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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this is a bit of a piss take?

28 replies

mypinkwafer · 11/02/2022 14:43

There's a company near us that recruits volunteer boarders for pets, and then charges other people for the services.

I can't quite work out if it's a brilliant business idea or a total piss take?

OP posts:

Monkeytapper · 11/02/2022 14:47

isnt that the same concept as 'Borrow my doggy'?

Candleabra · 11/02/2022 14:48

So its like doggy daycare / kennels and they’re charging customers, but the dogs are being looked after by volunteers in their own home for free (presumably because they love animals)?
Very cheeky!
What about insurance? What if something happens to the animal in their care?

MandyCarter · 11/02/2022 14:55

If the volunteers/houses are vetted , the clients know and they have insurance I don’t see a problem
They are still providing a service

Cofifeefee · 11/02/2022 15:34

I don't see the issue - companies use employment agencies to source staff.

I know this is a voluntary thing but the concept is the same - service users presumably want vetted carers and the volunteers are happy to do it.

Fridgeorflight · 11/02/2022 15:54

Is it a low charge, like an admin fee, or the equivalent of boarding fees?

Original poster

mypinkwafer · 11/02/2022 15:55

@Monkeytapper

isnt that the same concept as 'Borrow my doggy'?

No. Borrow my doggy is more of a match up site for people who want to borrow/lend their dogs, there is an annual fee but it's not much.

This one actually charges people by the day for boarding but doesn't pay the actual boarders.

OP posts:

Original poster

mypinkwafer · 11/02/2022 15:56

@Fridgeorflight

Is it a low charge, like an admin fee, or the equivalent of boarding fees?

It's boarding fees. So the company sort out insurance and book the pets in, and vet the boarders. But the boarders aren't paid anything.

OP posts:

Meandthesky · 11/02/2022 16:26

More fool the boarders tbh! Do the customers know the boarders aren’t being paid?

CrinklyCraggy · 11/02/2022 16:32

If it's a way of getting affordable care for the dog owners and there are people happy to do it, it seems legitimate to me.

Presumably they would need proper vetting and insurance etc

ClariceQuiff · 11/02/2022 16:33

So the company sort out insurance and book the pets in, and vet the boarders. But the boarders aren't paid anything.

With the insurance (and I assume therefore any vet bills) taken care of, it's a way for someone to enjoy a 'temporary dog' without the financial risk and long-term commitment. I can see why someone might be happy to do that without being paid.

The main concern really is whether the boarders are adequately vetted as being able to look after the dog properly.

Fairyliz · 11/02/2022 16:33

But if it’s a business surely it will be short lived?
So your dog stays with a volunteer who looks after the dog and treats them well. Next time you are going away wouldn’t you just contact the volunteer direct and offer them half the company is charging? If the volunteer refuses payment you might even get away with giving then wine and chocolate

Original poster

mypinkwafer · 11/02/2022 16:45

@Fairyliz

But if it’s a business surely it will be short lived? So your dog stays with a volunteer who looks after the dog and treats them well. Next time you are going away wouldn’t you just contact the volunteer direct and offer them half the company is charging? If the volunteer refuses payment you might even get away with giving then wine and chocolate

I did wonder if that would happen. Not sure if the people with the pets realise the boarders aren't being paid.

The only reason I know is I saw one of their ads recruiting new boarders and thought it was a paid job, so I sent an enquiry.

OP posts:

Applebrewsterstea · 11/02/2022 17:17

Friends had a similar franchise. Hosts did get paid about £7 a day I think. What I couldn’t believe was owners had no clue where there pet was. When friend decided to not to do it anymore it’s turned out they were truly stitched up by contract. It was b*rking silly.

ClariceQuiff · 11/02/2022 17:32

What I couldn’t believe was owners had no clue where there pet was.

Obviously to stop this happening:

Next time you are going away wouldn’t you just contact the volunteer direct and offer them half the company is charging?

Kitfish · 11/02/2022 17:32

Is this Barking Mad?

Mia400000 · 11/02/2022 18:11

If they're charging a normal daily boarding rate, I'm surprised they get any customers. I would not be happy at all not knowing where my dog was going and who with. I would've thought they could only get away with this if it was a lot cheaper than normal home boarding.

Thighdentitycrisis · 11/02/2022 18:17

I knew someone ran a doggy day care like this. Staffed entirely by volunteers apart from the owners who drove around in the van doing the drop offs

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 11/02/2022 18:25

Who pays for the dog food?

Saz12 · 11/02/2022 18:34

That’s crazy! Surely a volunteer could take in a rescue instead? Sounds crackers!

CrinklyCraggy · 11/02/2022 18:39

@Saz12

That’s crazy! Surely a volunteer could take in a rescue instead? Sounds crackers!

I can think of lots of reasons someone might want to have a dog at home for a week or two at a time, but not take one on full time

Casheeeew · 11/02/2022 18:48

@Fairyliz

But if it’s a business surely it will be short lived? So your dog stays with a volunteer who looks after the dog and treats them well. Next time you are going away wouldn’t you just contact the volunteer direct and offer them half the company is charging? If the volunteer refuses payment you might even get away with giving then wine and chocolate

My thought. Very odd

Peakypolly · 11/02/2022 19:03

The volunteers see the pet sitting as a mini- holiday, they come to the pets house though. With the agency I know of they are mostly retired, quite a few couples. The agency do basic checking (financial) of the sitters, and also provide some sort of insurance, not sure of the details.

Undecicive · 11/02/2022 19:17

Apart from the fact that I wouldn't leave my pet with w company who can't tell me who's going to look after the dog, this is no different than eg volunteer marshals for events, a nurse's deployment, volunteering for a charity etc, there are people in all these that reap the financial benefits.

Mylittlepixie · 11/02/2022 19:42

@Fairyliz

But if it’s a business surely it will be short lived? So your dog stays with a volunteer who looks after the dog and treats them well. Next time you are going away wouldn’t you just contact the volunteer direct and offer them half the company is charging? If the volunteer refuses payment you might even get away with giving then wine and chocolate

Thats pretty much how we found our last dog minder. We signed up with a company and they provided the dogminder. It wasnt a volunteer, but the minder would get half the money per day and the other half goes to the company. After that one time we just paid the dogminder directly without paying the company.

notanothertakeaway · 12/02/2022 08:51

@Fairyliz

But if it’s a business surely it will be short lived? So your dog stays with a volunteer who looks after the dog and treats them well. Next time you are going away wouldn’t you just contact the volunteer direct and offer them half the company is charging? If the volunteer refuses payment you might even get away with giving then wine and chocolate

@Fairyliz to prevent this happening, the owners aren't informed where the dog is staying

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