Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think neighbours are odd?

116 replies

PinkPosey6 · 12/07/2025 18:18

I live in a row of townhouses/terraces. My new next door neighbours asked whether I'd be willing to look after their small dog when they went on holiday for a week, feeding, letting out, walking etc.

I said no problem, I wanted to be a good neighbour, but was a bit daunted as I dont have a dog myself and neighbour is understandably very precious about their dog, it's like a child to them. They also commented about professional dog sitters costing a fortune.

Whilst they were away I did as asked, she had emailed a long list of instructions, the dog is very sweet and docile but has a very precise mix of wet and dry food etc. I also sanitised his eating area daily and poop a scooped in the garden and one daily walk. In total I probably spent about one hour per day across the three visits. I even cancelled going to some after work drinks as needed to be home for the dog.

I washed a section of the floor as asked (daily), where he trod mud in from the garden. I emailed updates and photos as asked, received some additional instructions as apparently i had put on his lead slightly wrongly (they have security cameras). I found it to be a lot of responsibility but I did it to be a good neighbour.

They got back a week ago and have blanked me since then. No word of thanks. They haven't directly walked towards me outside but could easily have done so to catch up and say thanks. Is it not bizarre not to thank a neighbour who has helped like this?

OP posts:
Pessismistic · 12/07/2025 18:21

Fuck them ungrateful bastards. Email them your welcome btw but I won’t be doing anything else for you. Cheeky fuckers.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 12/07/2025 18:23

I bet they start being friendly again the next time they need a favour.

OtterlyMad · 12/07/2025 18:23

“Odd” is an understatement! Cheeky fuckers. If they ask you again in future, tell them you now charge double what the professional dog walker costs.

IMissSparkling · 12/07/2025 18:23

I think it was odder to agree to do it in the first place!

Iloveacurry · 12/07/2025 18:23

Well you know now not to help them again! Very ungrateful.

Comedycook · 12/07/2025 18:25

I don't know why you agreed to help them in the first place. I'd have laughed in their face

TomatoWildFlowers · 12/07/2025 18:26

Jesus, I'd have knocked on your door with a nice bottle of something and a big box of chocolates within an hour of getting home. Obviously saying thank you and the promise to help out as needed in the future

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/07/2025 18:27

Not just odd but - who the HELL goes on holiday and leaves the dog at home with just a walker 'popping in'? Either take them with you or put them in kennels or have a housesitter. Or, indeed, get a cat instead.

PinkPosey6 · 12/07/2025 18:27

Re the professional dog sitters, they also mentioned that one they'd used before hadn't done things 'to their standards' with the dog, as well as the cost.

I've asked DH whether he thinks I did something wrong or missed something off the lists so now they're blanking me, but his view is that the dog is alive and well, so if there was a bit of mud on the floor or I didn't sanitise his dinner area 'to their standards' then tough.

OP posts:
PinkPosey6 · 12/07/2025 18:30

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/07/2025 18:27

Not just odd but - who the HELL goes on holiday and leaves the dog at home with just a walker 'popping in'? Either take them with you or put them in kennels or have a housesitter. Or, indeed, get a cat instead.

I looked and a kennel would have cost about £300 for the week...

OP posts:
Jackiepumpkinhead · 12/07/2025 18:31

They are awful, no one who cares about their dog would leave them at home for a week and have a stranger (or anyone really) pop in. And to not thank you is terrible behaviour. Ungrateful gits.

ginasevern · 12/07/2025 18:32

They're users of the highest order! I've never heard anything like it. Absolutely nobody I've ever known would ask a stranger to look after their dog even for a day let alone three - especially for a holiday and not a medical emergency or something. Words fail me.

Pessismistic · 12/07/2025 18:33

Don’t let them get you down they are in the wrong I would not want to be friends with horrible entitled people like them. You bloody cleaned up for them that’s more than popping in let the spend there money on kennels buy yourself something you enjoy and let them blank you. Ungrateful people. Not good neighbours.

