Are Pet parents supposed to provide food, use of car and other travel requests

Owner Questions, Advice & Chat
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Morning all. I am a new Pet Parent to this site and wondered if anyone could clarify a couple of things for me. I’ve just recently has my first sitter which was very successful and have applications for other dates which I have temporarily paused. Although my listing specifically states that sitters need their own transport due to my village location, I’ve had someone ask for the use of our car, and someone else listing their dietary requirements for food and drink should I decide to welcome them. Can anyone clarify what is expected of us as pet parents? We pay membership for the use of pet sitter services, surely if we are expected to buy their food and provide use of a car and other travel requests, it would be better to just pay for Home Boarding.
We discussed at our meet and greet with our recent sitter what was expected from them. Although we invited them to eat and drink anything from the fridge freezer, cupboards, provided toiletries etc, they brought their own food etc with them.

I’d like to politely decline the applications requesting such things but don’t know how to do it politely.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

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Hello @CavvieQueen and welcome. You don’t have to provide transport or food for your sitters. The car thing is easy, just decline someone who wants use of it and say “sorry, not possible, our sitter needs their own transport”. On the welcome food thing it’s ambiguous as it may be that the sitter is saying “if we have a meal together when I arrive then this is what I don’t eat” (as maybe they’ve hit that hurdle before and don’t want to waste your time). If it’s more than that along the lines of a shopping list then you have no obligation to do so. Sitters and owners pay the same fees to join THS so everyone has a cost to this arrangement plus sitters pay to get to the sit too. Sitters also bring their own food as the norm. If you did buy a few groceries or make up a welcome pack (which some hosts do) it would be way, way cheaper than boarding costs. However, it’s your sit so your boundaries. Hope that helps. BTW you can send auto decline or you can send “appreciate the application but doesn’t feel as if this is a fit for our sit” or you can say “we don’t supply sitters with food during the sit as per the THS agreement” - whichever works for you #yourhouseyourrules

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You don’t have to provide any of those things, ignore any sitters that say you do. Say, I’m sorry but I can’t do that, they are just trying it on because you are new.

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@CavvieQueen You pay a membership fee the same way the sitters also pay a membership fee. This just gives you access to the platform. This is a bargaining platform without monetary exchange.

Oftentimes homeowners offer use of their car if staying there requires one. Sometimes people stock the fridge which is not expected but very kind. Sometimes there is a cleaner who comes to the house or a dog walker to help with dog walking. The exchange is based on good will and even service. Some homeowners see the value of offering what I refer to as deal ‘sweeteners’

You do not have to offer anything but you may find it harder to attract a quality sitter as you are competing with other homeowners.

Edited to meet posting guidelines

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Asking for food is presumptuous, unless they’re coming a day ahead for your convenience and they’re checking whether you’ll be having a welcome meal together. That might just be a logistical Q, depending on circumstances. But asking for groceries is out of line. If they can’t afford their own food, they shouldn’t be sitting.

Some sitters ask about cars if that hasn’t been specified. If they ask despite your having mentioned in the listing that they need their own car, then they’re blockheads, rude and/or don’t read well. And if they don’t read a host’s listing even from the start, that doesn’t bode well.

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For context, because you’re new: The sitters with the most experience and best reviews are in the greatest demand — they get invites for repeat sits, requests for unsolicited sits and even referrals at times. They can be the most selective. There are countless sits always coming online, so why bother with iffy hosts?

Edited portion of this post that referred to text that was removed from an earlier post

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Edited for clarity (by moderator)

Later deleted for more clarity (by myself)

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Actually the above is how the ‘them’ was used and I too would use it in this circumstance. The OP is just referring to the specific sitter they with whom they have had experience and referring back to ‘our recent sitter’ IMO nothing at all derogatory just a way of referring back to the subject of the paragraph.

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In fairness to the OP in all this, their main request for advice was how to decline sitters “politely” for asking for extras which demonstrates kindness. #mightjustbesemantics

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@CavvieQueen Both sitters and hosts pay a fee to THS to be members, and it is an agreement between equal partners.

I expect the home to be clean and prepared for me as one would expecting a guest in general, incl. clean sheets and towels. I arrange my own transportation to the home and buy my own food.

If the host want me to come the day before departure, it is in my opinion the responsibility of the host to arrange a bed and to invite for a meal or similar as that is how I would treat a guest. In a guestroom, vacating the main for the sitter, arrange a hotelroom - or as for my next sit - the host will leave the home in the evening and go to a hotel close to airport. I have heard on several occasions that some hosts would prepare a meal for themselves and eat in front of the sitter without offering - in my opinion that is rude and not how one treat a guest. Just for comparison - or don’t offer so much as a glass of water after a long travel. So there are lots of stories that could be the background for a question.

Assuming to get a full fridge is presumptious and I would probably decline such an application, but some hosts do offer, particularly for long sits/ rural sits - maybe it is hard to get grocery shopping done. Nice, but not the norm. I would find it strange to ask for this or assume it. I think most sitters that are offered use of hosts food will often try to replace it if they have used a good amount (but not for dashes of oil, some salt etc.)

If a host has asked sitter to come the day before, I would find it reasonable to assume the host would have a meal together with sitters.

Some hosts offer use of car, particularly in rural areas, to be able to provide for pets and/ or do everyday chores when it is no public transport. It is often advised to offer car if one have trouble getting applications. So I would think asking this question would be within the norm, but you can answer whatever freely.

Some hosts prepare a welcome gift, and I guess it could be ok to give a nudge if it is something one can’t have due to restrictions, to save the host for expenses when the sitter can’t use the gift. Depending in how it is worded, I guess.

