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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:
Mydoglovescheese · 12/07/2025 19:36

It looks like a scam or a pretty poor business. I think I would post a warning on the relevant local Facebook pages in case she takes others for a ride.

sonjadog · 12/07/2025 19:36

There is no way I would want to leave my dog with someone who doesn’t respond to messages promptly. I think you had a lucky escape there, OP.

Mitara · 12/07/2025 19:37

The difference is she is a very small home based business, and the kennels are a large business, which is why you got a better response off the kennels.

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:40

Mitara · 12/07/2025 19:37

The difference is she is a very small home based business, and the kennels are a large business, which is why you got a better response off the kennels.

But don't you think it takes 1 minute to write

'Thank you for the visit today. I enjoyed meeting your dog'. I will get to you by X to confirm if I can look after him'.

It takes no time at all to set up a template on a mobile.

OP posts:
FOJN · 12/07/2025 19:41

You time frame is too short to wait longer for her to respond to you. She should have told you when she could give you an answer. I would have expected her to be able to commit to the dates required before she even visited you. To ask for a fee when she hadn't commited is just cheeky. I understand the need to make sure the arrangement will work but why bother with the visit if she was sure she could do the dates and times you were asking for.

Mitara · 12/07/2025 19:42

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:40

But don't you think it takes 1 minute to write

'Thank you for the visit today. I enjoyed meeting your dog'. I will get to you by X to confirm if I can look after him'.

It takes no time at all to set up a template on a mobile.

No honestly I have dealt with small home businesses, and they tend to be more relaxed. Her dog business is a sideline for her. It is not the most important thing in her weekend.

I probably would have gone to the kennels in the first place. Sure you can next time

Helen483 · 12/07/2025 19:44

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:20

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

So £35 and hour for doing not very much?
I think you've been had OP. 😀

In answer to your question, she was unprofessional and YANBU. But in future, ask for a (or set your own) timescale for a firm yes or no.

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:47

Yes, lesson learned! But I honestly got the impression it was a formality and the answer was coming back within a very short space of time.

OP posts:
BoarBrush · 12/07/2025 19:47

Crikey our dog sitter only charges £30 a night, with a free meet and greet at the park. Guess I know what my new business will be...

taylorswift1989 · 12/07/2025 19:52

OP, I have my own petsitting business and I think she totally messed up here and was rude. I always respond to customers/potential customers as soon as I see their messages. In this case, I think she knew at the time she wasn't going to take the job but instead of being honest with you, she acted like an idiot. It was rude and unprofessional of her.

I'm glad you've got your dog sorted with kennels now. If you're looking in future, feel free to pm me! If I can't help I can usually recommend someone who can.

PopstarPoppy · 12/07/2025 19:57

I’d have been pissed off that I’d paid for her to visit, only for her to come up with an excuse for not immediately confirming the booking! That’s just taking the mick. If she takes your money, she shouldn’t be prevaricating unless there’s a good reason (like an issue with your dog). ‘I need to check with my husband’ is not a good reason!

take10yearsofmylife · 12/07/2025 20:03

Sounds like a lucky escape from a CF dog sitter. Mine came to first visit without charge, that was 6 years ago...

Laura95167 · 12/07/2025 20:04

£35 to meet your dog, when she knows she has availability for the period you need and even though you paid £35 for her to meet your dog she couldnt say for sure til shes asks her husband? What info does he bring that impacts anything? She has availability and shes met the animal and owners.

NBU seems unreasonable to charge the £35 & not give an immediate decision IMO

Namechangean · 12/07/2025 20:05

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 19:28

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

You’ve been ripped off. But I’d be very relieved that you didn’t hire her and she sounds flakey and mean

She has some cheek to ask to be paid to meet your dog when she apparently didn’t even know if she would be available

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 12/07/2025 20:08

Review her business honestly... She is a scammer..

Mannersareeverything · 12/07/2025 20:08

This is rude & unprofessional. You have dodged a bullet. She sounds childish.

Pinkyandperkyofyesteryear · 12/07/2025 20:11

I’m a cat sitter. I don’t charge for the meet and greet. Don’t think most people do to be honest. It’s usually agreed there and then as to whether the booking goes ahead. I don’t go home and think about it or ask my husband. Really strange…..
I don’t think you were unreasonable either, you needed an answer and if she can’t be bothered to find the time to reply to you then why would you trust her to look after your beloved dog, house etc. Trust is imperative

JustFeedMeCake · 12/07/2025 20:13

YANBU. She’s a cheeky cow at best and no way would I let someone that weird look after a plant, let alone your dog!

CubanTody · 12/07/2025 20:13

She sounds like a scammer. What was the point in her meeting your dog (and charging you for the privilege) if she wasn't sure she could do the job? Surely, if she's available then the meeting the dog part is just for confirmation it will work, so what further information is then needed?

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 20:13

I'm more and more feeling inclined to write something on the dogsitting pages she's on on facebook. She's blocked me so wouldn't see what I put. I was thinking a screenshot of our conversation would tell its own tale?

OP posts:
ChristmasFluff · 12/07/2025 20:14

As a 'small business' this reeks of unprofessionalism. The only 'laid back' small businesses are the ones that go under, because being small should mean you are able to be more responsive than the big boys, because your customers are not just numbers.

It takes less than a minute to message 'I'll get back to you Monday'.

Bullet dodged, OP.

I wonder if she's registered for tax? Just a thought....

Strikeback · 12/07/2025 20:14

I had a similar thing on Rover where the woman just took forever to answer my messages. I mean it was half term and I knew she had kids but even so....it was days. Honestly if you're going to run your own business you need to be all over your comms.

Tartantotty · 12/07/2025 20:17

Very unprofessional, but maybe not a great idea to find someone on Facebook. Glad you got somewhere for the pooch.

MyDeftDuck · 12/07/2025 20:18

I voted YANBU……she comes across as flakey and uncommitted to be honest and you need reassurance that your dog is going to be cared for whilst you’re away.
Not a good way to run a business…..weekend or not.

jawsnsharks · 12/07/2025 20:19

I know Tartantotty, but I had done a trawl already around the local kennels and they were all full. The place I've now got for him is costing three extra days that we don't even need because in the busy summer months they won't book shorter than a week at a time. But at least I can see it is a more professional set up!

OP posts: