It's a normal set up to have family members at a pet sitting agency be part of the staff and take on some of the pet sitting. When you use an agency, typically you will have multiple people in your home, especially around holidays where it's busy and there's lots of travel.

I always tip 20%. Having the right support network for my pets is essential to me.

How have you found your independent caregivers? Would prefer to do the same and thanks for any tips.

I hire independent caregivers only (ie, not from Rover or similar) and so I don't tip anything. They keep 100% of what they charge.

Me: What is your rate for one dog, one cat? Whatever you say is fine. [note: I generally know the going rate in my zip code].

Them: $$$ per visit.

Me: Great! I have just Venmo'd you $$$ x 4 visits.

I tip everyone who cares for my animals well. I want to build goodwill.

I wouldn't be thrilled about the son and girlfriend showing up without having been told about it. It's definitely unprofessional to send someone to your house who hasn't met the dog. I also don't see why they both had to go. Again, unprofessional to have a girlfriend tailing along.

But no harm, no foul. And you know these folks socially, if if only peripherally. Tip 20%, and if they watch your dog again ask about who all will have access to your keys/home/take care of dog. But bear in mind, good reliable pet care is hard to come by. So if you are happy with how your dog was cared for, then things are good.

I think its ok to send the son, but I'd be concerned at both of them doing it. Its a business, no tip.

For the first time, we hired an agency to check on our sweet dog while we were away for a couple of days. They did a great job. But the last night she actually sent her son and his girlfriend who she claims were employees to care for the dog. I had met her and her husband and I knew them peripherally before (our kids played together and we went to one of their birthday parties), but I had never met this son or his girlfriend. I'm also friends with the owner's sister just to add in.

I won't lie, I was a bit taken aback by this. There were no issues in the end. And I would hire them again, as long as I could meet whoever was coming into my home.

We were going to give them 20%, but not sure how typical it is for agencies to send in people we haven't met and wondering if I should bring this up? Consider docking the tip at all?