is just enjoying their time away, and that this was an awkward coincidence! I would take the minimal communication as a sign that they trust you.
Everyone has their opinion. You expressed your opinion to a friend in a private conversation. If the HO was listening in “tough cookie”. They heard something that had nothing to do with them and if they are upset it deserves them right for listening into private conversations.
If HO don’t want to hear what their sitters think of the area they live in, their home, their pets, their kitchen set up, their decor unplug the devices and go and enjoy the holiday. Personally, I am beyond caring anymore. I look after pets and property because I love to travel and enjoy the company of animals. Not to be spied on. I try to follow the rules and regulations of THS and the routines the HOs give me about their animals and home. All I ask in return is some space in the fridge and freezer, the bathroom not to be cluttered with the HOs personal things, a comfortable bed and some privacy. I really don’t need watched or listened to. In the past I have given them the benefit of the doubt. Now it’s becoming a regular occurrence. Yes, I understand they have cameras to see what their pets are doing when they are not there but please turn them off when holidaying.
I am at a pet sit for 15 days at the moment. There is a camera. It is pointing where it is natural to relax - huge comfy couch, open French windows, kettle nearby, dogs can lie inside or out in the sun and I can see them. I had to find a step ladder so I could reach it to turn it around. I don’t know if it’s on or off. I don’t really care as I am doing nothing wrong. I just don’t want anyone subjected to my naked husband enjoying his morning coffee first thing in the morning.
HOs please trust your sitter and turn these devices off and show the sitter that they are unplugged. It’s even in the name, TRUST.
And also against THS rules to have cameras inside that are activated. And if there are cameras inside that have been deactivated the HO should make the sitter aware.
I’ve had many hosts who have read my message and photos and not respond for a day. They are quick to respond the first couple of days but after they feel comfortable, they get to it when they get to it. I’ve had one host who requested that I stop sending daily updates and she felt comfortable with how our family was taking care of her pets. You can unplug the Amazon Echo though. Just a side note, I put in my profile, application, and ask during the initial call about cameras and listening devices.
It is a mistaken impression that Echos can be used by HOs to eavesdrop in on what’s going on in the house. They can NOT. There is a phone call/intercom like feature that can be used to listen but not without a sitter acknowledging and accepting the call.
If a sitter started going a bit overboard with photos, I would probably answer minimally with one emoji. So much eagerness to please makes me uneasy and I would hesitate to encourage that.
I’m one of those HO who prefers not to receive daily updates. Once a sitter has settled in and we’ve answered any questions I just want to be present where I am. I adore my animals, but honestly part of vacation is a break from my daily life. One of my early sits, the sitter sent pictures of all my animals the first two days (4 sheep, xx chickens, ducks, cats) like a proof-of-life text I now let sitters know that for me, no news = good news, but I do love photos of sitters spending time with the animals. I’d just ask what she prefers
As for Alexa, we use Echos and I’m pretty sure I can only “drop in” on another Echo in our account, and only directly from an Echo on the property. (We only use them for music so we unplug them when we’re not here.)
I do ‘own my remark’ - not every sit is in a super location and I was being honest in a private conversation. I have unplugged the device.
I now let sitters know that for me, no news = good news, but I do love photos of sitters spending time with the animals. I’d just ask what she prefers