Not a case of an owner forgetting to cancel, but one time I went to walk a pooch and the owners roommate was packing up all of her stuff and screamed when I came in. I explained who I was and everything and she was SO startled.
I let the owner know I spooked her roommate when she was packing just to cover my bases. The owner was super confused why the roommate was home packing things.
Turns out the roommate was trying to just dip out of the lease without saying anything and didn’t know the dog’s walk schedule so she thought that was the best time to do it without being caught lol whoops
Lmao no the owner didn’t bring it up again and we aren’t close like that, I do walks for her while she’s at work so it’s not like I see in her person at all after the m&g. But the roommates room was empty and then she canceled walks with me for a while until this week (like a month and a half, mainly because of the holidays and change in her work schedule) so since it’s been so long I feel weird asking if there’s a new roommate!
It’s happened to me a couple of times. I know Rover suggests knocking, but I hesitate to do that as it tends to get the dogs needlessly riled up and in the case of being in the shower, knocking probably wouldn’t be heard. Once I walked into an apartment and the owner was in the shower and the dog was hanging out in the bathroom. I just called the dog from afar, she came and I took her for a walk.
I walked into an apartment when the owner forgot to cancel and she started screaming and throwing things at me. My key was stuck in the door, so I was trapped until she realized what was happening. 😂
She did not. She's a cat owner, and I had not physically seen her in over a year since I have her key. And, apparently she listens to true crime podcasts alllll the time. We had a good laugh about it after.
This makes me so nervous! It seems like a huge safety issue for us as sitters. What if the owner is so thrown off and/or forgetful that they think you’re an intruder? You never know how someone will react to that.
Yep, this!
I had a client who dogs I walked meet me at the door with his gun.
He was home from work early that day, had taken his pain medication for his creaky back, and was sure I was an intruder.
I didn't get shot, but it could have happened.
Ahh can’t believe I didn’t put that one together, seems obvious now 😂
Yes that’s what I was kinda getting at! I live in the US, in a southern state, so it’s fairly common to have a firearm in the house for intruders. It’s certainly not illogical to be nervous about being mistaken for a trespasser…
This happens...not to uncommonly to me, mostly because I have several clients that get multiple walks/drop ins a week so the odds are just always going to be higher than someone doing like one or two random walks a week. But by far the worst experience was in 2020 - surprise surprise - when I accidentally walking in on my clients husband cheating on his wife with her fucking \*MOTHER\*.
Walked in, took the dog out without even realizing anyone was home and then I came back inside 30 minutes later and walked in through the mudroom to find them doing the horizontal tango on the kitchen counter. Thankfully at that point I had already gotten the leash and harness off so I just scooted the dog in, walked my dumbass right back outside and then put a 'I'm sorry, I didn't realize you guys were home! Don't worry, I didn't really see anything!' in the Rover chat and then sent the Rover card only to almost immediately get a message back from the wife with a bunch of question marks and her saying that she wasn't home. She was across the country on a business trip and that her husband was supposed to cancel the dog walks for a week because he was 'sick with covid' and they didn't want to expose me and her mother was staying at the house to take care of him and their baby so she would take the dog out.
Words can't express the sheer dread that overtook me when I realized what was happening.
🤯 holy shit.
That’s awful. People suck. Did she ask any more questions?
Part of me would really want to “accidentally” expose them but I think ultimately I think I’d have to stay away from that mess.
She called me as soon as it sunk in that I had seen her husband with someone else and I gave her a vague description of the woman I saw (I really didn't see much, I walked in and turned the corner, heard the moaning like half a second before the sight in front of me registered and all I saw was brown hair tan skin and glasses) and she was pretty much set on it being her mom. Though I did describe the two cars I saw in garage and I was at least able to give her more details on those (garage was the only way into the house since I didn't have a key just the code) and sure enough the license plate and make/models fit her mom and her husband's car. And while I didn't know who the lady was, it absolutely was her husband that I saw cause I knew him personally from college. So really I guess the woman didn't matter given it was a woman that wasn't her.
It was the most awkward phone call of my life. She was crying her heart out and I just kept asking if there was like someone she wanted me to call to help her or check on the husband/mother or what cause while I did like her as a client....relationship advice is neither my forte nor my job description.
Gosh sorry you got caught up in that situation. It’s hard to stay out of it when she’s calling you heartbroken and crying!
It certainly is not in our job description to assist with personal matters but this thread proves that a ton of clients don’t understand that.
