Let down at the very last minute and TrustedHousesitters.com are saying I can't complain

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
41

There have been lots of assumptions made so let me clear a few things up:

We did have a telephone call before the sitters agreed to sit, where I told him that the dog wasn’t happy to be left and said our sit would suit someone who worked from home or was a real animal lover who likes going out and about with the dog. Yes it is prominent in the profile that we are on the edge of the countryside and have lots of lovely walks and someone mentioned the listing says about the New Forest and coast - becasue to us these are perfect for days out with dogs and of course we would be happy for our pet sitters to take the dog out with them, and not sit in the house all the time, which someone else seemed to suggest. I don’t see how this is wrong to put in the listing about the countryside and beaches?!

Anyway, he didn’t seem interested in this and asked several times in that call about whether we could lend them the car (which we couldn’t because our insurance won’t allow it) and then asked very detailed questions about transport in the area. I thought that he just wanted to work out how to get to us and assumed (wrongly obviously) that after the call, the way it works is that sitters want to see all the details in the guide themselves, so they can see exactly what they are getting in terms of pet care as well as details about the home they are due to stay in - so I said in the call that I would send the guide- this is 4 weeks in advance - and to have a look and let me know if there were any questions. This is why I was so shocked when he hadn’t even looked at it.

So yes, I take on board about putting this very prominently which I realise I definitely should have done, but it was not hidden in any way as we discussed it on the phone and if he didn’t really take note then, I thought he was just fine with it by the way - if he had read the guide and cancelled at that point it would have been ok becasue it was still 4 weeks beforehand. It was doing that right at the last minute which I think is totally wrong, But it seems from reading replies, as though people don’t always read the guide until the time of the sit, or even at all. I should have had the alarm bells ringing in the call when he didn’t seem interested in the dog. Also, when we collected him, again he was asking and asking whether he could use our car, even though we had previously said he couldn’t and he seemed really unhappy about this and was really pushy, saying that home owners usually let him use their car. So I don’t even know if he listed to a word I said in the telephone call.

When I last used the site, a long time ago admittedly, our sitters seemed like massive animal lovers and really loved spending time with them. I thought that was still the point of the site. I wouldn’t be happy for a sitter to go out all day every day for 6+ hours on a dog sit (cat sit, yes). I think that this should be very much made clear in advance if that is what a sitter wants to do, so the pet owner knows what they are getting - it is not all one sided the other way round either, and for sitters to get free accommodation for hardly doing anything. If you want to do that, don’t select a sit with dogs.

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42

I agree. Just found the profile and under responsibilities it just says this : - Feed and water both cat and dog morning and evening please, Walk the dog at least twice a day and take out for toiletting. The cat is very self sufficient and just need her litter tray cleaned and food and water put down but Prince loves company so not too much alone time please! Water the plants inside - and if hot and dry, outside too please.

There is no mention of dog only being left for only 20-30mins and this is definitely an unusual request. That is no time to go anywhere. A quick trip to the nearest shop and back again. Looks a lovely dog. But in a kennels he will be left alone far more than that and without the usual home comforts.

43

This unfortunate situation is a good example of what can occur.

A responsible HO knows they must provide critical information in their listing, especially such extreme requirements as their dog not able to be on its own for 20–30 minutes maximum—as many others have mentioned, this is very much at odds with the tone of the rest of the listing that sounds like a normal sit with the ability to go on outings.

Responsible sitters will carefully review the Welcome Guide prior to arriving to the sit. If these sitters had done so, they would have discovered the extreme time limit at that time and could have canceled with advance notice.

Additionally, both parties ought to meet via video chat or call PRIOR to a sit being confirmed; this is the time in which each party asks the other questions and makes sure to cover the most important information. A typical sitter would ask how many hours the pets could be left on their own, so even if the HO’s listing was sparse in details (as in this case), that information would be revealed at this point.

