Dog Sitter Nightmare

We all adore our fur babies. They are our children, but sometimes it is lovely to have some Human Only Time.

John and I finally carved out one night to have a romantic Staycation. This actually took a couple of months to plan due to his hectic work schedule.

We tried a new pet sitter who had been highly recommended to us. She has had much experience with dogs. I have seen her with dogs for almost a year, always interacting in a really positive way. We always interview people who are going to stay with our animals.

Both John and I had misgivings, feeling something might not be quite right, but we couldn’t put our finger on it. Whenever she saw the dogs, she gushed over them, and they seemed to like her very much. Her dog experience is great, so it biased us. We thought she just had to be wonderful. I mean, her world is dogs.

We had her do multiple dog walks with them. That went well. Still that uncomfortable feeling would not go away. She seemed responsible and knowledgeable, so what was our problem?

We did acknowledge our concern enough to purchase a web cam.

She showed up an hour and a half late, saying she had been called into work. We watched her feed the dogs and I assume potty them. Then nothing. We were getting ready to go out to dinner. We then heard all four dogs keening loudly. No person. I began texting like crazy. After minutes she texted back saying dogs were all great. Jazz was on the bed, and the others were all playing happily. I asked where the dogs were. She said the family room. Well, it was crickets in the family room. No dogs. No sound. No person.

We called our neighbor to check for the pet sitter’s car. No car. Needless to say John and I were having a miserable time. I told her we had a web cam. She called and apologized, giving a song and dance about needing to run home for clothes. I asked her if she did not realize she was spending the night. She said yes of course she knew she was spending the night but had managed her time poorly.

We cancelled our plans and came home to four very stressed upset dogs. In our bathroom we found a receipt for the bar she had been to instead of coming to be with our dogs.

She was also our pet sitter for Christmas when for the first time in our lives, John and I would have gone on vacation at Christmas. Needless to say, we will remain home with our fur babies.

We feel angry and can not believe someone who protrays herself as a dog person would treat dogs or their families this way. So, my friends, the moral of the story is always go with your gut. If something feels wrong, accept you are right.

A web cam never hurts either.