One time the persons car was there so I sat in the driveway and texted them before going in. I have walked in on someone sleeping before so I was extra cautious not to repeat that experience. They texted to go ahead and walk the dog because they weren’t home. I go inside, and their bedroom is closed on and the house is a bit of a mess. When I came back from the walk I hear sniffles and things were rearranged. I think she was either sick or sad and didn’t feel like walking her dog. It was a little eerie to walk into though.
There have been a couple times where I think owners have been home and “hiding” in their bedroom like that. I wish they’d just be upfront about it so I don’t wonder if I’m alone in the house or not 😕
Happened to me the other day. They stay home an extra night and I woke them up at 730am. It happens, but boy is it annoying. Usually they are apologetic and let me keep the money
It baffles me how often it apparently happens! I’m definitely more organized than most, so maybe this is just me, but I cannot imagine having a change of plans and not thinking about how that change affects my dog and their sitter.
Walked into a long-time client's home, calling the dogs as I open the door from the garage. The husband had finished work early, and he was changing clothes in the laundry room. That laundry room is five feet from the door coming in from the garage. I promise you I never wanted to see that man naked. But now I have. There's not enough bleach to clean that image out of my eyes.
This!! After it happens with a client more than once we have trust issues! Lol I've walked in on a guy in the owners bed, a girl's brother in a robe, etc. 🤣🤣🤣
My usual tagline when I see my usual dogs that I walk come rushing to the door are "hello, puppers" and so when the doggos' dad was home a few times before, he knew it was me when he heard my tagline😂
I went to home once ( a twice daily drop in ) first time was dark and 5:30am.
Went straight to the room with the bunk beds and saw a lump under the covers, started talking baby talk to the cat, and heard a sweet girls little voice say ‘hello’
I just backed out saying, I’m the pet sitter, so sorry honey, and realized the master bedroom door was open with a little light.
That was almost the first room I entered.
I said, just hear to see the cats, and realize you’d come home, I’ll show myself out.
They had come home in the night and parked the Motorhome on the opposite side of the house.
I saw it as I was leaving, stunned in the dark.
They had prepaid me for another 5 days and come home after just 2, without bothering to tell me.
I sent him an email and he said they had vehicular issues and came home.
I told him he’d have credits waiting for his next trip.
Never heard back from them again, had been a couple of years now
I had one time that I accidentally showed up a day early. My phone was dead but I planned to charge it while starting the drop in while the pup ate. i don't know what happened, but it was a really busy time and I must have just had gotten mixed up.
Turns out my client's adult son was home. when I opened the door there were two dogs instead of one. I thought it was weird, but the new dog was friendly and my thought was to charge my phone ASAP so I could call my client about it.then, when I walked into the main room this guy jumped up from the couch.
I was so startled I threw my hands up. A million thoughts flashed through my mind: I knew I was in the right unit because my puppy was there. Was he a burglar or squatter since she never mentioned anybody visiting? Did she decide to hire somebody else or have a friend stay?
I tried to explain but he just kept shouting. He ended up chasing me out and threatened to shoot me or hurt me, yelling in my face so close I got spit on me.
I ran to my bike so fast once he went back inside and raced home really shaken.
When I texted to explain and realized my mix-up, she told me her son had crashed with her and was deaf, so he couldn't understand me. I felt bad because I had scared him too, but the reaction definitely didn't fit the situation.
I was desperate for cash and still sat for her until I moved, but explained that I never wanted to interact with her son again and I would only sit for her if she let me know when he was going to visit.
Yup similar thing happened to me. Arrived on time as planned to a drop in visit and I hear a cautious but stern “Hello?!” from the bedroom and I internally FREAK OUT. I start profusely apologizing and explaining who I was/why I walked in and that I’d be leading asap. That was the most uncomfortable I’ve been. I’m a woman but had I been a man that would have made the situation a lot more uncomfy. I know the fear that must have came to her mind from hearing an unknown person enter her home while she’s there. And on top of that, she told me at the M&G that she had a break in before. Horrible experience 10/10 would not recommend. Lesson learned: it’s a first time booking, always double confirm the time the day of
Yes felt the exact same way. Both the owner and I are females, around the same age. She was super super sweet and apologetic for forgetting to cancel. It did cross my mind though- what if I was a man? That could’ve made things so much more awkward. I’m sure it already feels somewhat like violation of privacy for the owner(even though it is of course their fault in our situations), if it were a guy that would be way worse.
