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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Pet-sitter mad I cancelled her and went with another after she didn't get back to me. AIBU?

178 replies

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:17

Fully prepared to get told IABU.

In only a few short weeks we are off on holidays. Arrangements that were in place for our dog have unfortunately fallen through so now I have to find a pet-sitter at less than 2 weeks notice. Unsurprisingly, with it being high season this is proving a bit difficult as competition for spare places is fierce.

Through an online dog-sitting page on facebook I find a sitter 20 minutes from here. She asked for initial fee to come out and meet the dog, to see if it was a good fit for her (she already has a dog of her own). I felt this was a responsible approach and was prepared to be given a 'no' as much as a 'yes' without feeling hard done by that she had had money for this.

So she came out yesterday at 15:15 and was 15 minutes early for the appointment, which was a good indicator of her keenness. Appointment went well, we asked questions, she asked questions and it felt like it was a good fit. She wouldn't commit to looking after him until she had spoken with her husband which felt a bit weird as she's supposedly set herself up as a pet-sitter, but heh ho, beggars can't be choosers.

Waited all last night for a text from her (but didn't message her as it was Friday night and didn't want to be a pain etc...). This morning I waited until 10:30, what with it being a Saturday and having had no answer sent a text thanking her for the visit and asking if she had an answer for us yet. Well by 15:00 we'd heard nothing, not even an acknowledgement and holding message even though I could see she had been online several times in the day. At this point I had to assume it was a scam or she was flakey. So I started looking for anther solution. Thankfully, a kennels a bit further away has a place for the dog and even though we are paying for a full week when we are away for shorter time, we snapped the place up to be sure of the place.

So at 18:23, more than 24 hours after her visit, I message her to tell her that without an answer, and no 'holding answer' we had sorted out other arrangements. I said I was disappointed that she hadn't got back to us, even if the answer was a 'no I can't look after him'. Well! She's got very shirty with me, saying it's the weekend, she'd said she had to talk to her husband, she's been at a birthday party all day. I tried to keep the tone positive, and said that next time she should at least communicate with her customers about when they should expect an answer from her so they don't do as we did and find another solution. I even wished her good luck with her business. She's then come back with it being unreasonable and she's never had a customer who hadn't given her 24 hours before expecting an answer. I finally pointed out that it was over 24 hours at the point I messaged to say I'd found another solution. To which she's just send 'OMG' and a laughing emoji.

Sorry, I wang on a bit don't I?

TD,LR dog-sitter left it more than 24 hours to confirm arrangement then got shirty that I'd found other care for dog.

So, who was in the wrong

YABU - you should have waited longer to hear from her
YANBU - she's having a laugh. She cannot be serious about running a business if she doesn't communicate in a timely fashion with her customers.

OP posts:
SewerOrLess · 12/07/2025 19:19

How much did she charge for the initial visit?

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:20

SewerOrLess · 12/07/2025 19:19

How much did she charge for the initial visit?

£35! But I didn't mind as 40 minutes of that was travelling here and back, plus 20-30 minutes inside with the dog.

OP posts:
Talltreesbythelake · 12/07/2025 19:23

She's had 35 quid off you for nothing? Blimey. I would reply to let her know you won't be using her next year either and hope that's enough notice!

GRex · 12/07/2025 19:24

Sorry, you PAID her to meet your dog? That's quite a racket isn't it!

With 2 weeks to go, no - she should have accepted you on the day or you have to find another option.

birdling · 12/07/2025 19:24

So you were forced to part with £35 at her request, then she ignored you and got shirty when you went with a more certain offer than her 'maybe'.
Wow! She is either scamming people for £35 or very new to dog sitting. Especially if she had to 'ask her husband' 😲

SparklyBrickViper · 12/07/2025 19:25

CF dog sitter!

SewerOrLess · 12/07/2025 19:25

£35 for an hour's work isn't bad. For her...

doodleschnoodle · 12/07/2025 19:25

At such short notice, I would be very nervous at someone taking that long to reply, because you do need as much time as possible to find someone else if the answer was a no. Plus she got paid £35 for coming to say hello to a dog, which presumably covers her time, so she’s not out of pocket. If your business model is not to reply out of hours etc that’s fine but that does come with the risk that you might lose some custom in these kind of situations.

wizzywig · 12/07/2025 19:27

If she had said "I'll get back to you on monday" then at least you'd know when to expect to hear back. How are you supposed to know when she is speaking to her husband?

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:28

Glad to read you're all on the same wavelength as me.

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 12/07/2025 19:29

Blimey I’m retired but would like to earn a bit of money and I think I have found the perfect job.
A bit of a drive, spend 30 minutes playing with a dog ( I like dogs) and get paid as well. Was it cash in hand op?
I think you have been had op!

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:30

Anyway, I didn't reply to her last message to me which was 'OMG' and the laughing emoji. She's blocked me on facebook. I'm actually glad I found out this way as no way would I want someone of that maturity looking after my pride and joy.

OP posts:
Mitara · 12/07/2025 19:30

I don't know. I think I would have waited until Monday.

Balloonhearts · 12/07/2025 19:30

Leave her a shit review with screenshots of her rude messages.

BallerinaRadio · 12/07/2025 19:30

Neither of you were being unreasonable really. She's had a busy weekend, you couldn't wait for an answer so sorted something else.

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:31

I honestly don't think it's a scam. I think she's new to dog-sitting (but has been a trainer, she says) and it just bloody clueless about expectations. Otherwise she could have just taken the money (which was transferred before the visit) and never showed up.

OP posts:
jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:32

Balloonhearts · 12/07/2025 19:30

Leave her a shit review with screenshots of her rude messages.

Tempting as that is, I think it could get silly. Plus she's blocked me (perhaps she was afraid of that!).

OP posts:
Mayflower282 · 12/07/2025 19:32

£35??? Wow, I need to change jobs

ThePoetsWife · 12/07/2025 19:33

Lucky escape - too flaky and immature

krustykittens · 12/07/2025 19:33

What a fucking scam! £35 quid come say hi to your dog?! I have found my new job! And if she has to ask her husband if she can take a client on, it doesn't sound like much of a business.

Edited to add - I would have wanted a fast answer as well, you don't have much time and good places are booked up. She was at a birthday party and didn't have a single moment to ask her darling hubby if she could possibly take on a paying client?!

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:34

Mitara · 12/07/2025 19:30

I don't know. I think I would have waited until Monday.

I would have been happy to wait if she had set my expectations at that, but when she was here yesterday it was just left that she would chat with her husband and get back to me which sounded like an answer was imminent.

OP posts:
jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:34

ThePoetsWife · 12/07/2025 19:33

Lucky escape - too flaky and immature

Yes!

OP posts:
thisisfrommathilda · 12/07/2025 19:35

You dodged a bullet, good on ya OP!

Redburnett · 12/07/2025 19:35

Keeping your customers happy is the key to a successful business, that means actually communicating with them. Does she think pets don't need looking after at the weekend? Wise decision on your part.

elessar · 12/07/2025 19:35

She is totally unreasonable. If she couldn’t commit there and then she needs to manage your expectations on when she will be able to let you know.

more than 24 hours later with no response or acknowledgement I would assume the same as you. She’s unprofessional and ultimately should learn from this.

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