On a related note, this scenario illustrates why it would be hugely helpful for THS to add a mandatory field for “How long can the pet be left on its own?” under the listing Responsibilities. This is information that 100% of sitters need, so why not make sure that 100% of HOs provide it?

Edited post as per our Community Rules - Keep it Kind

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44

Turn it around: Are you saying you’d happily spend time, money and effort to travel to someone else’s home and sit a dog that can’t be left for more than 20-30 mins, simply because you love pets?

Even if you ignore that crucial info wasn’t disclosed upfront in the listing, it’s a crummy offer for a sit. And it’s not as if there aren’t plenty of other sits with pets that require only normal care.

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45

Playing devil’s advocate here but let’s look at this another way.

There are soooo many complaints and forum posts here about how members want to receive the WG as soon as a sit is accepted. If one goes back and reads many topics, this seems to be the general consensus. So this HO sent the guide and the issue about the dogs was made clear in advance, 4 weeks in advance. The HS simply did not read the guide, had they done so, they could have cancelled the sit and the HO may have been able to find a new sitter. If I am EVER sent anything by a HO, I read it, maybe there will be something in it that I need to know, and in this case there clearly was.

My second point is, the HS stated they go out all day every day when sitting. Is that really the thing to do when you are looking after someone’s beloved pet? I would never, ever, ever go out all day every day when I have a dog to care for, without first meeting the dog and getting to know it’s behaviour. Maybe once or twice or whatever after being with the dog and seeing how it is and how long I feel comfortable leaving it for. But 6-8 hours EVERY day? C’mon guys, do you honestly feel that is acceptable for a sitter to do? My own dog had separation anxiety so I limited my time out accordingly. Of course I went out, but certainly not all day EVERY day as stated by this HO. I do not believe that this sitter was/is doing sitting for the right reasons and is probably looking for a prime location to sit in order to simply sightsee. I would have never taken on a sitter knowing that they thought so little of my dog that they found this acceptable.

House/pet sitting is certainly a two way street that’s for sure and I agree it benefits both the HO and the HS but we as sitters must also show a duty of care towards the pets. My profile clearly states that any sightseeing can be done before and after a sit ends and the pets are my main priority. Naturally I do go out, often, but never as this sitter wanted to and definitely not as long.

Let’s be a little fair here and consider this. Though it was a terrible situation, I don’t agree that the HO is totally at fault, there is definite fault on both sides and in the end, who pays? The pets.

This thread is almost becoming like a lynch mob mentality with members talking about this HO as though she doesn’t exist. Constant chat about how to see her link, back and forth, talking as though she wouldn’t be reading all this after initially reaching out. She is probably thinking she will be burnt at the stake!

I know I know, I will be rebuked big time for saying all this and I don’t totally agree with the HO BUT - couldn’t we just for a minute take a closer look at the situation and think about what I have written? It takes two to tango and I believe that both parties are at fault. The HO should have clearly stated the dogs requirements on the listing, not depending on the WG to do that. Secondly, the HS should have read the WG that was sent in advance, clearly stating the dogs requirements - she didn’t read it. Novice error on the part of the homeowner, not necessarily intentional and error on the part of the sitter for not reading the guide in time. If everyone reads the HO’s last post in this thread which clearly everyone hasn’t, it partly reads…so I said in the call that I would send the guide- this is 4 weeks in advance - and to have a look and let me know if there were any questions. This is why I was so shocked when he hadn’t even looked at it.

Does anyone actually believe it is acceptable for a sitter to be out all day every day sightseeing when on a sit?? I sure don’t. Please be gentle with me? :wink:

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46

At least it is not good.

But this Welcome Guide is so sectioned. It sounds as if they were very interested in some specific information like the address. They may have read that immediately, but one does not see the other sections right away. Some other sections (garbage collection etc) are only relevant at the sit.

I would have clicked on all the sections, but I am a retired person with time on my hands.

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47

They’re both at fault — the HO for not being clear upfront in their listing. Imagine how many people would’ve applied for a sit that declared the key info — probably no one. The homeowner was wasting applicants’ time by not being upfront. The sitter was irresponsible for not reading the welcome guide earlier.

