No Shower. A Terminal Dog. Filthy Home

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
1

Well. This was a first…

The listing advertised both a shower and a bath. In reality: only the hot tap worked - and not just “warm-your-hands” hot, but boil-a-lobster hot. The host, deadpan, admitted they “only use the hot.” Which begs the question if they’re reptilian, or do they bathe in a river?

A lone bucket sat in the corner like it had time-traveled from 1820 - presumably for DIY temperature control using cold water from the kitchen, a garden hose, or divine intervention.

Then… the dog.
The listing described a “challenged but chill” senior dog who “has occasional accidents.” Reality: the dog was barely able to walk or stand, 100% blind, suffering from multiple serious chronic diseases, and on a medication schedule the size of the Bible - from morning till midnight.

Sweet creature - but terminally ill and absolutely not manageable by anyone other than the owners or a paid professional.

So, I was basically lured into an involuntary hospice rotation. Was mopping from morning until bedtime. Then again after the nighttime accidents. At no point did the floor dry before the next wave hit. Like cleaning in a monsoon - only warmer, smellier, and much, much sadder.

Because the dog was blind, it moved through it. Slipped in it. Spread it. No rugs. No barriers. Just slippery tile and wood — like a dog obstacle course designed by a sociopath.

The apartment: Filthy on arrival. The fridge looked radioactive. The whole place reeked. I had to open every window just to function.

The hallway was blocked with furniture to prevent the dog from moving anywhere else due to the gravity of it’s accidents. Which meant you had to climb through furniture to reach the toilet, kitchen, bedroom, and living room. Cabinets where lined with towels to absorb leaks from the accidents - that’s how serious it was.

The listing (and photos) painted a picture of a clean, welcoming stay and an easy-going, chill old dog. Reality: a marathon of scrubbing bodily fluids and solids, while trying not to lose your mind or slip and join the chaos.

The only thing “chill” were the hosts - who apologized, yes, but seemed bizarrely unbothered. They appeared nice… which some might fairly argue they can’t be, since no truly decent person would leave a dying pet with a stranger.

In conclusion: A complete nightmare. And genuinely feel sorry for that poor dog living like this. The only reasons I didn’t leave day one: it was only two nights (mercifully), I have a good heart, and apparently too many hours logged in Sunday school. Obviously, I had to cancel all other plans during this.

I agreed for a peaceful stay and ended up with an unpaid medical internship, no functional shower (which I desperately needed), and a vision-and scent memory that I will never forget. Honestly, feel violated by the gravity of what I walked into.

Can’t find much guidance in the terms on what to do in situations like this - maybe because most people assume something like this only happens in nightmares..which it was.

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This would very much need a factual and honest review and the calling of a member dispute (need to use those words for it to happen) to give the host a warning by THS.

Hope it is well documented with photos/ screenshots.

(I would even call it an animal welfare problem. Let the poor dog pass the rainbow bridge)

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Did they have any previous reviews? If not, they might have signed up out of desperation, knowing full well that the review would be terrible and they would never get another sitter for that dog.

Otherwise, they are completely clueless.

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Yes, have videos, messages, pictures, everything. Though the dirty kitchen and fridge was the least of the problem (never thought I would say that). I don’t think a warning would cut it, as this is their way of life - these are all permanent arrangements, including not having access to a shower. It’s definitely an animal welfare issue, and on top of that, there was a toddler living in it too.

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Raise a member dispute

you must call it this for THS to act - present the evidence-

Then THS will investigate and can ban them from the platform preventing any future sitters from this experience.

Hopefully you never encounter another sit like this , but for any one that does the THS Urgent Support Phoneline can be called 24/7. The number is on your dashboard.

Each sitter can make their choice whether to start/ continue with a sit that breaks the terms of service . However there is no obligation to stay with these previously undisclosed issues since this is no longer a mutual exchange.

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From the looks of it, they’re fairly new, and their listing kept popping up sporadically when searching in this city.

They had one local guest a couple of months ago — likely around the time the place was staged for the spring photos on the profile. That single review is short and all 5 stars, so my guess is that either some financial gratitude was involved, the dogs’ condition has declined since, or there was some kind of arrangement where the sitter didn’t actually stay there.

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Oh, my heart goes out to you and that poor, sad, dog. It’s both a heart-breaking and nightmarish picture that you paint. I know how much you must have wanted to leave, but no, no one with a heart and soul could possibly leave an animal like that.
I know this is not a PC term, but was this a sit in a Third World country (please, no one yell at me). No shower? No cold water to mix in with the hot from a shower head? I visited friends in Peru many years ago, and water had to be boiled, then mixed with cold, and a camping shower was rigged up in a shower stall. That was a spa compared to your experience. And the ordeal with all the cleaning up after the dog. Just so wrong of those humans to be less than honest, or to leave the dog at all.
I’m so relieved for you that the sit was no longer than 2 days. You are a mensch!

