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AIBU?

To cancel dog sitting

44 replies

RueDay · 21/05/2016 13:22

Hi,
I regularly walk two dogs at the weekends that I met through the borrow my doggy website.

I'm self employed and expected current job to finish end of May so I said I would be able to look after the dogs for a week whilst I was at home so their owner could go on holiday, no money passes hands as its a volunteer dog walking scheme that pairs dog owners with people who would like to walk the now and again.

I have now been asked to stay at current job another month which financially would be helpful but means I cannot dog sit as I will be at work and owner understandably wants someone with the dogs in their home and that they are not left alone for more than an hour or so.

When I told their owner that I couldn't look after them last week of June she said she would have to cancel her holiday and then sent me a text last night telling me not to worry about walking them this morning as she might not be in.

Now feeling guilty and wondered am I being unfair. She is obviously pissed off.

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Whitney168 · 21/05/2016 13:27

Well you are going back on your word, but in my opinion no you are not being unfair. Anyone who books a week's holiday on the basis of a 'casual arrangement' site like BMD is asking for issues in my book!

I think the site has some merit in its original intent (although Lord knows there's no way I'd let a random stranger loose with my dogs). Unfortunately, lots of people treat it more like a magic dog sitting service that they don't have to pay for.

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MatildaTheCat · 21/05/2016 13:30

She's being ridiculous. Send her a link to a dogsitter site. BMD is intended to be mutually beneficial and is not a contract. She does have options but will have to pay for her dog care just like the rest of us.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 13:31

Thanks, yes I am going back on my word which is why I feel guilty.
The only way it could work is if I hire a dog sitter for them whilst I am at work but I am loathe to do that.

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Whitney168 · 21/05/2016 13:36

Christ no, RueDay - as Matilda says, she should be looking at professional dog sitters, not taking the mickey out of others.

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dowhatnow · 21/05/2016 13:36

You have been doing a massive favour for them and saving them loads of money. Don't feel guilty. You have given plenty of notice.

Would she have genuinely not booked the holiday if you hadn't been available?

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19lottie82 · 21/05/2016 13:37

She will have to "cancel her holiday"? But you've "not to worry about it"?

What a passive aggressive drama llama. You've given plenty of notice. Send her a link to a dog walking site and forget about it. No need to fee guilty.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 13:39

I don't know if she would have booked holiday or not. I thought she she had other people who could take the dogs for a week now and again, when I mentioned I was going to be at home in June she asked me if I could have them and obviously I said yes.
Been walking them every Saturday and Sunday morning for the last 6 months for quite long walks and very attached to them but can't give up a months money.

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dowhatnow · 21/05/2016 13:48

You didn't even offer, she asked? Even less reason to feel guilty.

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Whitney168 · 21/05/2016 14:14

owner understandably wants someone with the dogs in their home and that they are not left alone for more than an hour or so.

I am howling laughing at the cheek of thinking someone she barely knows will do this for free!

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 14:19

Is texting to say she will have to cancel holiday but don't worry passive aggressive?, as then you obviously do worry.
Will see what happens when she has calmed down as I am fond of the dogs and they like their walks.

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Godstopper · 21/05/2016 14:29

The cost of kennels or some other form of dog sitting should be factored into the holiday: it is for us, and if we cannot afford it, we simply don't go.

We pay about £250 for a week for the kennels that they like, where they get four good walks a day (less if less walks). This is a normal local rate.

Expecting dog care for free, and then making passive aggressive remarks is stupid, and will lead to you not walking the dog at all. YANBU.

I am experiencing a little bit of this with the dog I walk for the Cinnamon Trust. It was the bank holiday not so long ago, and OH wanted to do something together. On cancelling with notice, we got "well, she's a volunteer so I suppose it is o.k." A month later, I felt ill (asthma flare up) and didn't walk my own dogs that day, yet, when we called, it was the same sort of remark.

I have broached changing one of the days that I walk her dog, as I am trying to find a job (I can only do this as I do not have full-time commitments yet), and was made to feel massively unreasonable. We are VOLUNTEERS, and whilst I endeavor to be reliable, times and dates cannot be set in stone months in advance. It has taken the shine off it, and I am thinking about stopping altogether (not for the trust, just for this person) as I am not an unpaid employee.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 14:37

Thanks Godstopper, yes you are right, unpaid volunteers who did it because we like animals and want to help, not employees!

It does take the shine off I agree.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 16:40

Sent a message on what's app with websites where I found my cat sitter and ignored so to be honest i am feeling like fuck it, which is horrible as I do really like her dogs very much

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Northernpowerhouse · 21/05/2016 16:47

Many years ago before I had my own dogs I met a couple through BMD and i used to walk their dog twice a week. They weren't hard up and could have afforded a dog walker but it suited me as I couldn't have my own dog at the time. After about 6 months with no problem, I mentioned that I would have to change one of my days. Well, they were really stroppy with me and told me not to come back! Amazing how entitled some people can be.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 17:10

Yes people do get entitled!!!

I came round one morning early and heard her on phone saying my dog walker was here!.

Lesson leant but a shame as I do like those dogs very much.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 17:12

To clarify what I heard it's like my paid dog walker !!!

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Gide · 21/05/2016 17:17

It's a volumtary service, but on both of your behalfs. You chose to ask for this, it's not like you work for a charity, so I think it's ok for the owner to be pissed off.

However, the dogs are her responsibility so tough, at the end of the day. I too factor in dog kennel ing costs when considering holidays, £25 per dog per night because it's a bloody good kennel.

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KatharinaRosalie · 21/05/2016 17:22

they are not left alone for more than an hour or so. - are they some special needs dogs? Can't be left for more than an hour?

YANBU, of course, you're not her employee.

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 17:39

Thanks everyone, I am leaving it for now, told her to call me if she still wants them walked at weekends, I suspect I won't hear back, lovely walks but now am uneasy with owner

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RueDay · 21/05/2016 17:39

No not special needs she just doesn't like them left for long on own which is fair enough

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RueDay · 22/05/2016 13:40

Hi, thanks for replies yesterday.

Have had a chat with the owner and explained I am a volunteer, the reason I don't have dogs myself is that my schedule can be hard to predict and that I now feel awkward with the situation as I am being made to feel intentionally or not that I am the reason she is going to cancel her holiday.

Have said I would rather leave it now.

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DailyMailAreAFuckingJoke · 22/05/2016 13:47

Christ almighty don't feel guilty - you've saved her a fortune! It costs me £10 p/h for dog walking when I am not here. I use the same kennels every time I go away and 10 days stay costs me £350 for the two of them. Obviously the cost of vax is on top as any decent kennels won't take them without fall vax including kennel cough.

You've been offered paying work - so unless she wants to pay you for your time, then YANBU. If someone offers to do something for you for free as a favour, then you have to anticipate that they will cancel if someone offers them paying work instead.

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AugustaFinkNottle · 22/05/2016 13:52

What did she say when you talked to her, OP?

I don't believe for one moment that she's going to cancel her holiday.

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TendonQueen · 22/05/2016 13:53

Anything for free is a nice bonus but can't be expected as a right. You have to put your own income first. Why would it be right for you to be out of pocket, when she is the actual owner and is too cheap to pay for 'proper' (no insult to you intended there) dog care?

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Beeziekn33ze · 22/05/2016 13:54

I hope you'll soon find equally likeable dogs to enjoy walking🐕🐶🐩.
She certainly took advantage of you and WMD! There must be more pleasant owners who'd appreciate you!

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