To think this house sitter was bloody cheeky?

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

My DM recently got a house sitter for 10 days whilst we all went on holiday. She had used her once before and all seemed fine. She seemed very professional - took detailed information about all the animals, signed contracts, she is fully insured etc.

She was supposed to sleep at my DM's house each night, although my DM was aware that she would need to pop back here and there to exercise her own dogs (she lives with her parents).

She was paid over £600, and for that she had to look after 2 dogs and feed a cat. There are also 2 horses at my mum's, my mum's horse who is a big cob, and my daughter's pony. She wasn't expected to do anything with the horses.

While we were away the house sitter emailed to ask if it would be ok if her partner's kids came to meet the horses. My DM said that was fine. When we got back, my mum had a good chat with her and the house sitter said that the kids had come over and groomed my mum's horse, but not my daughter's pony because she was grumpy (she is grumpy).

I was the first to go into the tack room, and noticed that the bridles weren't in the right place. I didn't really think anything of it. But today my DM said that there is grease on the bottom of her saddle, from where the saddle pad hasn't been put on properly and it has rubbed the horse, which she wouldn't do. Also her bridle had been done up all wrong. The stirrups on both saddles were at different lengths to how they'd been left by Us. She suspected that the house sitter had taken the kids riding on our horses. This was confirmed when she went for a ride around the village today and a neighbour (who has booked the same house sitter) said that the house sitter had emailed a picture with the kid sat on her horse!

Not only is riding someone's horses without their permission incredibly rude, it is also a really stupid thing to do. She knew nothing about our horses, they could have had any kind of quirks, and putting 2 kids on them (when she doesn't appear to know much about horses herself) was just bloody dangerous.

Not only that, but my DM said there's no way that the bed was slept in for 10 nights, so she suspects that the house sitter had left the dogs overnight which she wasn't supposed to do.

WWYD? I absolutely think that something should be said to the house sitter, but my DM is veering towards leaving it, and just locking the tack room if she uses her again! She was paid a lot of money, and in my opinion, took the piss.

Has she been in contact yet? Has your mum seen the solicitor?

Word of mouth is extremely powerful, who would use a house sitter who does that.

I really feel for the dog and cat, to treat them like that she can't be an animal lover. Animals, particularly dogs, need company at home.

We recently went away and our elderly dog really deteriorated to the point we had the vet out to him. No fault, he simply missed us, was off his food and sad. The house sitter was there but he just wasn't us. We are a household of 5 so there is always noise / hustle and bustle plus I do give my elderly dog a lot of help and attention.

We came home thinking we would be having him PTS however he picked up and is back to how he was!

Did the house-sitter come via an agent? If so I'd have words with them to say how reckless and dishonest her behaviour was and that you won't be using her again.

Wow littlefluffy I'd be so furious if this was me, YANBU!

The sitter was really stupid, putting herself and the kids and her partner and the horses in danger (and potentially damaging other people's property). Then to use a picture of it to advertise is just bloody cheeky.

Let us know what you and your Mum do. I think speaking to her first to make sure she hadn't got the wrong end of the stick, unlikely as it is from what you've said, might be a a good idea. But I don't think it is unreasonable to leave an honest bad review. If only to warn others that she isn't responsible with animals and avoid her doing something stupid again.

Sadly people seem to think horses and ponies are public property, I've been filmed whilst schooling in the field and had holidaymakers let their children play football in my pony's field, where there are several horses and electric fencing! When I told the parents it could be dangerous, they said 'but they are nice horses' . They'd also signed the holiday cottage rental contract stating they would respect the working farm and animals. People just have no idea. I am very pleased the cottages are privately rented rather than holiday lets now.

Good Luck

No she's independent, not through an agent. Though she is registered with NARPS, and it's likely she has her insurance through them too. We've asked NARPS to confirm that her insurance would cover her partner and kids to be around the horses. She told us in an email that it did. Obviously we knew nothing about them planning to ride them at that point. That's one hell of an insurance policy she's got if it covers her children riding unknown horses without permission.

