I need help on leaving a review. My sitters did a great job taking care of my house, and for the most part, my pets. But there were a few things that happened that caused me concern for my pets. There were other things but this was the main thing. Though nothing happened, I was thinking of possible worse case scenarios.
@RMRL If your pets didnât get the care that the sitter agreed to provide then you should mention it in a review. Itâs really important for pets to be safe and for you to know that they are well cared for.
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This is vague enough that it sounds as though you need to discuss whatever bothered you with the sitter(s).
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Without really knowing what actually happened and how you found your pets once you came home, I would say that thinking about worst case scenarios is just that: thoughts. Itâs not the reality. Sometimes we are anxious, worried, possibly feel guilty that we left our beloved pets home with what are, basically, strangers, and may start going thru a vicious cycle of worry, guilt and projecting the worst. Not to mention if thatâs already our M.O. 
In my opinion if you are able to detach yourself from the feelings provoked by thinking of the worst case scenarios, now in the past, and focus instead on the reality (came home to happy and healthy pets, house was relatively clean and tidy, etc), you should be able to write an accurate and realistic review.
In other words, donât let the âwhat ifsâ imagined while away dictate the words in your review today.
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When reviewing sitters you have the option to âscoreâ and comment on each aspect of the sit.
Just complete the review accordingly by giving more stars to the great things and less stars to pet care if you feel that is valid. Also comment in your review why you thought things went well or not so well.
Sitters donât have that option when giving feedback to the homeowner and we can only give one overall âscoreâ.
I donât particularly like the word score but unsure what else to call it.
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I think HOs and sitters alike should leave honest reviews.
They help future HOs and sitters in making decisions.
The most important aspect of THS is ALWAYS the animalâs welfare. I hope your pets are ok 
Iâm a sitter, and I would say you need to be honest with your review or donât leave one if you feel totally awkward about doing so. Without knowing the scenario, I can not imagine that you would ever use them again, so please donât put other owners into the same scenario. Be totally honest with your review, itâs all about the welfare, love, care and attention your pets received, and less about keeping your home in good order, as that should have happened anyway.
However, if its just that your cat didnât return home one evening, then thatâs different, theyâre independent. If its that they were unaware your dog needed brushing daily rather than weekly then its different, you should have mentioned it in your welcome guide, rather than presuming your sitters had common-sense.
But it doesnât sound like it is those sort of things, so please give an honest review, to save others feeling the same as how you are feeling right now.
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I agree with @Katie. Even as experienced sitters, we always appreciate feedback on how we can do better. I would prefer to have that discussion and explore solutions and improvements rather than being blind sided by a bad review, especially if we had done everything we (thought we) could to give the best care for the home and pet. Sometimes the information the home-owner gives about their pet is far from reality once they left and as a sitter you have to deal with that as best you can while keeping the PP up to speed and getting more information/instruction, but also trying not to ruin their break.
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Iâm not trying to bad mouth them or anything like that. I liked them. They have good reviews from everyone else (including me, for the most part). They were nice and they loved on my pets which is the main thing. My house was in great condition when we returned. Itâs just they were not truthful about a few things that I asked them about (that I saw on my exterior security camera) and thatâs the part that bothers me. (I also had a few neighbors reach out to me). When I do an overall side-by-side comparison, the positives outweigh the negatives. I guess if I didnât have my camera, Iâd never know any different, right?
Checking up on them via cameras or relying on what your neighbours say is not really fair on them.
Have you actually talked to them about your feelings?
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Would it be an idea to discuss this with them in a private message first? We usually do a de-brief at the end of a house-sit with the owner and mention any potential situations which we think could be improved in terms of the petâs health and welfare.
For example on one house-sit strange cats came into the house at night through the cat flap and scared the young cat we were looking after. I know in your position itâs the sitter giving cause for concern but I wouldnât mention the catflap issue in a review of the owner. I would consider that something that needs to be said face to face or private messaging. Just my two pennies worth! Good luck!
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If youâre happy with them apart from whatever you saw, then maybe they were trying to save you from panicing while you were away, when they had already quickly resolved whatever it was? Is that a possibility? Maybe have a chat with them to say that youâve just noticed the video now or that the neighbours have just mentioned it and ask what happened and/or why/how.
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I normally donât check cameras when I have a pet sitter. I did check this time because there was motion at my front door at 3:30AM and 4:15AM. (I didnât view footage until next morning). Thatâs when I saw my pet outside (we live in a wooded area). When I inquired, they were not truthful. I wouldâve preferred them to own up to it and say that it was an honest mistake.
Overall they will get a positive review from me.
I was just a little conflicted on how I should review one of the categories.
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Thatâs a possibility. I didnât look at it from that standpoint.
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Thank you everyone. I appreciate the feedback.
I agreed with what some others have pointed out except when you said âWhen I inquired, they were not truthful. I wouldâve preferred them to own up to it and say that it was an honest mistakeâ Mistakes happen but whether to tell the truth or lie about is all about integrity. If it were me, I would just write an honest review. If I was a HO, I would want someone who could be honest through the good and the bad. On my first petsit, one of the HOâs dogs ran through the electric fence and my entire family had to chase it all over the neighborhood. We caught her, carried her inside the house and as I checked the electric collar out, I had to come into the house an in a split second the dog got past me and ran again and we had to chase her again. I was dreading telling the HO but of course I did. I thought I would get a 1 star negative review but she was the one who actually sounded sorry. I would not want to deal with someone who lies even a little bit because then I would wonder what else went wrong that they didnât tell me about
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Your pet was outside alone and in an unfenced area? And what exactly did your neighbors say? Weâre your neighbors telling you the pet was alone and running around the streets?
I just finished a sit and I walked the dog a few times at night because I stay up late. Also, one night I left the dog outside night in fenced the backyard for maybe 20 minutes because she woke me up at 3 am to go to the bathroom and I fell asleep in the sofa. But she was in a yard with a 6-foot fence and no way for anything to get in or out. Other than falling asleep on the sofa for a short time, I had never left the dogâs side.
It makes me so worried that pet parents could read into a situation without knowing the scenario. I really do not like how people are going back through the footage looking for something wrong.
I hope when you asked them a question, it was specific and direct rather than vague.
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Their integrity was the part that my husband had an issue with.
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I was told to make my post vague since this is a public form where both HO and pet sitters can view.
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I do not know about this situation. You are asking for advice but you have not clearly outlined the situation. Did you ask them not to let the dog go outside in the night? Is it in your care instructions? Did you specifically ask them if they did this? But in my opinion, it is difficult to give advice when you are also not clarifying the entire situation. In any case, I would be honest in your review if you have truly asked them about this particular situation and you are sure there is nothing that could be misunderstood.