Many dogs can’t be left for many hours and I personally wouldn’t leave my dog or anyone else’s all daylong, but it’s a privilege to say that, because I telecommute. Plenty of people go to work every day and leave their dogs alone out of necessity.

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48

@Maggie8K many leave their dogs alone when going to work, but not all. We need to look at specifics here and not put everyone in the same basket. We are talking about this HO.

We have agreed on the point in your first paragraph which is basically what I have written in my previous post.

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49

Why not? I don’t have the energy for that, and there would be days that I was at the home, just go out for the dog walks and for groceries.

But I would also want to see Winchester cathedral. And one cannot take a dog inside.

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50

Ziggy, as a responsible pet owner, knowing that your dog can’t be left for X mins / hours at a time, wouldn’t you declare that upfront, rather than leave to chance that any random sitter would automatically match your idea of care? Wouldn’t you do that especially if your dog required extra care?

51

@pietkuip I did clearly state in my post that I would go out occasionally, most definitely. My point was if you read it carefully, not ALL day, EVERY day, that is my point. That is simply not acceptable

52

As a HO is definitely a pet-peeve of mine when a sitter does not read my welcome guide until last minute, but from not so great experiences I’ve had - I’ve made my requirements very clearly in our profile. But yes, I do find it annoying when instructions listed in the guide are missed. The welcome guide is more than just a guide to explore the area or find the specific address.

Not being able to step away for longer than 30 minutes seems like a lot to ask though, but if OP can disclose that the dog can tag along when going out in their profile, I think that will avoid this from happening again.

I also agree that both HO and HS are at fault here. Hopefully both parties can learn from this experience.

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53

I agree @Maggie8K but I am looking at this from both sides, not just the HS side. If you read the posters last post, I think that pretty much sums up what happened and why I think people need to think about it a little closer. We sometimes post replies simply from the original post without reading the whole thread so if everyone reads the whole thread, in particular the HO’s last one, it shines a new light on what actually transpired.

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54

Personally, I read the welcome guide as soon as I get it, and I prefer to receive it sooner than later. Better to cover yourself from unwelcome surprises and ask questions.

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55

@Maggie8K my point exactly! :+1:

56

@ziggy Why would that not be acceptable?

One walks the dog, feeds him. One goes out during the day. One returns and walks the dog. One might the be at home in the evening. Or one could go out in the town.

It is not what I do, the nice thing about petsitting is that it is relaxing, that one can take it easy, that it is more pleasant in a home than in some hotel or bnb.

But the way that this listing was written, going out every day the whole day was possible. Maybe take the dog along on days that one did nature walks. Or city walks if he was good on the leash in traffic and very well behaved in pet-friendly cafés.

57

@pietkuip we will always agree to disagree :wink:

58

Thank you for your reasoned response, I have just replied with more detail as we did discuss in advance actually although everyone has assumed from my brief outline that I hid the details - but like you have pointed out, the lynch mob mentality prevails and everyone is judge and jury without all the facts. Really nasty comments - which has confirmed to me that THS is no longer the pet focused place it used to be, based on the vast majority of these replies anyway.

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59

Please everyone, take the time to read the HO’s last post in this thread, this sitter was NOT there for the dog, he was clearly looking for a place to stay to go sightseeing every day, ALL day. Can’t we just try and look at it from the HO’s point of view and not just the sitters and read the entire thread, not simply the first post. Let’s be fair hey

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60

It’s really the HOs responsibility to list the dogs needs in their listing. Under “Responsibilities”. Adult dogs can be left alone for 4 to 8 hours unless they have a special need. Other information that would be helpful is if the sitter can take the dog on adventures and what their exercise tolerance is and where their favorite walks and play areas are. Knowing if there is a car available to use for these adventures is also important as many rental agencies don’t allow dogs in their vehicles. Taking the time to add this detail ensures a good match.