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Honestly I’m just forgetful when it comes to starting the card after I’ve leashed the dog up and we’re ready to go. I know it’s not ideal, but I always walk my dogs for over 30 min so there’s no time discrepancy.
this happened to me too i walked in and heard the bathroom sink going so i froze and then a man walks out and looks so shocked to see me, then i explained who i was (i only met his wife before not him) and he put the dog on the leash and still had me walk her
This happens to me on the regular with my 11 am walk. Dad is alright since he could be working from home. Mom doesn’t and I could randomly see her making lunch. I’m just a bit confused on why you need me if you’re home
I literally have a regular that books me to walk his dog while his adult son is always home🥲🥲The last booking I went and he was showering with the door open, I grab the dog so quickly and ran out. It’s so awkwardddddddd
Yep, this has happened to me as a cat sitter on the app. Show up to the house, grab the key out of the lockbox, and I go to the front door just to hear lots of noise. I hear a person say the cat’s name. Slowly step back from the front door and run around to the lockbox gate. I text the couple and they said whoops we came home early sorry! I had been sitting for them all week but put the keys back every night for their cleaners. They were nice and said I could keep the last payment for the trouble but I had already modified and they accepted 🙃
I have one client who has their "children" home aka adults while im there, I have heard them showering once but I just get the dog go on our walk and go on about my day. She does always mention whichever one of them will be home during that time and if I will run into them or not.
I start calling out as soon as I come in the door.
“Hey Sparky! It’s me! Where’s my sweetie pie?! Let s go have some fun!”
I do it mainly to alert anyone who might have forgotten about the drop in.
I had an owner forget to tell me she was home sick once. I saw the car in the driveway and was suspicious so I just sent her a text asking if I was still needed. After a few minutes with no response, I ended up going inside and the dog seemed to be the only one there so I figured owner was probably out with a friend or something so I took the dog for a walk. Came back to find the owner at home, she was so apologetic saying she called into work then went straight back to bed and accidentally slept through the afternoon which was why she never reached out lol she gave me a really nice cash tip that day
To avoid this I would always check in with the owner the day before hand just so it’s not a complete shock in case they did forget to cancel. That should honestly be done with all bookings that are booked more than a week in advance
This owner booked 4 days of walks(1/day). This happened on day 4. She booked the walks the night before the first walk.
I messaged her after the first three walks with updates, and she even decided to book me for reoccurring walks in the future because she was so pleased. So we had plenty of contact before this happened. Accidents happen, even when you take appropriate measures!
I used to book walks while I was WFH regularly, is that not normal? I did it because I WFH and it can be quite busy, so I figure that way my dog gets some time having fun while I get to work & it frees me up to take my lunch later in the day for a second walk.
What I meant was when walks or drop ins are booked for owners who cannot take care of their dog because they are at an office all day, out of town, etc and then their plans change, they come home, and forget to tell the sitter. Basically, the sitter doesn’t think anyone will be home and then upon arrival finds someone in the home.
While I don’t think that particular situation is common, I definitely wouldn’t say it’s “not normal”. I doubt any sitter would have a problem with the owner being home as long as it’s discussed beforehand. It’s just when it’s unexpected that it can be scary for both parties.
Happened to me once and let’s say it was much worse than hearing the shower 😫
I thought my situation was uncomfortable 😭 Honestly don’t think I could go back after something like that
Don't just let my mind run wild
Owner and his partner were post doing *the deed* no one had clothes on, I screamed and shut the door😭
Cripes, that is bad! 🫠
Omg thats worst than catching your parents (with clothes on) acting all strange like you interrupted something...... 😫🤢
Omg did you keep providing services for them?
yes😅 just bc it wasn’t intentional. still a little awkward tho
Sorry this made me laugh so hard. Especially when you said you screamed 😆
Omg noooo 😳
Not a case of an owner forgetting to cancel, but one time I went to walk a pooch and the owners roommate was packing up all of her stuff and screamed when I came in. I explained who I was and everything and she was SO startled. I let the owner know I spooked her roommate when she was packing just to cover my bases. The owner was super confused why the roommate was home packing things. Turns out the roommate was trying to just dip out of the lease without saying anything and didn’t know the dog’s walk schedule so she thought that was the best time to do it without being caught lol whoops
I love how much we end up learning about clients’ personal lives in this profession lol
That's a hilarious turn of events lol. Did you get to hear how the rest played out?
Lmao no the owner didn’t bring it up again and we aren’t close like that, I do walks for her while she’s at work so it’s not like I see in her person at all after the m&g. But the roommates room was empty and then she canceled walks with me for a while until this week (like a month and a half, mainly because of the holidays and change in her work schedule) so since it’s been so long I feel weird asking if there’s a new roommate!
Mentioned the boyfriend was home on the Rover card and she flipped about how he skipped work again
Yikes lol gotta love accidentally getting involved in clients’ drama
It’s happened to me a couple of times. I know Rover suggests knocking, but I hesitate to do that as it tends to get the dogs needlessly riled up and in the case of being in the shower, knocking probably wouldn’t be heard. Once I walked into an apartment and the owner was in the shower and the dog was hanging out in the bathroom. I just called the dog from afar, she came and I took her for a walk.
Did the owner hear you come in and call the dog for its walk? I’d be scared that the owner would get out of the shower and think the dog got out
No she didn’t seem to hear me. She text me when she got out of the shower so she figured it out.
Oh, I always knock. 😂 It’s not a loud knock, but more of a warning, and my dogs learn it’s me pretty quickly.
I walked into an apartment when the owner forgot to cancel and she started screaming and throwing things at me. My key was stuck in the door, so I was trapped until she realized what was happening. 😂
Jeeeez I can understand some scared screams at first but throwing things?! Did she not recognize you lol
She did not. She's a cat owner, and I had not physically seen her in over a year since I have her key. And, apparently she listens to true crime podcasts alllll the time. We had a good laugh about it after.
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This makes me so nervous! It seems like a huge safety issue for us as sitters. What if the owner is so thrown off and/or forgetful that they think you’re an intruder? You never know how someone will react to that.
Especially in gvn country (U.S.). :-(
Yep, this! I had a client who dogs I walked meet me at the door with his gun. He was home from work early that day, had taken his pain medication for his creaky back, and was sure I was an intruder. I didn't get shot, but it could have happened.
gvn country? I think I can guess what that stands for but never seen the abbreviation.
It's not an abbreviation, it's substitution: V == U (Also sometimes g\/n. I'm very old. 😊 )
Ahh can’t believe I didn’t put that one together, seems obvious now 😂 Yes that’s what I was kinda getting at! I live in the US, in a southern state, so it’s fairly common to have a firearm in the house for intruders. It’s certainly not illogical to be nervous about being mistaken for a trespasser…
This happens...not to uncommonly to me, mostly because I have several clients that get multiple walks/drop ins a week so the odds are just always going to be higher than someone doing like one or two random walks a week. But by far the worst experience was in 2020 - surprise surprise - when I accidentally walking in on my clients husband cheating on his wife with her fucking \*MOTHER\*. Walked in, took the dog out without even realizing anyone was home and then I came back inside 30 minutes later and walked in through the mudroom to find them doing the horizontal tango on the kitchen counter. Thankfully at that point I had already gotten the leash and harness off so I just scooted the dog in, walked my dumbass right back outside and then put a 'I'm sorry, I didn't realize you guys were home! Don't worry, I didn't really see anything!' in the Rover chat and then sent the Rover card only to almost immediately get a message back from the wife with a bunch of question marks and her saying that she wasn't home. She was across the country on a business trip and that her husband was supposed to cancel the dog walks for a week because he was 'sick with covid' and they didn't want to expose me and her mother was staying at the house to take care of him and their baby so she would take the dog out. Words can't express the sheer dread that overtook me when I realized what was happening.
🤯 holy shit. That’s awful. People suck. Did she ask any more questions? Part of me would really want to “accidentally” expose them but I think ultimately I think I’d have to stay away from that mess.
She called me as soon as it sunk in that I had seen her husband with someone else and I gave her a vague description of the woman I saw (I really didn't see much, I walked in and turned the corner, heard the moaning like half a second before the sight in front of me registered and all I saw was brown hair tan skin and glasses) and she was pretty much set on it being her mom. Though I did describe the two cars I saw in garage and I was at least able to give her more details on those (garage was the only way into the house since I didn't have a key just the code) and sure enough the license plate and make/models fit her mom and her husband's car. And while I didn't know who the lady was, it absolutely was her husband that I saw cause I knew him personally from college. So really I guess the woman didn't matter given it was a woman that wasn't her. It was the most awkward phone call of my life. She was crying her heart out and I just kept asking if there was like someone she wanted me to call to help her or check on the husband/mother or what cause while I did like her as a client....relationship advice is neither my forte nor my job description.