It is an agrement one make for each sit, as long as both are transparent and comfortable you can agree to what you want or not. So the answer could just be really short - for this sit there will not be a car included, food provided or whatever the question is.

If you would like the sitter to come if the sitter is able to without :askedquestion: you could also ask a return question whether the sitter is still interested in the sit. I have experienced sometimes that if I ask a question I get an instant decline, as if the host is really offended by the question. I find that somewhat odd - I usually (try to) word it as it is the choice of the host and that we would still be interested if they say it is not possible. I haven’t asked for cars or food so far, so it has been really minor things. Or I thought so… :smile:

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You are not required to provide food and drink although generally it would be hospitable to have some staples, condiments, seasoning, cooking oil, etc that people can use – especially if the sit is under one month. Sitters are guided to “replenish” anything they use just as hosts are guided to leave space in the fridge for sitter’s food.

You do not have to loan a vehicle but some homeowners are fine with this especially if they require sitters to take a dog with them when they leave the home or take the dog to specific places. If you live in a rural area and you there is no public transport and you aren’t getting a lot of applicants, you could consider loaning a car. A lot of sitters don’t own a vehicle or are leaving the vehicle where they live while they are traveling. I also sit and as we have a car, we are able to use sits “in the country” a few hours away as a great escape during the summer. It’s possible you’ll find someone interested who has their own transportation but it might not be worth taking your sit if someone would need to rent a car.

If you feel a sitter is making demands beyond what is worth it to you in an exchange you should probably decline that sitter. I don’t know how the request evolved but if you are in a rural area and the sitter-candidate didn’t have a car and you weren’t willing to provide a car or groceries, I could see why it wouldn’t work for the sit! You can simply decline and say, “Sorry. We aren’t comfortable lending the car. We’re really looking for someone with their own transporation.” You can also put this in your listing.

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I think “them” is just being used as non-gendered pronoun. Sometimes with language people can’t win. BUT I also think a sentnece using a state of being verb in the passive form… “what is expected of them” implies they don’t have agency and the expectation is coming from on high.

I wouldn’t have a meet and greet with a THS sitter to discuss my expectations. I have a profile that gives an overview of the responsibilities. Then when I have a chat. The chat involves the expectations on both sides and working through the details so that both parties can decide if this will work.

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You don’t actually need to give a reason when you decline a sitter - although, from a sitter’s point of view, it is always nicer to receive a polite message that translates to ‘thanks, but no thanks’ rather than simply receive an automated message declining an application.

Use of a car may be offered, or a host might provide a few basic groceries (bread, milk, etc.) but these things shouldn’t be expected as part of a sit. However, if responsibilities require use of a car eg. dog needs to be driven to a park for walks, then you are more likely to receive applications asking whether your own car will be available for this purpose. It’s still up to you whether you agree to this or not.

Please bear in mind that sitters also pay to be part of this platform, and receive no payment for providing said pet sitter services that you enjoy as part of your own membership.

Whilst it might be considered presumptuous to send a potential home owner a list of dietary requirements, sharing a meal with your sitters when they arrive is just a kind gesture that can help establish a good relationship between both parties. Think of it less as hiring help, and more as welcoming friends into your home.

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@CavvieQueen, welcome to THS Forum. Pet Parents are required neither to provide vehicle nor food/drink.

Re car - we have completed over 30 housesits, with approximately one-third include use of Pet Parent vehicle. In some cases. a Pet Parent has kindly included use of vehicle to make their housesit more attractive (e.g. seek more candidates; greater experience; compete against other Pet Parents). Vehicles have ranged from basic to luxury. Vehicle insurance policies seem to vary radically by country, with some jurisdictions applying insurance to the vehicle and some to the person. Transparency seems important. Some housesit listings clearly state ‘housesitter must have own vehicle’. Some state 'housesitter has use of Pet Parent vehicle". Importance of vehicle likely varies by circumstance - housesit property in city centre vs rural location; pet(s) accustomed to vehicle to travel to exercise location. In some cases, use of car was a significant reason for us choosing a housesit.

Suggest assess competitiveness of your housesit listing and your own views in regards use of vehicle. No right answer here. You have choices.

Re food/drink - this is clear cut. Nope. We never consume the Pet Parent food/drink, unless they have expressly provided it for that purpose. Many of our housesits involve Pet Parents traveling internationally and they expressly request that we arrive one day prior to the housesit start date. This presumably gives comfort that we will turn up, but also offers opportunity to discuss property/pet nuances and frankly enjoy conversation - often Pet Parent voluntarily provides dinner. Likewise, at end of housesit then we always purchase basic food/drink items for use by Pet Parent on their return and, in some cases, leave extra food/drink items as a thank-you. THS is an exchange - not employer/employee - and two way courtesy goes a long way to build rapport.

Suggest decline applicant that provided dietary requirements. Plain rude.

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Thank your for your helpful comments.

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Thank you for your response, I have used the term “them” out of respect so as not to disclose their gender, whether being a couple or individual, and also in case they have seen and or following this thread. My user name on this forum is different to my pet parent profile for this exact reason, to avoid negative comments. Am I supposed the name the actual applicant to draw attention to them? I am seeking advice as a new pet parent to this site. One of the applicants stated that their diet is gluten and dairy free, that they liked red meat, fruit and vegetable etc etc. I too am gluten and dairy intolerant and as a result, a costly shopping list.

I reached out for advice and think I know the answers now, thank you.

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Thank you for your advice.

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Thank you for your comment. I am well aware that both the sitter and pet parent pay membership fees, I myself used to run a Doggie Day Care and Home Boarding business for several years before Covid Struck and we unfortunately had to cease operating. I think people are missing the point of my post here.

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Thank you for your helpful response.

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Thank you for your positive response