My sitter arrived at my place and since she got there I’ve had issues.
For one, she invited two friends over from the moment she got there at 11:30am they stayed overnight the first night. The second day she didn’t take my dog out for her first walk until 3:30pm for only 15 mins, left shortly after she dropped her off and then didn’t get back until almost 11:00pm (which means my cats and dog didn’t get fed until then) and didn’t take her out for a walk when she got home either. I do have a backyard she can be let out in but she will not poop in the backyard and will hold it, which I’ve communicated with the sitter on multiple occasions.
I also told her that my neighbors (who live in the unit above me with their two-year old) brought up the fact two men were also staying with her and wondering why I didn’t tell them there’d be more people. So when I brought it up to the sitter she mentioned that it was a last-minute thing they stayed over and that’s why she didn’t tell me and they wouldn’t stay another night. Well I know one of them stayed over that night because I have an outdoor camera that looks out from the front door (which she knows about and is noted in my guide etc).
I didn’t tell her I knew he stayed over again last night but did remind her once again to make sure to take my dog on walks to poop. It’s now 12:30pm and she still hasn’t taken her on a walk since 3:30pm yesterday.
I hate to be that person that’s checking my camera and feel like I’m “watching her”, but it’s getting ridiculous. I messaged her to say she needs to be taken out as I’m getting super upset and she said she was just about to as she was just finishing up some work stuff.
At this point I just want to tell her to leave and have my friends help look after my animals as this has all stressed me out so much and don’t know what to do :(. Looking for some advice on what everyone else would do in this situation.
Edited to remove sit dates as per the Terms of Service.
I’d report her to THS and have her leave. Sounds like a jerk who doesn’t care about pets and shouldn’t be sitting at all. Using your home like an Airbnb. Please make sure you get her out of the house so your dog and cats don’t get further neglected. And review her accurately so other hosts can be warned off.
It’s appauling, she hasn’t done as instructed, if your neighbours can care for her then great, report her, as soon as you’ve liaised with membership services I’d tell her to leave asap, because it sounds like she’s breached your agreement.
I spoke with my friend and had her go pickup my dog and spoke with the sitter and said she needs to leave within a few hours. I explained why and that I don’t feel comfortable with her in my home anymore. She begged me to let her stay and made some excuses as to why she wasn’t walking her (she was feeling sick…which I’m sure she would drinking wine much as she has been (instagram stories)) and that her friend didn’t stay overnight (after she promised me he wouldn’t) but only came back at night and then the next morning to get his things. Which was also another lie because I could see he was there all night.
I don’t know if I’m in the wrong for asking her to leave but I didn’t trust her with my home or my animals anymore and needed her out.
You are not wrong. Have her leave and make sure your friend gets the keys. Please don’t let THS cancel the sit in the system so that you are allowed to leave a review because other HOs need to be warned of this sitter and their behavior.
I’ve been sitting for 10 years and I’ve had a guest to dinner once. That was with permission from the HO in advance. I’ve never had an overnight guest, but I will on my current sit at the insistence of the HOs because it’s a 6 month sit and they don’t want me being isolated that long. But I went into detail about who would be there, how long I’ve known them, how long they would stay, etc. My visitors will be my cousin and some friends from London who I’ve known for over 20 years. I verified with them multiple times and I still feel weird about it even though I know they’re quite happy for it to happen and put extra sheets out for people to use when visiting.
All that to say, I would NEVER have anyone over without the HO giving advanced permission. I don’t even let neighbors in without permission because you never know if someone is who they say they are or might have bad intentions.
Hi @Talexandria
Wow. Sorry you’ve got such an awful sitter who seems to be going against everything a sensible sitter would do. Hopefully she’s removed from the platform so others don’t suffer the same fate.
And yes she needs to leave asap.
Yes you are doing the right thing.
This sytems can ony work when both sides are considerate, responsible, truthful.
When either side lies or doesn’t fulfill the agreement, the “TRUST” part of THS is weakened , someone gets let down. Sadly it’s often the pet.
You are well within your rights to have this sitter leave ASAP. Her neglect of your pets is atrocious! Please leave an honest review and file a member dispute against this sitter. She has no business being on a pet sitting platform if she is too lazy to provide the care needed to ensure the health and well being of pets.
I am curious what was about her that you would choose her? I always talk about my schedule with dogs. Especially if there was an outdoor camera since I know they have a knowledge if I am walking the dog or not. That is just so disrespectiveful. That kind of entitlement has to there when you interview them.
I really hope not because her reviews seemed fine, however, maybe the previous sits didn’t have any cameras because if I didn’t I wouldn’t have had any idea what was really going on.
So I did a video chat with her, another phone call and then she came over in person a couple days before the sit so that I could show her how to feed the animals as well as show her house-related things. She had four reviews, two that were a repeat from the same HO. I wouldn’t have selected anyone that didn’t have THS verified reviews. She seemed very sweet and caring (and I think deep down she is, or maybe I’m just too nice), but she totally took advantage of me and the situation/opportunity. I also live in Toronto and there’s a lot to see and do here and she was heading back to Brazil after this sit so I guess she wanted to live it up.
My upstairs neighbour just told me that they had the music up really loud the first night too. I also rechecked my camera and saw that on Saturday my dog was last walked at 5pm and she didn’t go for another walk until 330pm on Sunday. Ridiculous.
Thankfully she did leave at the time I told her to and left her keys. She didn’t clean up and the house was messy but not TOO bad based on what my friends said. At least my pets are all safe and taken care of now and I don’t have to worry but the past few days have been so horrible with worry.
In what you mentioned it totally makes sense you would be more inclined to have someone over. 6 months is a long time and that’s so nice of them to offer! I’m the same as you and would’ve never pulled that without permission or introducing the guest I was bringing over somehow. My sitter was booked two months in advance so she had ample time to have me meet anyone.
I just don’t understand what was going through her head.
Nasty situation. Hopefully extremely rare. Seems well beyond verbal warning - sitter exit appropriate (if friend available). Sounds like community provided timely response and THS assistance (and friend) on the way. There’s plenty of great folks, on both sides, of the housesitting community.