Disturbia81 · 12/07/2025 18:35

Who are the 5% voting this unreasonable? I’ve done the same before but with cats and sometimes not had thanks, also watered all their plants while I had small kids.
Fuck them. The same people who are cheeky fuckers asking neighbours for things, are the same who don’t say thankyou. They expect everything

TheGrimSmile · 12/07/2025 18:36

Ungrateful fuckers! I would have to say something. And also, who leaves a dog alone for a whole week. People are twats.

Yogabearmous · 12/07/2025 18:36

Don’t ever help them again. They are awful.

yakkity · 12/07/2025 18:38

If they ever say anything negative about the efforts you made you should apologise profusely and tell them you will refund them

Morgenrot25 · 12/07/2025 18:38

I wouldn't have agreed to any of that to start with, however they've been very rude not to thank you for all of your efforts.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/07/2025 18:39

PinkPosey6 · 12/07/2025 18:30

I looked and a kennel would have cost about £300 for the week...

Yes, it's something you factor into costs when you book a holiday. What the hell would they have done if you'd said you were going away and couldn't do it?

I mean cats, fair enough, they don't care whether you're there or not as long as the bowl is full, but a DOG? No no no.

Mirrorxxx · 12/07/2025 18:39

The dog was left alone outside your visits? They are awful people

ExpressCheckout · 12/07/2025 18:40

Did you agree to do it for free, or have they forgotten that they agreed to pay you (say) £30/day? Yes, I am suggesting that you send them a bill!

meganorks · 12/07/2025 18:42

PinkPosey6 · 12/07/2025 18:27

Re the professional dog sitters, they also mentioned that one they'd used before hadn't done things 'to their standards' with the dog, as well as the cost.

I've asked DH whether he thinks I did something wrong or missed something off the lists so now they're blanking me, but his view is that the dog is alive and well, so if there was a bit of mud on the floor or I didn't sanitise his dinner area 'to their standards' then tough.

This was going to be my guess. Absolute brass neck of the cheeky fuckers to ask you in the first place! But I bet there is something they think you haven't done properly hence they haven't thanked you. Complete piss take. What's the betting they come crawling back next time they want him looking after?!

Also, absolute wankers for:
A) thinking 3 drop ins totalling an hour is an acceptable level of care
B) including a long list of instructions including cleaning the floor!!

PapaPerspective · 12/07/2025 18:43

PinkPosey6 · 12/07/2025 18:18

I live in a row of townhouses/terraces. My new next door neighbours asked whether I'd be willing to look after their small dog when they went on holiday for a week, feeding, letting out, walking etc.

I said no problem, I wanted to be a good neighbour, but was a bit daunted as I dont have a dog myself and neighbour is understandably very precious about their dog, it's like a child to them. They also commented about professional dog sitters costing a fortune.

Whilst they were away I did as asked, she had emailed a long list of instructions, the dog is very sweet and docile but has a very precise mix of wet and dry food etc. I also sanitised his eating area daily and poop a scooped in the garden and one daily walk. In total I probably spent about one hour per day across the three visits. I even cancelled going to some after work drinks as needed to be home for the dog.

I washed a section of the floor as asked (daily), where he trod mud in from the garden. I emailed updates and photos as asked, received some additional instructions as apparently i had put on his lead slightly wrongly (they have security cameras). I found it to be a lot of responsibility but I did it to be a good neighbour.

They got back a week ago and have blanked me since then. No word of thanks. They haven't directly walked towards me outside but could easily have done so to catch up and say thanks. Is it not bizarre not to thank a neighbour who has helped like this?

@PinkPosey6 out of curiosity, you from North, South or Midlands?

BoundaryGirl3939 · 12/07/2025 18:43

Oh my gosh, that's insane. And itvwas a huge ask of them. I would have expected a very, very decent gift for my time, efforts and being inconvenienced.

user4287964265 · 12/07/2025 18:45

Really odd!
Our dogs are everyone’s favourite family member, and there is absolutely no way I’d be leaving them in the care of a random neighbour I didn’t know well for an afternoon let alone a week! We have someone come and house-sit if we go away. An hour a day isn’t anywhere near enough for a normal youngish dog.
They’re total cheapskates, I’d be embarrassed to face you if I was them.