I understand that HO trust their family, friends and neighbours more, because they don’t know the sitter, however it’s so annoying that their family, friends, neighbours don’t commit, we commit full time, and they are like above us. I don’t need their unsolicited help. It’s either or(whom to use), not both.
(I learned a lesson from a sit where a neighbour calls on)
If you don’t have a car, and they don’t offer to use their car, and they say taxi is no good in emergency, what’s the right thing to do?
Is it an emergency? Contact the HO or the emergency contact. Why would a taxi not be an option? Is it a pet emergency or your emergency?
If third parties keep intruding, gently nudge the HO that this is against THS policy. If it continues, contact THS. Keep a log of the uninvited ‘check-in’s from friends and family.
Did they explain why the pet may need to see the vet? If I’m understanding you correctly, you think the pet is ok and they are using it as a cover to have the friend check on you?
I guess it’s difficult to answer because 1) if the pet does need to see the vet and you have no way to get the pet there, then the emergency contact has to step in. And you would want them to, right? Otherwise you are assuming responsibility to get the pet to the vet and also probably pay and wait to be reimbursed? and 2) Did the HO make you aware that the pet may be ill? Does the pet have any symptoms? Or was it suddenly when you arrived, and the pet seems fine?
Pets don’t know how to lie. If they are lethargic, not eating, vomiting, diarrhea, etc well then they are sick. With no symptoms, they are probably fine to wait until the end of your sit to see a vet.
OK, that sounds somewhat legitimate to me. Can you compromise with the HO? You can text them a photo each day of the wound. If it looks fine, then all is well and no need for friend to stop by. If it shows signs of infection, then friend can take the animal to the vet.
You can try to bring this up with THS but if there is a legitimate reason for the friend to be involved for the welfare of the pet then I don’t think they are going to get involved.
It’s an unfortunate situation and I get your frustration (you are there and can monitor things full time) but surgery can be tricky and wounds do need to be monitored carefully. Especially if you have no access to a car, as infections can spread quickly and I wouldn’t want to wait on a taxi that may or may not allow a sick pet to ride.
Also, some vets allow you to to send a photo directly to them. You can ask to try this so the vet team can look at the photo and determine if the pet needs help.
It sounds like this was a situation beyond the homeowner’s contral and they are trying to manage it as best they can. Maybe the friend is very knowledgeable and can assess whether or not the wound is infected. It’s understandable they want someone’s eyes on it that they know and trust. It’s not a personal insult.
Not being a vet, I would not want to be in the position of deciding whether or not the pet needed to see a vet. What if I made the wrong the call? In this case, if you feel the pet needs to see the vet and the friend doesn’t, then you can make your case to the homeowner. Otherwise another pair of eyes means you aren’t to blame if something goes wrong.
I don’t see anything wrong with allowing the homeowner to have a friend check on the pet under these circumstances as long as you work it out so that these checks aren’t happening in a way that interferes with your work or privacy. Since the friend is going to be involved in the diagnosis, the friend could also be involved in getting the pet to the vet if needed.