To never agree to this again?

[lastqueenofscotland]

I agreed to dog and house sit for a colleague I’m friendly with while she goes to her sisters wedding and is away for a couple of weeks.
I grew up in the country with plenty of animals so perfectly used to most dogs however...
the house is filthy. The oven in particular is disgusting, none of the glasses were remotely clean, I ended up buying some paper cups

This thread had grossed me out.

Three days in and you haven't cleaned the sink?

Please OP, keep us posted.

What did colleague say when you asked about boiler?

Due to lack of hot water (and heat therefore) alone is enough to say the deal is off, find a kennel or home boarding for the dog that your colleague needs to arrange (but offer to drop off dog). Tell her alternatively, you’ll drop him off in a shelter until colleague returns. By the way, I have a dog and I always provide food, toys, chews, treats, poo bags etc when he is left with pet sitters. (I don’t have people come to me). Responsible pet owners do that.

Do you really think you could last the duration? If not, act now.

Ugh how did you stay one night. Are you being paid.

you can't just put a dog into kennels,
they need to be up to date on their boosters
and they may well be booked up months in advance.

How's it going OP? Just thought I'd post to ask how you are getting along in the world of filth and grime. Is the dog okay?

My cleaner house sits for me each summer with her DH and look after dog/cat.
House is spotless before they arrive as I don't want it to be a busmans holiday. Get oven cleaner man in before they come also. And make sure have loads of pet food in and pets sleep together downstairs.
I also fill the fridge, buy them wine and pay her £'s (not that she asks or expects this as they love staying here so is actually a break for them). They bring their family and grandkids over for some days too.
Anything else is called taking the piss.

How many rooms are you using, or plan to use?

I would make a space for your stuff in the kitchen/other rooms you are using, and only clean that space. Any other clutter (colleagues) could be bunged in cardboard boxes, (by the sound of it, you might need gloves), and shoved in a room you won’t be using, or in a corner, so when she is due home, put the clutter back.

Bring your own kettle and microwave. I know you shouldn’t have to do that, just keep telling yourself it’s for the dog 🐶 well it is anyway.

Sounds grim op 🤢
She obviously doesn't respect you enough to have done a bit of cleaning before roping you in on this favour, so why would you care to not hurt her feelings and not tell her what a filthy fucker she is?

You had to go and buy food and poo bags!
She's not looking after her dog properly either is she and I bet she doesn't even pick up her dogs shit either.

If it were me and I knew where she was I'd rock up to the wedding/accommodation with her dog and tell her what a dirty cow she is and that there is no way you are going to stay in such a filth pit to do her a favour.

What a gritty CF.

I don't mean to insult your intelligence OP but could the lack of hot water be something as simple as the boiler being switched off somewhere? Have you checked the fuse box?

We had to go without hot water for a few weeks recently as our boiler packed up and we just couldn't get anyone to sort it out any quicker, plumbers are always booked up when you need them. We have electric showers and a dishwasher and it was still crap, I never felt properly clean washing my hands in cold water and it was during a cold spell so the house was freezing.

No excuse for the minging house though.

I have a friend whose house is like this. She has mental health issues, and her house is literally covered in stuff. Every single square inch of available space has something on it, from empty envelope to a pile of dishes.
I don;t go to her house often, but when I do I roll up my sleeves, do the washing up and wipe down all the kitchen work surfaces.

I did stay with her once, and I know the sheets had been through the wash, but hey stank of being musty and not properly dried. I don't stay there now.

She is hopelessly disorganised, and so she looses eg keys, and then while looking for keys creates a huge untidy mess, and then doesn't know where to start to tidy/clear up.

It is sad actually

(she is not neat and tidy in person though and doesn't hold down a job, it is fairly obvious that she has mental health problems)

Why are people so passive? Dump the dog at a kennel and text her saying you can’t stay there anymore.

NotUmbongoUnchained - I sort of agree, but the problem is, if you put the dog in kennels, you might end up paying for it, and at £20 per night it isn't cheap.
The owner may refuse to pay for it and then you are stuffed as you dropped the dog off.

The owner sounds a bit weird anyway - dog whines because it wants to sleep on the bed - of course that is where he always sleeps - and you thought your housesitter would want to sleep with your dog???

I’m pretty sure whoever is the registered owner of the dog would have to pay. Or drop it with the dog warden. I would not be staying in a house like that. No chance.

Maybe your friend from work is, like me, very very very hard up and can't afford to run heating/hot water. It does make you reluctant to clean thoroughly (I wash up once every couple of days in a kettle of water). I'd guess that's why the dog isn't in kennels

From the detail in the post, this does seem unlikely. A two week holiday, always having perfect tan, make up, hair?

I’m pretty sure whoever is the registered owner of the dog would have to pay.

I disagree, I think the person who dropped the dog off is undertaking a contract with the kennels and is responsible.
I wonder if a kennel would even take a dog that isn't yours, unless you gave them some guarantee of how it would be paid.

Have you checked for a gas meter. Her card/key might need topping up?

MissDuke - I do have to admit that being very poor means I don't have a tan or my nails done...

It does sound very odd. What is someone who likes to look immaculate and presumably without MH issues, doing living in a house like that?

I feel sorry for the dog.

Have you worked with her for long? Have you mentioned any of this to your mutual colleagues and have they said anything about her? Also, I hope when she does return that she doesn't tell your colleagues that you left her house in a mess!!

Oh yes, what HAVE you said to other colleagues?
Do any of them know her/been to her house?

Hot water shortage is no excuse not to clean. I have clean end of tenancy properties using cold water, it can easily be done. Brillo pad, a good multi purpose cleaner and plenty of cloths.

Grim.

I have cat-sat for a couple of friends (including a colleague) and the rule is that they are supposed to leave it clean and tidy and comfortable for you, show you where everything is and leave enough supplies. In return, you leave it clean and tidy for them, keep their pets safe and fed, and don’t hold any wild parties.

Have you spoken to her again, OP?

sorry couldn't stay there, I feel itchy just reading this!!

I would boil the kettle and just was what you need. Ie the sink and worktop and hob top. It would be cruel to the dog not to care for it. Put it down to experience and don't sit for a house you haven't seen. You will get by

Isn't there a dishwasher?

In my mind, you are dog sitting some huge stinky beast in an earthen hobbit hole. brrrrrr