I’m posting this here because I’d like a sitter’s perspective. I’m an HO and just had my second sitter. I thought things were fine, got a couple texts with photos, which I loved. I came home to a note. The sitter was unnerved that I had a camera in the home. It was a laser cat toy, not a camera. I would never have a camera in here.
I understand how it could be perceived as that but she said that, as a result, she didn’t spend much time here. She said she isn’t giving me a bad review because of it, so I should just let it go. I asked her why she didn’t just text me and ask about it instead of letting several days go by. She admitted she should have.
As I’ve had time to let it settle, I now wonder why she didn’t just put it in a closet or cover it with a blanket.
I know everyone responds differently to things. I just feel bad that she was uncomfortable and didn’t think she had options.
Some folks can’t deal with things directly, unfortunately. Leads to unnecessary problems for themselves and others in many cases. Good that she at least didn’t review and inaccurately mention a camera in your home.
I have a camera that I have moved to different areas in my home, when trying to determine which dog was doing something naughty. It has been sitting in the same spot for the last year or so, completely unmonitored. I could see myself potentially forgetting it is there. As a sitter, if I saw what I thought may be a camera the HO forgot to remove, I would unplug it and let the HO know once they returned.
Unfortunately there is a bit of paranoia going around regarding cameras as they are becoming more prevalent as they are cheap and easy to install. Many posts I have seen are mis identifying things like motion sensors, alarms and what have you as cameras. Saying that though we have had a bad(ish) experience with an external camera and won’t sit for HOs that have them now. In your case the sitter should have raised the issue early on.
A missing review will show on your end, and you might need to explain to some sitters. Frankly, I think her not contacting you and possibly neglecting your cats because of her percieved issue is a problem. I’m not sure if I would write a critical review as a result but I feel like this is problematic because as a homeowner I wouldn’t want a sitter who was going to act in a way that could harm my pets – not spending time in my home – because of something they perceived but didn’t check out. It doesn’t just sound like bad communication. It sounds like bad behavior – passive aggressive with the pets as possible targets of their feelings.
Were there any issues that you are of with the sit? I’m wondering because this sounds almost like a threat in case you were going to write a bad review for her. So in your shoes, I could understand not wanting drama and not wanting to review her. But in my opinion if there were issues with her sitting, you need to write a review that warns other homeowners about those issues and her accussation and lack of communication with you about it.
You’re a good person and a good owner to feel bad about her feeling uncomfortable, it’s a lovely quality. We’re all different, some speak up and some don’t, it’s what makes us all unique, but sometimes it’s because of the whole review system and what the other party will think of you, but usually the review system is great most of the time.
She probably just felt really awkward about it, so dealt with it her way instead, which was to stay out of the way of it to try to ignore it.
Let it go now, and move on, you’re a decent person for thinking about her feelings, we can all see that, and you should too !
As a sitter I always ask in the video call if there are any active surveillance devices inside the home. That way, if there is, we can talk about whether they’re ok with disconnecting it while I’m there.
However, as you say, @mdarden1x, it’s easy to forget it’s there if you don’t actively use it. Just like a book on a shelf. I understand that, so, if I found a device I thought was a camera, I would cover it or turn it around, then text a picture of it to the owner and ask if it was indeed a camera. It could be any number of things, not just a camera. Open communications are so important when pet sitting.
It would take an awful lot for me not to spend the agreed amount of time in the home, and even then I would let the pet parent know why and what my plan to care for their pets was (or ask them to contact their backup.)
As housesitters then we’ve encountered a number of instances of breaches of THS Camera & Recording Devices Policy. Mostly recording devices (e.g. Google Home, Amazon Echo/Alexa, …) that have video and/or audio capabilities. One unstated indoor camera.
As instances developed, we’ve discussed whether to discuss with Pet Parent. Mostly we do not mention during the sit as we’d rather the Pet Parent enjoy their trip. And we can easily deal with matter by disconnect offending items from power supply during housesit and reconnect at end of sit. If perceived issues, we talk with Pet Parent. We have nothing at all to hide but seek privacy. Last year, we did buy a pen-sized device that detects various nasty devices. But that’s probably excessive for most people.
We turned the camera around that we found on a sit once and threw a towel over it for good measure. We’re on the same sit again and the host asked “why did you turn it around? It wasn’t turned on. You could have unplugged it if you were worried.” He also showed us he had unplugged it this time. No harm done or meant but same as @Happypets in that we don’t want to be bringing it up during the sit if we can just deal with it and be comfy. #happybalance
If it’s got a rechargable battery unplugging it does nothing to stop it recording until the cell expires (can be weeks). And even covering it doesn’t guarantee it’s not recording your audio.
Can I ask what you got, and where, if such links are allowed? I’ve considered getting one in the past but there are a lot available, it seems, and the reviews seem to range from 5 stars “this is great” to “zero stars, didn’t work, I sent it back”.
Some sitters are totally paranoid about cameras. Was she young or inexperienced? Is it too late for her to leave a review for you? Missing reviews are sometimes perceived as a red flag.
That’s all a little unfortunate. Clearly you did nothing wrong. I appreciate your empathy for being able to see it from the sitter’s perspective (though I still leaving a sit early is a real no-no). You seem to be the sort of person a sitter would be happy to meet and sit for.
Entirely her issue I would say, lack of maturity or emotional resilience. A quick text to you would have sorted it out . Now I am worried because on a Christmas sit in Spain we bought the cats laser toys! Hope their next sitters don’t think they are cameras
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