Sorry I don’t think I worded it in a way - of course I don’t blame the owner being sick and life happens. But they didn’t come through with their offer to pay for my plane ticket change. My last line is in ref to the original post about the owner expressing “free place to stay” when it sounded like the sitter was trying to work with their schedule and other instances where the owners don’t understand the TH concept. I recently had a sit where I spent almost 30 hours cleaning before I could be comfortable, even after video call and application that expressed clean home and they thought it was the sitter’s job. The cat litter machine was so soaked with urine, gunk in their water fountain… so also for the pets
Ahhhh…blind reviews now live…
Sorry, but it actually did sound like you blamed the owner. The problem is by writing and not pointing out what exactly one is referring to, that it’s easily misunderstood. You didn’t say that your last sentence was about the initial post. Please read your own post from an outsider’s position and you might understand.
We all learn on this platform as we go 
If you have ‘fluid dates’ it’s unethical to post on THS. A sitter needs to know exact dates in order to make plans, regardless of whether they use THS for holidays like I do, or as a lifestyle choice. As other members suggested, your flexibility requirements warrant a professional paid sitting platform.
Sitter behaviour is another matter - if you have evidence that your sitters did not honour the sitting agreement, especially animal care, this should have been immediately reported to THS. They would launch and investigation and, pending the conclusion, would ensure this never happens again, perhaps even banning the sitter from the platform.
In addition, here are the rules regarding your role in this experience:
What happens if I need to cancel a sit?
If you have confirmed a sit but need to cancel, you must inform the other member immediately so that they can make any necessary alternative arrangements.
Remember, a sit must only be cancelled if both you and the other member agree, or if there are any extraordinary circumstances. If this is not the case and you cancel outside of these terms, an investigation may take place that could result in disciplinary action against your membership.
Source: https://support.trustedhousesitters.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360001746237-Can-I-cancel-a-sit-
And from the Ts&Cs:
5.2.13. ensure your home is vacated for a Sitter throughout the duration of the Sit, and that no third parties will interfere with the Sitter’s enjoyment of your property;
@STH Hmmmm unethical?!?? That’s a pretty strong charge given I agreed to honor the dates regardless of any trip changes…
Given your argument, is it fair to say that mostly all concerns that sitters have can be alleviated if they just procure hotel accommodations? From issues with cleanliness to specific travel dates, they should just get a hotel….
I hope you see how your comment is quite tone deaf and actually antithetical to the ethos of this platform.
The issue isn’t with purchasing services or people’s expectations, it’s an ethos/culture issue. For the people that are actually on here for the right reasons, it goes beyond transactional. It’s building a community that relies on mutual respect and basically the kindness of absolute strangers…
We’ve lucked out and met some really exceptional people through THS and it is those relationships that keep us on the platform. Procuring pet sitting services is much less than procuring accommodations so we definitely don’t host to save money…it’s for the joy of hosting and the great people we get to meet.
We have them 3 stars which I regret being so generous.
(Edited to meet posting guidelines)
@cawosey I’ve seen this perspective of procuring professional pet sitter services but with this premise, is it fair to say that the concerns that sitters have can be alleviated if sitters just procure hotel accommodations? From issues with cleanliness to specific travel dates, they should just get a hotel, right?!?!
I can’t help but feel that this mentality is actually antithetical to the ethos of THS.
For us, the cost to procure pet sitting services would actually be the more economical option then to let people stay in our and use our vehicle (and less risky). With that, IMO, the issue isn’t with homeowners or sitters procuring professional services. It’s mentality/ethos/culture issue.
For some, it’s beyond transactional, it’s building a community that relies on mutual respect and basically the kindness of absolute strangers.
We’ve lucked out and met some really exceptional people through THS and it is those relationships that keep us on the platform.
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@Maggie8K we gave them 3 stars.
I agree. Ironically, after we posted our review, they (the sitters) ended up filing a formal complaint against us in an attempt to get the review taken down. THS conducted an investigation and the sitters even admitted to leaving our dogs for long periods of time. Their excuse was that they were not told this wasn’t allowed….
#icanteven
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Unbelievable.
@Rlean808 That seems like a fair and balanced review of your experience with those sitters. Its factual rather than an emotional rant. And you have given credit where credit is due. As a sitter, reading that review during my cross referencing- I would see the fault lies with the sitters and not you as a host. Nice people by the sounds of it but terrible sitters!
I’m sorry you had this experience.
As a sitter I too would wish for categories to rate some of our hosts! We have by no means always been offered a 5* experience!
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@Rlean808 THANK YOU for posting a honest review.
As homeowners on THS (we’re sitters, too), we really appreciate it.
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I am so sorry you had such a bad experience. I hope you commented on their review so other HO can make an informed decision 
That response was in relation to your original post (which we now know was just the introduction to the issue and not the issue). It was made long before you posted more information. I and others inferred that the issue you had was that the sitters kept to the dates offered and accepted even though you were home a lot of the time as your plans had understandably changed rather than alter their travel plans after they had made them possibly at a cost.
We have seen many examples of this where owners want or need flexible dates or a desire to change plans on short notice for a number of reasons. They then expect t he sitters to just vacate on their return. For these I strongly believe they need another solution as it is not a fair exchange to have, or to risk having, your plans disrupted or effectively cancelled.
Since you have posted more information on what the actual issue with the sitters was and that it was not the dates themselves but the sitters behaviour I don’t think you needed a professional service at all. You just needed better sitters. Dogs should always get the walks and outside time and interaction that they need.
Personally I would like bad sitters like this removed. I would like THS to have a random follow-up email to owners and sitters asking them about their most recent sit experience so that they can add into that randomness owners and sitters that may have been flagged (as hopefully your sitters have been if you spoke to THS), but maybe not bad enough for a straight kick to the kerb, so that they can be followed up on to see if bad behaviour persists and they can be booted.
Edited to meet posting guidelines
Although they didn’t seem to give the care & attention that was expected, I don’t think that you should have surveillance cameras on while people are sitting in your home. I’m sure it’s in the t&c’s that all monitoring devices should be turned of while sitters are present.
Everyone has ring cameras these days which is absolutely within compliance of THS T&Cs.
Tbh, we would not even consider any application from any sitter that would have issues with our ring camera.
Not in this country (Sweden). There are strong restrictions on putting up cameras, it often needs permission from the authorities.
And to be compliant with THS T&Cs, also ring cameras need to be disclosed to the sitters.
I am someone who might have issues with your camera. I have done ten sits now in the EU. As far as I am aware, only one home had a doorbell camera, but I don’t think it was recording, it was just to see who was at the door.
Hi @Rlean808, ring cameras may be used more in the country you are from but to say “everyone” has one is a gross exaggeration.
Yes, it’s an exaggeration. I have done over 30 sits and only saw a couple of cameras, which were switched off during my stay.