Pet sitter just didn’t show up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about a local middle or high school student? That's what we do for our two cats. We are friends with their parents so we know the teenagers will come through, and it's bigger money for them relatively speaking. I think we pay $20-$30 a day for two visits, feeding, cleaning litter box, and paying attention to the cats, and they live in the neighborhood so they can walk over. They don't have to do anything else except bring in any packages from the front porch.

That’s what we’ll probably end up doing. I thought going with a professional was the safest bet. I’ve had these days since I was in college and they are so important to me. One cat is a darter and she (cat sitter) is careful when she comes in to make sure he doesn’t run out. I am fearful that a teenage pet sitter wouldn’t a aware?

If you invite the new sitter over before you travel and warn him/her about the cat, that should really help.

Also, ask that they text you to confirm that each visit was successful.

[Anonymous]

I had a neighbor who owned a pet sitting/walking business. She was taking our money but not walking our dog consistently. I had camera evidence and I let her know after she tried to increase my rate.

Point is, neither neighbor nor professional guarantees good service.

[Anonymous]

This is my biggest nightmare. People keep suggesting Rover to me, and I'm way too scared to do it -- I picture my dogs left alone for days and I don't know it and it terrifies me. The last time I went out of town a friend from my church who pet sits on the side stayed with our dogs and cat -- I know her well and know how much she loves pet sitting, so that was a no brainer. In the past I have used our dog walking company, KSR Pet Care which is by far the best pet care company I have ever dealt with. I get a notification on their app when the walker arrives to walk my dog, then a report with photos afterwards. At times I've been at home when the walker came and the dogs adore them. So I trust that company for pet sitting as well. FWIW I tip well, in advance.

I have boarded my older dog at the pet hotel associated with her daycare; that made sense at the time, she loves daycare and would be kenneled in the same cages she is in when they take "breaks" at daycare. But now that I have a new dog who is a puppy mill rescue and would be very stressed in the kennel environment, perhaps setting back all the work she's done to become a comfortable pet, I won't board my dogs. Only in-home sitters.

[Anonymous]

This would have been a disaster if your pet had been a dog. Wow. I would be so pissed.