What to do when a long term sit is unexpectedly cancelled?

We are pet sitters and also pet parents. We live in Austin, Texas but travel frequently to the New York City area for medical treatment (It’s nothing serious. We’re trying to grow our family via IVF🤞🏽). Using the Trusted HouseSitters platform has helped us afford this adventure, and we are so grateful.

In the past, we have secured sits that allow us to remain in the NYC area for a month at a time. This summer, we secured sits to be in NYC for 2 full months (all of May & June), which allowed us to plan and prepare for medical treatments that will take place during that duration. We are already in NYC & have flights to return to Texas at the end of June. We also secured a lovely pet sitter through THS to care for our two dogs in our Texas home.

Unfortunately, last night we discovered that our month-long sit in June in NYC has been cancelled. :cry: We understand that things happen, & we very much appreciate the notice now rather than later. But this places us in a very difficult predicament.

Returning to Texas a month early would displace our pet sitter & force us to cancel our treatments in June. Because the June sit was cancelled with 3+ weeks before the start date, we are not eligible for any help from the THS platform, since they claim we have been given “plenty of notice.”

We are applying to all relevant listings that pop up in our saved searches and are hoping for the best. :crossed_fingers:t4:But what else can we do? Do you have any other platforms to recommend?

Edited to comply with the forum guidelines

Hi @DianaAndPaul

You don’t mention your work situation, but if you’re in a position to offer a few hours’ work each day in exchange for a place to stay you could look for opportunities on this platform:

I’ve used it several times in the past and have had some memorable experiences as a result!

3 Likes

Explore other possibilities.
There is time for sits nearby, perhaps not for a month but days and weeks will help with costs and burdens.
Expand your search area to a commuteable distance. Many who work in the city don’t live in the city. You could go into Connecticut, New Jersey for example. Transportation is more than abundant there. Find a work around in between your treatment dates.
Reallocate funds, a budget for these unexpected situations because they do happen.
All the best

2 Likes

Like someone else suggested, keep an eye out for sits in Connecticut and NJ. I am from that area originally and I see a lot of sits in both states that would be an easy commute into New York City. Jersey City in particular often has lots of listings, and you can be there in minutes. The town I lived in in MIddlesex County, which is more central NJ than northern, was just a 40 minute bus ride or a 60 minute train ride. There are some spots in NJ that would put you in the city way quicker than certain areas of Brooklyn or Queens.

1 Like