Walked up to Griffith Observatory yesterday, almost 5 miles, up and down through the end of the Santa Monica mountains. Took the bus back. Even the dog had enough of adventure. Great when you can get on the bus with dogs. When I think back to that second sit, it cost me almost $40 in gas going to and from the dog run the HO wanted me to go to. On my last sit, there was no way the dog was getting into my car. It was partial husky and shedding its winter coat. I could have made a blanket with all the fur it shed.
Though on one sit, loved the dog, I did take it in my own car to the beach, not far, but in traffic and heat. It had never been to this dog beach, where I had taken my own dog, while I stayed for 2 months, during my dog’s last months. The dog was so happy to be on dog beach in Long beach, CA.
@CreatureCuddler I totally agree that HOs are more and more expecting sitters to be professional cleaners and gardeners. I’ve neen sitting full time for 3 years now and the HOs that leave little thank you gifts and are appreciative of the service provided are becoming fewer and owners that treat me like an unpaid servant are becoming more common. But I just don’t return to those. As regards a vehicle, I don’t think sitters should expect one but nor should it be expected that a sitter will take dogs out in their own car every day.
We don’t leave our car for sitters but say in the listing that we provide a back seat protector (which we clean before the sit) and a small cordless vacuum. We’re in a rural area with plenty of walks to do from the house so sitters don’t have to drive somewhere to do them. But we choose sitters who do want to go hiking with our dog, who loves that. I think it behooves owners who expect their dog to be transported in the sitter’s vehicle to at the very least provide a good seat cover and leave money for them to use a powerful hoover at a gas station.
I take dogs hiking. On my second sit, in an RV in FL, I was expected to take them to the dog park everyday and they gave me a seat protector, but no gas money. I even took them twice a day sometimes since we were in an RV park. It cost me about $40 in gas for the time I was there, but no money was given. I did take one of favorite sit dogs quite a ways to a dog beach in CA because I wanted to take the dog to the beach. Also, I wanted to go for a swim. And I transported one of my early sits because I was going to be away – the HOs knew I was moving my daughter’s stuff out of apt and into summer storage. So the dog came with, hung out in her apt etc. It was a shedding long hair chihuahua, but so cute. And I brought its bed so it stayed in the bed. I just don’t like the expectation that I should take a dog in my car. If so, there should be sufficient gas money. I think you giving them a seat protector, plus gas money and money for the vacuum is unusual.
We don’t give them gas money since taking our dog places in their car is totally optional. But I agree that if it’s a stipulation, the HO should pay for gas. It seems like something a sitter should ask about during a pre-confirmation call.
As a sitter I have noticed the equivalent to this in HO’s asking for insane expectations. Only leave the house every now and again for a maximum of two hours, walk dog 5 times a day plus mow the lawn and Tend to the pool which you can not use, pay $600 a month in “rent” because their house is “so nice”… I could go on. I’m not sure what’s going on but this sitter you zoomed with sounds quite brash in the way they came at this. Broaching the car subject in advance and respectfully would have been a better choice maybe? I do think sitters are arming themselves with a list of questions because they are really being taken advantage of now. It sounds like HO’s are too!
It didn’t occur to me, as it was my second sit, I arrived, it was expected of me. Now, I applied for a month long sit and in the description it says there are some parks 15 minute drive. Are they providing a vehicle or gas money? I will find out.
This is not normal; though have a list of questions is a good idea since I have had to abandon 3 sits for filthy/pest infested homes. Where do you live? Most sitters do not leave a car with one exception which is a truck because I have to haul my own trash to a facility with a special sticker. I would not expect a sitter to provide a vehicle, unless the pets needed to be transported somewhere.
I have my vehicle on sits. For the first time I will not. I had been planning to buy a new car, but wanted Bronco hybrid, and they kept delaying. But driving cross country, as I stopped for gas in Victorville, CA, I blew a gasket. I had medical and dental appointments in 3 days in MI, so I was crazed with rentals, getting across the country in 2 days. And searching for cars. Just bought one, on the 4th day. Pick up in 10 days. So I still have rental, a sit. I did the second rental deal so I could return it on the second day of the sit – $150 us per day. And just get one to return back and get my new car – before I head cross country again. But I notified them I would be sans car. Whatever expectations are.
Yes, I’m receiving more applications from people who seem to have picked up on the offer of free accommodation, but missed the other side of the equation: One stating they’ll have their husband two kids and their dog with them and one stating they’re a musician, so will be away some nights.
You bumped an old thread but there are some good points to be made. Entitlement isn’t just a recent thing, but it’s more obvious.
The thread title is not accurate, as this isn’t about providing a vehicle, it’s about entitlement and expectations, attitude and rudeness on the part of the sitter, if the event was described accurately which is always questionable (10 loads of laundry per day, c’mon. A sitter couldn’t even pack that much in their own car)
As far as providing a car, there’s no “should” which is a word that implies one person judging another based on their own perceived belief of right or wrong, that much said the more amenities a host offers, the better the likelihood of confirming a sitter, and probably more of a choice of applicants. It’s also a nice thing to do for someone who is taking care of your home and pets.
As far as the original post goes, the host could have offered use of the car if the sitter was willing to make the round trip to drop them off (and presumably pick up).
We do exactly that only it’s more like a half hour and often we can swap the car at the airport at the end of the stay.
I am in a very rural area. Although a 10 km ride into the center of small city. She told me people applied without cars, expected to be picked up from somewhere, sometimes not close and then asked about a car loan, despite the sit saying you need a car. It seems like many do not read the sit thoroughtly.
You see, you’re obviously writing this because it’s hard for you to find a sitter in your area. otherwise, you wouldn’t be spending time airing your frustrations. All over the world, prices go up when you’re far removed from the “center of things,” so why shouldn’t sitters be able to ask for more to make the trip out to you?
For instance, I have friends who bought 30 acres and built a house in the woods, the access road was wide but just a standard dirt track, and every delivery driver refused to service their address—even though it was only a five-minute drive. They were forced to have the road graveled. Why should sitters be any different? If you’re located far away and they have to put in extra effort to get there, it’s a service you need more than they do.
it is probably a good thing it played out the way it did, because that sitter sounds weird. just move on to the next applicant. 3 out of 6 of my sits (including upcoming) have offered their cars. but we are not looking for sits with cars – it’s just a nice surprise when offered.