To have let friend down last minute with dog sitting

Ah you sound like a very lovely friend and she's being v v unreasonable. I eat meat, but cant handle raw meat!!

I think that would be a rather unpleasant task for a vegetarian 🙄

I’d tell her you would be ok giving the prepared raw nuggets (a mix of raw meat and veg etc, in chicken nugget sized frozen chunks) that you could pour into the bowl and leave to defrost. They don’t look ‘meaty’ whilst frozen chunks- if you were ok with that as not handling raw meat and no hassle to prep.

The groomers thing is VUR. If, like the previous poster suggested, she’d approached it as, ‘they’re fully booked, I appreciate it might not be doable, it’s inconvenient etc, but is there any chance you might be able to take him?’ But to present it as a fait accompli? Absolutely not.

This is her problem to fix. You’re saving her a fortune by having him vs defending g boarder/house sitter. The least she can do is try and make things as easy as possible for you.

I say this as a dog lover and owner for 20yrs, who is also veggie and has fed raw.

She should not be expecting you to provide cordon bleu meals for her dog (said as a dog owner). Preparing a raw fresh diet is difficult if you haven't done it before.
Our dog was put on antibiotics for a nasty infection 4 days before we were due to go on holiday. We contacted the sitter straight away and would have fully understood if she didn't feel comfortable giving them. Fortunately (not sure what we would have done otherwise) she said she was fine with it, and doggo is a massive foodie who gobbled them up in a slice of cheese. But you can't move the goalposts and just expect people to be ok with it.

Not unreasonable at all. She’s changed the goalposts. And I’m a dog owner/lover.

I am a life long vegetarian with a raw fed dog , don’t like handling it either tbh but my dog and my choice , your friend is being unreasonable not telling you sooner x

She could easily portion the meat up and freeze it. All you would need to do is defrost in the day or night before and not touch it. (I'm not veggie but even I hate handling raw meat.) Then you could just add in the other stuff fresh. As for the groomer - No way!

She should have made the changes crystal clear when she implemented them, she's been rude expecting you to fulfil these, YANBU.

If the dog has been on a fully raw diet for 6 weeks, giving it kibble now will cause an upset stomach.

As pp have mentioned there are a good few options for complete raw which would be acceptable for a few days, it would be a case of defrost, portion & serve.

Edit to add, the grooming appt can be changed. I'd never plan this if I was going to be away.

When I have asked friends/neighbours to pet sit I have always been really clear about what is needed and given them loads of opportunities to decline for no reason other than they don't want to... And checked again nearer the time. If she wanted you to do the grooming appt it needed to be a really apologetic 'I'm really sorry but groomers is fully booked for ages and this is the only option they could give me, is there any way that you could, no worries if not.' Not a 'by the way grooming appt is on x day at y time'.... ! And the raw food thing is really unreasonable if not discussed beforehand, she needs to get something ready prepared for those few days.

The only thing that occurs to me is that you said you were really looking forward to it - is it possible that you have been so enthusiastic about looking after the dog that she thinks you will love doing anything dog related? (She's still unreasonable not to be clearer though esp about the food).

I don't see why you can't do the dog sit, but go back to the old food type.
Asking you to prepare food especially, is not what you agreed. However, cracking an egg over some kibble is easy and this you could still do.

As for taking the dog to the groomer's, you could ask them to change the appointment if it is difficult for you to get to. However, a groomer's appointment is a couple of dog free hours for you and she'll be paying.

Yes, she has moved the goalposts, but she probably hadn't realised that any of this would be an issue. She clearly loves her dog and would not want to stick him/her in some kennels - even if she could get a place - so you are forcing her to cancel her trip over trivial matters.

See if you can compromise on the food and don't let her down.

No, it all mixed up is fine in bags in the fridge - it’s how I do it

She’s an idiot.

If you are still speaking to her maybe say it’s the dry diet plus some veg etc and no grooming appointment or cheery bye.

I have a dog and am not vegetarian. We use a cooked food but I have to touch it and honestly I really dislike it.

That wouldn’t be a balanced or healthy diet for the dog. So wouldn’t be fair on the dog at all.

The OP is vegetarian so will prepare vegetarian meals for herself, not handle raw meat. She is also autistic with sensory issues.

I think you’ve been more than accommodating and tried to find a way around this to help your friend. She needs to be less rigid and meet you at what you’ve said you can do. I totally understand the issue with preparing the raw meat and sensory issues around that. You shouldn’t have to put yourself through that.

I like animals more than people and I don't think you're unreasonable at all. Your friend is.

I mean, I wouldn't have agreed to dog sit in the first place but if you can make your own meals surely you can feed a dog raw food? It might not be pleasant but it's not going to kill you.
Not going to the appointment is fair enough, they can move that.

The food I think you are being unreasonable but to book a grooming appointment expecting you to take the dog is ridiculous!

I am a dog owner, no way would I change diet to raw without letting you know, there are raw complete meals, whilst not perfect for you, may be ok as you just empty the tray out. I wouldn’t expect you to take dog to groomers appointment, they’ve known about being away, so should have changed this appointment. I don’t know any dog boarders who would facilitate this.

Booking a grooming appointment whilst you were looking after the dog was inconsiderate. That can be moved.

Regarding the food, as someone else has said, can she get portions ready? Its a big ask to ask you to sort this all out.

lol, I’m a vegan and definitely an animal lover. But presumably her friend loves dogs and loves her friend, yet she has planned things in a way that has put her friend in an awkward position and maybe her own dogs will have to go in kennels. Just because OP is vegetarian, which may mean she’s an animal lover, doesn’t mean she has more responsibility to her friends animals than the friend has herself!

I’m a dog lover and even I think this is too much, particularly the grooming. You’ve done your bit, happy to do it with dry food, otherwise they make alternate arrangements,

Yeah some people add loads of stuff others buy or make freezable premade.

She’s got the type that would be an Instagramable plate. Chia seeds and all sorts. COD liver oils. Maybe some seaweed.