I'm really looking for some advice regarding this, and also ideally to confirm whether I'm justified in my miffed-ness or am I really just becoming a moody bitter old fart.
To give some context to this, I used to have a very well paid job, but took a demotion to take a home based role, so I could care for my mother. After she died I found other work but was made redundant during covid, I then became unwell and so left the new employment I'd recently started in order to recuperate.
My career has consequently nosedived and now I'm working as a carer for people in their own homes. I love the work but the pay is terrible and I have to work long hours to try and earn a living wage and the work is often exhausting.
So.....I have a close friend who has recently started a relationship, the person he is seeing moved into his house after literally a few weeks and then suddenly, they bought a puppy. I told them when they got the dog that having a pet was a huge commitment and they needed to fully commit to looking after it.
Anyway, the dog is now 5 mnths old and my friend asked me recently if I would look after it for 10 days while he went on holiday with his new beau. I refused, citing the long hours I work and the fact I have a 17 year old cat and it wouldn't be fair on her. I told them to make alternative arrangements, which they duly did, but suddenly just before the holiday, they said their dog sitting arrangement had fallen through and begged me to look after the dog.
They practically turned up at my house with the dog and its belongings, leaving me in a real predicament where I felt I had no other choice but to take the dog.
The upshot is, they are now sunning themselves in Fuerteventura while I am stressed out looking after their dog. My cat is very unhappy and is staying upstairs in the house, not eating and not coming downstairs which has really upset me.
Additionally, I am having to refuse overtime in work because I can't leave the dog on it's own for such prolonged periods of time and I'm also having to dash home in between seeing clients to try and toilet/walk the dog which is stressful and tiring.
The situation has left me feeling angry, used, stressed and really upset. The dog is well behaved and cute, but high maintenance and when I dashed home to walk it today, it had vomited, and so my lunch hour was spent cleaning up.
I think part of me feels quite bitter because I am really struggling financially now and just can't afford a holiday and my friend is paid extremely well and the reality is, looking after his dog is costing me money in lost overtime that I desperately need.
So lovely people, am I entitled to feel the way I do or do I need to lighten up? My friend is lovely and we are close friends but I can't help feeling he has abused the friendship and failed to appreciate my current circumstances. Thanks for your wisdom and advice and be kind x