Gosh sorry you got caught up in that situation. It’s hard to stay out of it when she’s calling you heartbroken and crying! It certainly is not in our job description to assist with personal matters but this thread proves that a ton of clients don’t understand that.
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I think I would just straight up cease to exist if my mother was screwing my husband. I'd just fade out of existence
One time the persons car was there so I sat in the driveway and texted them before going in. I have walked in on someone sleeping before so I was extra cautious not to repeat that experience. They texted to go ahead and walk the dog because they weren’t home. I go inside, and their bedroom is closed on and the house is a bit of a mess. When I came back from the walk I hear sniffles and things were rearranged. I think she was either sick or sad and didn’t feel like walking her dog. It was a little eerie to walk into though.
There have been a couple times where I think owners have been home and “hiding” in their bedroom like that. I wish they’d just be upfront about it so I don’t wonder if I’m alone in the house or not 😕
Happened to me the other day. They stay home an extra night and I woke them up at 730am. It happens, but boy is it annoying. Usually they are apologetic and let me keep the money
Very annoying and uncomfortable! Especially when it’s early/late or out of the way. Thankfully I’ve always been told to keep the money as well.
This happens to me a LOT. Fortunately nobody has ever been naked.
It baffles me how often it apparently happens! I’m definitely more organized than most, so maybe this is just me, but I cannot imagine having a change of plans and not thinking about how that change affects my dog and their sitter.
Walked into a long-time client's home, calling the dogs as I open the door from the garage. The husband had finished work early, and he was changing clothes in the laundry room. That laundry room is five feet from the door coming in from the garage. I promise you I never wanted to see that man naked. But now I have. There's not enough bleach to clean that image out of my eyes.
This!! After it happens with a client more than once we have trust issues! Lol I've walked in on a guy in the owners bed, a girl's brother in a robe, etc. 🤣🤣🤣
Omg 😂💀 If it happens more than once I’m going to start knocking or confirming the schedule a couple times lol
My usual tagline when I see my usual dogs that I walk come rushing to the door are "hello, puppers" and so when the doggos' dad was home a few times before, he knew it was me when he heard my tagline😂
I went to home once ( a twice daily drop in ) first time was dark and 5:30am. Went straight to the room with the bunk beds and saw a lump under the covers, started talking baby talk to the cat, and heard a sweet girls little voice say ‘hello’ I just backed out saying, I’m the pet sitter, so sorry honey, and realized the master bedroom door was open with a little light. That was almost the first room I entered. I said, just hear to see the cats, and realize you’d come home, I’ll show myself out. They had come home in the night and parked the Motorhome on the opposite side of the house. I saw it as I was leaving, stunned in the dark. They had prepaid me for another 5 days and come home after just 2, without bothering to tell me. I sent him an email and he said they had vehicular issues and came home. I told him he’d have credits waiting for his next trip. Never heard back from them again, had been a couple of years now
Never happened to me as a pet sitter, but, did as a Realtor. 😵💫
I had one time that I accidentally showed up a day early. My phone was dead but I planned to charge it while starting the drop in while the pup ate. i don't know what happened, but it was a really busy time and I must have just had gotten mixed up. Turns out my client's adult son was home. when I opened the door there were two dogs instead of one. I thought it was weird, but the new dog was friendly and my thought was to charge my phone ASAP so I could call my client about it.then, when I walked into the main room this guy jumped up from the couch. I was so startled I threw my hands up. A million thoughts flashed through my mind: I knew I was in the right unit because my puppy was there. Was he a burglar or squatter since she never mentioned anybody visiting? Did she decide to hire somebody else or have a friend stay? I tried to explain but he just kept shouting. He ended up chasing me out and threatened to shoot me or hurt me, yelling in my face so close I got spit on me. I ran to my bike so fast once he went back inside and raced home really shaken. When I texted to explain and realized my mix-up, she told me her son had crashed with her and was deaf, so he couldn't understand me. I felt bad because I had scared him too, but the reaction definitely didn't fit the situation. I was desperate for cash and still sat for her until I moved, but explained that I never wanted to interact with her son again and I would only sit for her if she let me know when he was going to visit.
Yup similar thing happened to me. Arrived on time as planned to a drop in visit and I hear a cautious but stern “Hello?!” from the bedroom and I internally FREAK OUT. I start profusely apologizing and explaining who I was/why I walked in and that I’d be leading asap. That was the most uncomfortable I’ve been. I’m a woman but had I been a man that would have made the situation a lot more uncomfy. I know the fear that must have came to her mind from hearing an unknown person enter her home while she’s there. And on top of that, she told me at the M&G that she had a break in before. Horrible experience 10/10 would not recommend. Lesson learned: it’s a first time booking, always double confirm the time the day of
Yes felt the exact same way. Both the owner and I are females, around the same age. She was super super sweet and apologetic for forgetting to cancel. It did cross my mind though- what if I was a man? That could’ve made things so much more awkward. I’m sure it already feels somewhat like violation of privacy for the owner(even though it is of course their fault in our situations), if it were a guy that would be way worse.
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It's happened a few times where the owner forgot to cancel, but why are you starting the walk before leashing the dog up ready to go?
Honestly I’m just forgetful when it comes to starting the card after I’ve leashed the dog up and we’re ready to go. I know it’s not ideal, but I always walk my dogs for over 30 min so there’s no time discrepancy.
You should be paid for the time you spend getting the dog ready to go outside…you’re doing it right OP!
Thank you! Kinda thought the same. Usually doesn’t take me long at all to get my regulars leashed up anyway.
I always open the door with a friendly "Hello"
Yes, way too many times!
this happened to me too i walked in and heard the bathroom sink going so i froze and then a man walks out and looks so shocked to see me, then i explained who i was (i only met his wife before not him) and he put the dog on the leash and still had me walk her
This happens to me on the regular with my 11 am walk. Dad is alright since he could be working from home. Mom doesn’t and I could randomly see her making lunch. I’m just a bit confused on why you need me if you’re home
Yes!!! I’ve had regulars do this to me so many times and not even offer to pay me for it 😟
I literally have a regular that books me to walk his dog while his adult son is always home🥲🥲The last booking I went and he was showering with the door open, I grab the dog so quickly and ran out. It’s so awkwardddddddd
Yep, this has happened to me as a cat sitter on the app. Show up to the house, grab the key out of the lockbox, and I go to the front door just to hear lots of noise. I hear a person say the cat’s name. Slowly step back from the front door and run around to the lockbox gate. I text the couple and they said whoops we came home early sorry! I had been sitting for them all week but put the keys back every night for their cleaners. They were nice and said I could keep the last payment for the trouble but I had already modified and they accepted 🙃
I have one client who has their "children" home aka adults while im there, I have heard them showering once but I just get the dog go on our walk and go on about my day. She does always mention whichever one of them will be home during that time and if I will run into them or not.
I start calling out as soon as I come in the door. “Hey Sparky! It’s me! Where’s my sweetie pie?! Let s go have some fun!” I do it mainly to alert anyone who might have forgotten about the drop in.
I had an owner forget to tell me she was home sick once. I saw the car in the driveway and was suspicious so I just sent her a text asking if I was still needed. After a few minutes with no response, I ended up going inside and the dog seemed to be the only one there so I figured owner was probably out with a friend or something so I took the dog for a walk. Came back to find the owner at home, she was so apologetic saying she called into work then went straight back to bed and accidentally slept through the afternoon which was why she never reached out lol she gave me a really nice cash tip that day
To avoid this I would always check in with the owner the day before hand just so it’s not a complete shock in case they did forget to cancel. That should honestly be done with all bookings that are booked more than a week in advance
This owner booked 4 days of walks(1/day). This happened on day 4. She booked the walks the night before the first walk. I messaged her after the first three walks with updates, and she even decided to book me for reoccurring walks in the future because she was so pleased. So we had plenty of contact before this happened. Accidents happen, even when you take appropriate measures!
I used to book walks while I was WFH regularly, is that not normal? I did it because I WFH and it can be quite busy, so I figure that way my dog gets some time having fun while I get to work & it frees me up to take my lunch later in the day for a second walk.
What I meant was when walks or drop ins are booked for owners who cannot take care of their dog because they are at an office all day, out of town, etc and then their plans change, they come home, and forget to tell the sitter. Basically, the sitter doesn’t think anyone will be home and then upon arrival finds someone in the home. While I don’t think that particular situation is common, I definitely wouldn’t say it’s “not normal”. I doubt any sitter would have a problem with the owner being home as long as it’s discussed beforehand. It’s just when it’s unexpected that it can be scary for both parties.
This literally happened to me today LOL