Petsitting dilema.

[PigWittington]

My aunt asked my 18yo daughter to petsit for her during the summer holidays. Its a 7 night holiday and DD was to stay at her house minding her 2 dogs for £140.
Unfortunately one of the dogs passed away of old age a few weeks ago and my aunt has now messaged my daughter along the lines of 'I was paying you £140 to watch 2 dogs, now I only have 1, can I pay you half, £70'

I don't really know what to say to her. I understand she based the amount of what it would have cost to board 2 dogs at a kennel but DD is still doing all the same things, staying away from home for 7 nights. Feeding. Walking etc.
Plus DD needs to feed herself whilst there, will be away from her friend group etc.

I don't really know what to advise.

I would reply i understand but its not worthwhile for £70 so best you find someone else. £10 a day is a pisstake.

How mean of her. Most petsitters are £50/night minimum , and more for any additional care. As it should be. Done properly its skilled work. I understand this is a family situation but she's got a cheek proposing to half what was already underpaid.

Suggest she has a look at some of the sitter fees on Rover or related sites to adjust her expectations.

Perfect

As so many have said, petsitters charge mainly for coming rather than the number of pets; it is more for two, but certainly not double, so I'd pull out completely and leave the CF to it

This is the most sensible and clear reply which won't immediately trigger massive offence and falling out unlike most of the others on here!

I would reply with £70 is fine - which half of the week would you like me to do?

Another vote for a polite no. Doing this should benefit your DD, it's not a gift. Reducing the already small amount for a disconnected week away is awful.

No is a complete sentence. Teach your DD to be assertive. This is lesson 1

That is nowhere near what it would cost to board a dog for a week. I pay £60 a day for a live in sitter so my dogs are home and familiar. It would be a hard no from me. £70 for a week???? Good luck finding a boarding kennel that is reputable for that

£10 a day is an an absolute piss take, there is a cattery near me that charges £23 a day and you have to take your own food! Dog walking is £12-15 an hour on its own.

I would reply for her, and say “hey Auntie Tight Arse, this really doesn’t work for Charlotte. There is no difference to her in looking after one or two dogs and £140 for pet sitting services is cheap anyway. Charlotte has decided to pick up some casual work locally which pays £10.85 an hour. I’m sure you appreciate that makes more sense to a hard up student”

edited to add, I would pay my DD £70 to empty the dishwasher and cut the grass for a week just so I didn’t allow my aunt to take her for a ride.

Just say no sorry. £140 was cheap. My pet sitter charges £50 A NIGHT.

Sadly everything is about money these days.

Remember DD isn't a qualified pet/house sitter - she's doing it as a favour, with pay as a bonus. She could have said yes or no. The bit about the friendsip group is irrelevant.

On the flipside, aunt is saving on kennel fees and her house is occupied while she's away - offering money for this is a token gesture, nothing to do with minimum wage etc.

It boils down to does DD want to dog/house sit or not, and/or is the amount of money a game-changer?

What about meeting half way £100, or say no - then see what aunt says.

My DD house/pet-sits for relatives, has done since she was 18. One of them doesn't pay or provide food for her but DD loves the animals. Another relative she's babysat for pays her over the odds, food available but relative doesn't turn up when due home - she dropped that one. Another one does a shop for her before he goes away, pays her well but dog is a pain.

I used to babysit for free - time to spend with the kids, I house-sat for free - it gave me some independence. The experience can teach them things they'll never get chance to try if the ££ is the major factor.

I would say "while I am sorry for your loss, I am not able to reduce my rate."

I think the going rate for one dog is £35 where I live. One friend pays £50

Hard no. She's taking the absolute piss. I do dog sitting and it's £45 a night so she had a bargain with the £140!

Your aunt is taking the piss, no one else would do this for £10 a day. £140 was cheap.

It's a very simple solution. You or your DD say 'this no longer works for me/DD' (and wish your aunt all the best getting pet sitting for £70/week)

"Remember DD isn't a qualified pet/house sitter "

What is a qualified pet sitter? What qualifications and certification do they hold, and how is the certification quality controlled and audited? She isn't insured, granted.

"What about meeting half way £100, or say no - then see what aunt says."

If DD says no to less than £140, I can pretty much guarantee the aunt will come crawling back when she realises she can't get boarding or petsitting for anywhere near that, if she can even get anyone booked. That would sour it for me, I wouldn't want to be giving up a week of my precious summer cheap as a favour if I knew that my relative had tried to deal me down and basically resented me for not doing it for half nothing.

I think PPs suggestions of replying as a fait accompli are good "Sorry to hear about Miffy, unfortunately I can't afford to care for Biffy for a week for £70 so have accepted an alternative job that week that pays minimum wage. Enjoy your holiday xx" rather than trying to deal, as DDs starting point was already very low and that was only for the sake of family goodwill, which the aunt clearly doesn't care about.

£35 a day was what we paid
2 hours off a day and she provided all her own food
I know that was cheep and how lucky we were
Aunt is a CF!!

Yes that’s really stingy. A tenner per day? No thank you I’d tell her to turn it down unless the original cost is stuck to

No your aunt is being very cheeky. Most of the pay is for things which will be just as inconvenient for your daughter with one dog as with 2

• staying at aunts'
• being based there
• planning her week around the dog's needs

Unless the dog that died had significant medical needs, or could only be left for very short periods and so would be significantly more work than the remaining dog, the extra work for 2 dogs would be tiny.

Not a chance. The payment is for her time, not per dog.

£35 per night here, so £245 for a week and that's just for over dog!

I dont believe for one second that it would cost £140 for 7 nights for 2 dogs at any kennel! She is definitely taking advantage of your daughter. £10 a day is laughable!
Why dont you say she might be better putting the dog in the kennels as its not worth your daughters time

I pay £30 per night for pet sitting. She's taking the piss.

I'd tell her £140, a full fridge and drinks. Or send her doggo to the kennels (she won't)
She's already getting a bargain. Cheeky mare.

Maybe qualified was the wrong word. Let's say 'registered', someone who has their own business or is employed by a business owner, has experience and can provide references, and who also pays tax and has the appropriate insurance.

This is cash in hand for a relative so not a professional sitter, I don't think the two are comparable.

It's upto the OP's daughter what she does.