This is good advice. Thank you. I do have a neighbor that used to be a vet tech. If my senior dog passes, the sit would still continue as I also have a cat and a 3-year old dog.
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I’m relatively new to house sitting but as a senior woman and lifelong animal person, some of the stuff I read on this forum just makes me shake my head! I can’t believe a homeowner would spring on a sitter UPON ARRIVAL that the pet was ready to pass during the sit. Not everyone is experienced and emotionally capable of caring for an animal in the situation. In my opinion this should be stated clearly in the house sit advertisement.
Also if I were in this situation, I would want the homeowner to put something in writing indicating who should make the end-of-life decision in their absence: their veterinarian or the sitter or another person. Both the sitter and the veterinarian should have copies of this document.
Lastly, here’s a tip for sitters dealing with animals with serious mobility issues. I was a mobile cat and dog groomer for many years and had to get many many senior dogs with mobility issues out of their houses and into my grooming van.
The best thing for your back and the dog’s comfort is to take a leash, wrap a towel around it and slip it under the dog’s belly. Then you can support the dog’s hind quarters while standing upright yourself.
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I did speak with my sitter and a mobile vet, who also happens to have a crematorium service. I will get this in writing, for everyone involved. This was not sprung onto the pet sitter. She was aware when we did our video chat.
My profile does state that I have a senior dog and for sitters to keep this in mind before applying. I’m not saying she will pass while we are away, but she has slowed down. I observed yesterday that after going to the bathroom outside, she actually ran back and made it up the six stairs to the back door. She still barks at us when it’s time to eat, and I have a motion sensored bell that she stands next to when she wants outside. She has her moments.
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I have a senior cat with some medical issues (all are disclosed in our profile) and I definitely consider the possibility that her health could take a turn while I’m away. I would probably interrupt my trip and travel back home with her if that happened. My greatest fear is not being there with her and for her when her time comes. I’m hoping that time is still quite a ways off! Thanks for posting about this important issue.
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My thought is that if you put the possibility very clearly in your description then hopefully you would attract people who would be willing and compassionate and able to do that. Because I was a Rescuer, I have been at the side of many dogs who have been euthanized and it would certainly not be a great thing but it would be something we would be willing to do at a sit. The key would be to be completely transparent and honest about the situation.
My husband and I have done a number of sits with Senior dogs (and cats) who could possibly move on to the great bone yard in the sky during a lengthy sit. In each case we were completely aware of the situation in advance of accepting the sit. OUR requirements were to have the owners, family members or a trusted vet make the decision on whether it was time for the pet to be put down. We would not want to be put in a position to make that decision as this is a situation where emotions run high. Also, in one case, we were ask to transport a pet for vet visits during a long sit. The owner provided us with a vehicle for transportation but not for full time use. We felt like these arrangements were fine and thouroughly enjoyed our sits with these fabulous senor pets. I think most scenarios are fine as long as well communicated and agreed upon. We did have a situation where the owner returned and wanted to know what the heck we did to their dog. His condition had dramatically improved under our care. Now that’s the value of a great pet sitter…Lol.
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Hiring a sitter for your dogs last moments sounds really unfair for the sitter emotionally to both her and your pup. Also, if you know your pup is on borrowed time, keep in mind that who they want to spend their last moments with is you, not a sitter…
Just my .02 We had our little cat man have an unexpected turn the night before leaving for a trip and the sitter was arriving the next morning. She said it was ok for her to bring him to the vet. We told her that we would do so overnight. He ended up needing emergency euthanasia. The sit was cancelled as his er visit went past 20 hours and we cancelled flights/hotels/ everything. The sitter was bummed but in conversation a few later, she was very happy that that whole experience wasn’t for her to take on. We were so sad but at the same time so at peace being there for our little cat man during the moment that he needed us to comfort him most after having been dumped on the street by his previous owners.
When an animal is adopted, we become everything to them, their lives are very short and they give it all, to us. Please consider being there when they depart- it’s truly a sign of gratitude after a life of devotion.
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I sat a dog who’d been severely sick for years. Then she had catastrophic seizures and I rushed her to urgent care. I told her humans, who were around the world, that I’d stay with her through euthanasia if needed, so she wouldn’t die among strangers. (We had bonded over more than a week.) But I was super glad for her that her family rushed home and we could all be with her when she was put down. For her sake, I thought her humans owed it to her. If it were my pet, there’d be absolutely no chance I’d let him die among strangers.
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That was a sad but happier ending for that pup. I’m glad the family returned and even considered you and also regarded that you had bonded with the little pup.
I agree with you that being there for a pet’s end should be done. One of the most heartbreaking things I ever read was a vet’s account of owners walking out of the office when it was time to euthanize their pet. The pet would just look around wondering, “where are my humans?” To no avail. He sadly attempted to comfort them through confusion and fear until their last breath.
To stay or to leave is an option our vet give pet owners. It is carried out so that the pet first get anaesthetics so it sleeps. Then you’re asked whether you want to stay, and then the pet gets what is really «an overdose»of sleeping medicine. I’ve tried both - both staying and not staying. How it is done at my vet, it shouldn’t really do any difference to the pet, as the pet is sleeping anyway.
In theory I agree that I would like to be there for my pet. It could be so, though, that a pet is old, frail and «on overtime» for years. Then it wouldn’t make sense to never go anywhere for months and years «just in case».
Yes, I was very transparent, and she said that she was aware before accepting. I’m not saying she’s going to pass while we are away but she has slowed down. She has her good and bad days.