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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have let friend down last minute with dog sitting

185 replies

Rawfoodworries · 25/09/2025 17:10

The arrangement was I’d dog sit for 4 days, dog has always been fed on dry dog food no issues and I wasn’t expected to do anything more than feed, walk, look after him. With a week to go I’ve just had a message explaining his new diet (raw!!! With all theses extra things eggs sweet potato vegetable and some kind of oil!) I can’t cope with that as I’m vegetarian and autistic and have issues around food smells!

There’s also a grooming appt ??! That I’m expected to take him to. I’ve said it’s not going to be possible for me to facilitate the raw feeding or the appointment. This has caused a massive issue as friend wasn’t prepared to back down so I’ve said ‘sorry you’ll have to make alternative arrangements’ AIBU ? It’s been arranged for months and I even saw them last week and nothing was mentioned then but apparently he’s been on this new diet for a while ??

OP posts:
millymollymoomoo · 25/09/2025 17:20

We feed raw but it’s out of a packet ( ie no preparation) can they not do that for 4 days ?

Original poster
Rawfoodworries · 25/09/2025 17:19

LaurieFairyCake · 25/09/2025 17:18

The grooming appointment can be changed

and she can bag up the food into individual bags so all you have to do is tip it in the bowl. She can easily mix the oil and the mince and the veg together and have individual bags made up in the bottom of the fridge

you shouldn’t have to touch any of the meat Flowers

I can’t do it anyway but she was saying it has to be done fresh each time as she adds things like fresh veg and raw eggs ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rawfoodworries · 25/09/2025 17:18

I’ve said I’ll still do it if he can have the dried food he was previously on but she said that will upset his stomach. Apparently he’s been on the raw diet for 6 weeks now. There’s no way I’d be able to stomach doing it as much from a sensory perspective as not wanting to handle meat.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 25/09/2025 17:18

The grooming appointment can be changed

and she can bag up the food into individual bags so all you have to do is tip it in the bowl. She can easily mix the oil and the mince and the veg together and have individual bags made up in the bottom of the fridge

you shouldn’t have to touch any of the meat Flowers

UnhappyHobbit · 25/09/2025 17:16

I’m a bit undecided here. Does your friend have form to mess you around?
If you’re a vegetarian, I assume your an animal lover? I’d hate to put my friend under unnecessary stress when they are going away. What if kennels are the only other option? I’d also hate to think that I have left a dog to be in a kennel, you know, as an animal lover.

TheJeanQueen · 25/09/2025 17:16

She should have mentioned the new requirements when she first asked you. Maybe she didn’t realise it would be an issue, but that’s on her. It’s not worth falling out over, but if she’s being an arse about it, I’d back away from her.

InMyOpenOnion · 25/09/2025 17:15

The grooming appointment could presumably be moved to when they're back, it's not really fair for them to expect you to cover that. For the food, could they prepare it in portions before they go so you just put it in the bowl? They sound a bit inconsiderate to me, probably because they can't see the problem. I would try and do the feeding but if you can't, you can't.

HannahHamptonsGloves · 25/09/2025 17:15

Not at all unreasonable. While raw food is typically carefully prepared and of high quality, is is not without risks for both dogs and those feeding them. It is a very different ball game to tipping some kibble into a bowl twice a day.

tinyspiny · 25/09/2025 17:14

This is entirely your friends own fault she has changed the goal posts massively

BettysRoasties · 25/09/2025 17:12

Totally not unreasonable.

We raw fed our dogs when we had them and it’s not something I’d just throw at someone who’s not used to it. I also wouldn’t book in dog grooming for while I was away.

She wasn’t upfront when she asked the goalposts have moved. I wouldn’t feel bad for backing out.