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Ugh that sounds awful (a non related tip. Remove the — it’s a ai give away )

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Oh how awful for you! We’ve read about some bad sits on the forum but this has to be the worst. Despite your terrible experience you write with humour. I can’t understand why owners would go on holiday and leave a dying dog with a stranger. It sounds like the dog should be put out of its misery as what quality of life has it? Very kind of you to take the dog on as only for 2 nights but I’m wondering why you didn’t walk straight out on arrival? Was there a handover?
Please follow the advice that others have given you. Apart from not being allowed back on THS the owners shouldn’t be allowed to have more pets so if you feel up to reporting them to the RSPCA, or whatever your equivalent is if not in the UK, then do so.

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Stick to the facts so sitters can avoid any future sit. This might be holding back judgement and anger – if for no other reason than that it might be a turn off to future hosts and detract from what actually happened

I’m not defending the hosts. But I can understand what happens when a pet gets old and you become the pet’s caretaker. It’s not much different than when a relative gets old. Sometimes something happens quickly and you see it. Sometimes, when it happens slowly you are like the proverbial boiling frog and you don’t see it at all. It becomes the new normal.

I know you feel duped. You probably were duped, but maybe not as intentionally as it seems. All I’m saying is the sit sounds like a nightmare, but you only experienced it for 3 days. They are living it.

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Thank you so much for your kind words :dizzy:
Yes, heading off just wasn’t an option in this case. Most of my THS sits have been with senior or rescue pets, part of why I do that is to try to give a little bit back while traveling. But of course, there’s a limit, and this one really shouldn’t be left alone at all - maybe not even with professionals.

No worries, totally get what you meant. Hosts were from the Middle East, small flat in a good neighborhood in one of the richest cities in North America. There absolutely should be the means for basic sanitation and proper pet care.

The contrast between wealth and neglect made it especially shocking. That said, this city is also known for regular people suddenly shifting priorities despite appearances…

Your Peru story actually sounds charming. At least your friends made an effort :sweat_smile:Yes, only hot water came from the tap - nothing from the cold side, and trust me, I tried everything.

Definitely glad it was only two days, was my limit. I could’ve extended my stay at the lovely hotel I came from (with a real shower!), and regretted not doing so pretty quickly. Thankfully, I’m now in a clean, very lovely and peaceful place now… with multiple working showers AND baths

Thanks again for your thoughtful comment, really does help after something like this :blush:

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@buttercup I’m so glad you are at a much better sit now. I’ve cared for many senior animals, in their last days, a few incontinent, but nothing to compare. I’m sure the dog felt loved, and cared for. You made a huge difference. Take good care of yourself!

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Humour is sometimes the only way through a literal shitshow😅

Were supposed to meet the day before, but they kept postponing when the day arrived, so the handover ended up happening shortly before their departure, the dog was sleeping when I arrived.

Have a feeling they may have taken in a rescue without fully grasping the responsibility involved. And now they’ve regretted it and are trying to carry on as they usually do, and this is a chance to leave it all to strangers.

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I would have recommended leaving the sit upon arrival. THS is very unforgiving in its terms - you can only get a sit erased from your history at no fault to you if you decide to leave the sit the same day that it starts. You are allowed to cancel a sit due to reasons such as inaccurate listing and feeling uncomfortable with the circumstances. On your next sit I would advise you to contact THS support to find out what you can do in a situation like this. You definitely should not have stayed IMO. But I know that’s easier said than done because you’d have to arrange your own alternate accommodations which blows. But that’s the name of this game. It’s inherently risky and we are not really protected as sitters - no, not even if you have premium. But at best this was a learning lesson for you. Hopefully you took away something valuable from it. Sorry you had to go through it

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@boyrrito I believe this lovely human being had too much compassion to request that the HO make other arrangements. That gives them 24 hours, half the time of the sit. Not excusing the HO, and I hope the official complaint is made, and agree maybe even the Humane Society should become involved.

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Hi @buttercup

I’m so sorry that this happened to you. It’s not what we’d expect for any of our members, and you would have been within your rights to contact THS when you realised things weren’t right.

I can see that some of our members have suggested reaching out to Membership Services - are you planning to do that - or can I pass over some details about what happened on your behalf? I’m here until 2025-06-20T13:00:00Z if you would like me to do that.

Jenny

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I get what you mean, I’ve had a sick pet myself, so understand how people can slowly adjust to difficult situations. But no matter how “normal” it becomes, I would never, in a million years, leave that kind of responsibility to a stranger.

You’re making it sound like I’m going to retaliate by leaving a review and treating this like a typical listing others can read and weigh up before confirming. I sincerely hope that’s not even an option - this situation shouldn’t be repeatable.

I feel embarrassed and humiliated to have experienced it at all, and even worse at the thought that others might read about it and associate me with it in a review.

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Hi Jenny, Thank you, I’m in a different timezone, but yes, please feel free to pass the details on to your team.

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I’ll do that now @buttercup - can you let me know which timezone you’re in? It will help the team know what time to reach out :slight_smile:

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Non-related answer: just because AI uses punctuation that makes things more readable doesn’t mean we should avoid it ourselves. I work in communication professionally and see no reason to unlearn what I’ve trained for, just because AI happens to use it too. What’s next? No full stops, no colons? :grin:

If anything, good punctuation makes your message clearer, not less human.

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