To think neighbours are odd?

[PinkPosey6]

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?

And they asked you to CLEAN THE FLOOR??? If anyone comes in during the day to let my dog out because I can't get home, I am practically pressing gifts upon them as soon as I get back and I certainly wouldn't ask them to do anything more than let the dog out and check her food and water. The floor is their problem, not yours. I think you were a bit of a mug to do this, actually, since it was nothing to do with the dog's welfare.

I still can't get over anyone going away and leaving their dog though.

@PapaPerspective south-west.

FWIW I don't think the dog minded being visited, he's very docile and seems to sleep a lot. He seemed pleased to see me but not bothered when left. I dont know much about dogs so didn't realise they'd normally have more than three visits.

So in each 24 hour period, the dog was left on it's own for 23 hours? That's not just cheeky fuckery, that's animal cruelty! If I lived next door to them, I'd be reporting them to the RSPCA.

That’s crazy. The whole thing.
We are away just now and have a friend staying at ours to look after our LIZARD. Who lives in a tank and doesn’t discernably care about humans at all. So I think they’re terrible pet owners and even worse neighbours.

So rude of them.
Definitely don’t do it again!

Did they pay you?

No. I do feel like a mug. When I agreed I was doing it to be a good neighbour. I've fed pets and watered plants for neighbours over the years but they've always been polite and thankful and usually a bottle of wine.

To be blanked and not thanked is bizarre. I won't be doing it again.

CFs for asking you to do it in the first place. New neighbours, so relative strangers asking you to look after their dog, because they don't want to pay a sitter. They have you cleaning poo from the garden and washing down their floors etc etc. They should have bought you a huge thank you present and slipped you some cash. The nerve of these people. I am highly irritated on your behalf. You did way and beyond what a reasonable neighbour should do. They have utterly taken the piss.

Maybe some miscommunication? But I’d say they are cruel fuckers first leaving their dog alone, someone popping in is not the same (not blaming you op) it’s just so mean, don’t get a dog.

You could always put a note through their door OP and gushingly thank them for the “amazing bouquet of flowers and box of wine” that have just been “delivered”.

“ There wasn’t a card, but I know it was from you because I haven’t done any huge favours for anyone else recently. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it, I know it was doing you a favour - and saving you money on kennel fees - but surely that’s what being a good neighbour is all about isn’t it? Thanks again for the generous gift “

Then tomorrow put another note through the door. “ Oh dear, you must think I am an absolute loon, turns out the wine and flowers were from my friend. “

And watch them squirm.

@viques haha that would be funny!

That's disgusting. What a pair of users!

100% this

So they have incredibly high standards of care for their dog, but also refuse to pay for proper care? They're awful people.

Fucking rude cunts, and stupid to boot. Imagine being cheeky bastards to that level but still being so shortsighted that they couldn’t see what a good thing they had there.. they can’t even CF right!
You were incredibly kind op, and they certainly didn’t deserve it. I feel embarrassed for them.

The term 'cheeky fuckers' gets banded about far too much on this website, but holy shit these wankers are the dictionary definition.

There's another thread today about neighbours going away for a week and leaving their dog at home alone with 1 short daily visit. I cannot believe people actually do this.

They are cheeky fuckers. Washing a section of muddy floor daily! That's a job that can wait until they get back unless they pay a live in pet sitter. I would never agree to do them a favour again. At least now you know.

I don’t think it’s strange of them. I think it’s massively unfair to the dog and rude to you. Do you and the dog a favour and don’t help again.

Oh this, do this! 😂

WOW! that was a lot to ask 😱. Then no thanks after is CRAZY!. I would be unhappy 🙁

You don’t think it’s strange to at least thank someone for looking after their dog for a week??

Yes, I think they should be thanking and either paying or giving a generous gift. I think it’s bizarre that they ignore the neighbour and very rude not to be very thankful, but then it’s also bizarre that they think it would be an acceptable arrangement for the dog in the first place.

I think they thought you’d spend a lot more time with the dog (like it was a special treat for you) and are upset the dog was left alone so long, which is why they are now being rude.

Absolutely mental

I'd be blanking them right back the ungrateful arseholes and consider it a lucky escape that they can't ask me for excessive favours in the future. I think it was nuts request by them in the first place, but to nitpick about putting a lead on 'wrong' and not cleaning mud up when you were doing them a favour for free. The audacity.