As an aside, one clever mumsnetter has identified exactly which part of the military her partner works in. I can feel a phone call/email coming on there regarding theft of our property.

It's not theft of your property if they gave it back though. The most you have is a civil claim, I think.

Whatever the technical term is - it's not the sort of thing that the military would take kindly to. Particularly as she has photos of him in his full military get up on her website.

let us know what happens i wold have posted on her fb page if she was still allowing comments i think shes disgusting

I'd sue for all the things pearshaped lists.

Is the photo of your horses still on her FB page, OP? That'd be the first thing I'd get on to – a cease and desist notice for that.

I run a dogwalking/petcare agency and we do offer housesitting, we charge £40 per 24 hours. We're NARPS registered, and use Cliverton Insurance as recommended by NARPS. It specifically excludes horses. We're willing to put food out and top up water, but on the understanding that we do not need to enter their stable/enclosure when doing so. If there is an obvious problem, we request a contact number for their equine vet.

We are not allowed to leave the house for any longer than four hours (which is more than enough time to do a dogwalk for other clients).

NARPS dispute resolution service was great, the only time I ever had to use it.

If any of my people had done what this young woman has apparently done, they'd be off the books pronto!

Good luck OP.

Has your mum heard back, op?

All photos have been taken down now...eventually. Though she's put all her privacy settings on Facebook up so they could still be there, I just can't see them anymore.

I contacted the military police but they can't do anything as it was a contract between civilians. That's a shame. I really wanted to get that smarmy git in the shit.

Waiting for a call back from the legal people, and in the process of dealing with NARPS. Once that's resolved, I think local press is the way forward to put the final nail in the coffin of her business.

Still haven't heard anything from her...

All photos have been taken down now...eventually. Though she's put all her privacy settings on Facebook up so they could still be there, I just can't see them anymore.

So have they or haven't they?

Pity about the military but you tried!

Legal, and word of mouth, are your ways forward now.

there are no pictures there that we can see, put it that way.

be careful of saying anything that could damage legal proceedings-dont go to the press until that part is resolved

inbox me her fb i'll have a look see if the pics are up

I understand why your mum feels responsible for the cat, but the fact is this woman mistreated him while he was alive.

I'm not a professional house sitter but I have done quite a lot of house sitting and I'm experienced with cats.

In that situation I'd have called your mum and taken him to the vet for the abscess as soon as it appeared. I'd have noticed the pee in the bathroom as when I say I'm in the house full time, I am. I'd have organised a litter tray, food and water upstairs with the cat so he only had to move a few paces to pee. If he was only moving between his bed and litter tray, not going downstairs to go out, I'd have called your mum and said he was on his way out and asked if she wanted to come home.

I'm not saying this to sound like St Francis, but just to set out what a responsible animal sitter would do in the circumstances.

The cat was left in distress for the last portion of his life. If you take on a sit with an animal that old you have to be prepared for that happening. And you have to know what to do. If you don't then you call the owner so they can come home.

Op...did you screen shot the reviews and pictures before they were removed. I cant see much on her page at moment although i wouldnt be pleased if i had used her as she put a thank you letter with the clients full name and address on.

Rach - I didn't screen shot her response to the review I left but I have the pictures.

Ah bollocks to it...she operates on the Somerset/Dorset border. But I don't think she's going to be house sitting much longer, so I wouldn't worry too much about booking her in the future.

I've no idea whether she moves around with him.

No I won't see her around, she lives a fair way from me (I live 15 mins away from my mum, and she's 15 mins the other side of my mum). But I would like to see her. She's organising a fun dog show in September. It might not be so much fun if we turn up.

Could you put a complaint with trading standards?

So he's not Navy then if its Somerset/Dorset boarder. Does narrow it down somewhat .

He's not in the navy, but he is based nearby.