Same in Thailand @Cuttlefish @ABGM Never ever put paper in the toilet!
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Just completed a 2 week sit on La Palma one of the Canary Islands. Organic matter only down the loo. Has to do with the sewerage treatment on the island.
Same in the Greek Islands. Therefore, if going to any island in Europe, check this out with your host if it bothers you to deposit the paper in a bin.
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I see you mention this was real estate not a sit .
We have had this also on two rural sits in older properties U.K. where they had a septic tank not mains sewage- there was a restriction on the chemicals that could be used to clean the toilet and at the other we were requested not to flush toilet paper down .( bin provided)
If you are not used to it seems strange at first but was ok .
Lovely clean homes in gorgeous countryside and weāve done repeat sits for them because the surroundings were so peaceful and relaxing .
Yes, many places in Mexico and other countries, toilet paper gets thrown in a trash bin and not the toilet. Not uncommon especially in developing (non first world) countries.
Many Western high-end homes have septic tanks if theyāre built on acreage ā the vastness / distance makes connecting to the public sewer line prohibitively expensive. But you normally can flush toilet paper and, if you were just visiting (versus taking care of the home), thereād be no difference in using the facilities ā guests usually wouldnāt know whether there was a septic tank.
I once owned a large property with a septic tank. The only time it was different was when I ordered normal maintenance once a year.
These were both houses built in 1400s !!! I doubt that the septic tank was that old . More likely a āmodernā addition added a few centuries after the house was constructed.
There were some restrictions about what chemicals could be used to clean the toilet ( all provided by HO ) and toilet paper couldnāt be flushed down . I assume that they had experienced problems in the past hence the restrictions.
Amazing homes to stay in , full of character and history despite that āinconvenience.ā
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Makes sense if the house is ancient. Those homes mightāve gotten older āmodernā septic systems and not upgraded since? From what Iāve learned about newer ones, TP isnāt a problem.
The soap or such might be, because depending on what and how much you use, it could throw off the bacterial balance or such. I donāt remember the lingo or specifics now, but learned such when shopping for homes.
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I saw one a couple of days ago where the two large dogs had to be taken out with the sitter 3 nights per week to particular dog friendly restaurants (a list of restaurants was to be provided to the sitter)!!
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I also saw a listing here in Sydney where the sitter needed to speak German so they could communicate with the HOs live-in mother who was also expected to be cared for by the sitter. I did actually report that oneā¦
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On our current sit one of the two cats requires walking outside on a lead every day and having her teeth brushed every night! Both firsts for us. 
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We had a sit where we were asked to sing to the seedlings in the greenhouse 
ā¦
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Were you required singing qualifications?
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Fortunately for me , no auditions required ā¦.
I did comment that the plants might die with my singing and I wouldnāt be held accountable 
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I have just seen a listing where the owner mentions in a couple of places that sheās obsessed with tidiness and cleanliness but the pictures show a cluttered house with messy beds and sofa.
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I have a friend ( not on THS ) who does the same 
ā¦
Hhhaaaahhaa what the heck. And who exactly is paying for x3 restaurant meals per week? 
Sounds like another owner who has confused their own lifestyle and personal routine with the actual needs of the pet. Sigh.
One time, my partner and I did a sit where during handover the owners gave us suggestions for when to have breakfast, take showers, have dinner etc (because thatās what they did). They gave us a complete run down of their own lives and personal habits and routines with zero understanding that weāre not here to live life as you would, weāre just here to care for the dog mate
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Iāve today noticed a listing in France where a sitter is required to ā do some gardeningā. at the pet parentās holiday home, where there will be no pet but they want sitters to get the garden ready for their return in June. This means mowing the long grass and generally cutting back the shrubs. They state: āIt is quite physical work.ā.
I thought this would fall under āprofessional servicesā but an agent has advised this is acceptable as it is stated up-front.
I guess that someone will do it, but it seems like a bit of a cheek, to me!
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Thereās a sit in San Francisco that says:
āIn addition, we may have travelling nurse at house during the time of the sit - who is gone alot at work - but if this is something you are not comfortable with, it may not be the right sit. We will know more in the next month.ā
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I would love taking cats for a walk on a lead. I once looked after a trio who followed along on rambles in the woods.
As for teeth brushing ā dental decay can become a disaster for cats. Donāt ask me how I know. 
Heh. Or basically anywhere rural in North America? Wish I could say mine was āhigh endā, but Iām sure glad my septic doesnāt have those issues!