Hi @ChrisCJ firstly congratulations on confirming your sitters, can I just check, is the sit now showing on your dashboard as a confirmed sit? If yes, an automated decline message will have been issued to the other applicants. You are certainly a very thoughtful homeowner, it is always much nicer to receive a written note when declining someone rather than to just receive the automated message.
I’m assuming on this occasion you replied to the other applicants before confirming your chosen sitter/s? I only say this because otherwise they will have already received the decline notification before they receive your message.
I hope this helps to explain.
I attached another thread you might also find helpful