How would you handle this situation?

[bertha katzenengel]

Our regular pet sitter really dropped the ball last week. We have eight indoor/outdoor cats and care for six-eight outdoor stray/feral cats. We were gone nine days and returned two days ago. We returned to find

+ we have five litter boxes downstairs and four upstairs; those downstairs were scooped only once, from the look of it; the upstairs were never scooped at all

+ the two large indoor dry food dishes were not only empty, they were licked clean (they are kept full at all times) and the astroturf placemat they sit on had had all the crumbs dug out of it -- the cats never do that

+ the indoor cats are fed 2-3 5.5 oz cans of food each evening; they had been fed just one per day *

+ the indoor pet fountain was disgusting and running too low -- could burn out the pump

+ almost all the outdoor cats were GONE, telling me they had not been fed consistently, if at all

+ the outdoor dishes hadn't been moved

+ the outdoor water dishes were relatively clean, telling me that no raccoons had come by -- another clue that food hadn't been put out twice daily as the sitter knows we require

Now: What would you do? I'm asking because I seriously need suggestions. Maybe someone out there is the same as I am but has learned to face fools without being terrified. I am terrible at confrontation and, wimpy me, I'm trying to figure out a "nice" way of asking for my god damned house key back. :eyes: <-- at self

Thanks for your help!

* we left a brief note that we were running low on canned food and hadn't had time to get to the store, and asked if she'd buy some, please, and we taped a twenty-dollar bill to the note. The sitter bought a case, and eight cans were missing. The sitter didn't even bother to look into the cabinet where she knows we keep the canned food -- there were at least five days' worth of cans in there, and none had been used.

edited to fix # 3

[jobycom]

1. Before I vote--is this a service, a teenager in the neighborhood, or what?

Would make a difference.

[bertha katzenengel]

3. good question -- a SERVICE, called (wait for it)

Pawfessional Pet Care. Here is the link to their web site: http://www.inhomepetcare.com/

Bonded and Insured.
Recommended by local veterinarians.
Member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.
Member of Pet Sitters International.
Member of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce.

Now that I know they're members of two associations I'm going to complain to those associations.

[BikeWriter]

4. One bad employee does not make a bad company...

though it does lower their credibility considerably.

[bertha katzenengel]

6. True, but as far as I know, they have one employee: the owner.

She is the only person I've ever talked to and she has told me that it is always she who will go to my home.

We'll see.

[BikeWriter]

26. Aww shit...

[jobycom]

8. Sometimes it does

There was no supervision, no way to make sure the job got done. That's at least a weak company. Poor training, poor hiring, poor screening, poor supervision, or something. Their job is to make sure something gets done, and it didn't get done.

[BikeWriter]

27. Bertha says it's a one person company. No passing the buck!

[jobycom]

5. I would talk to them, but I wouldn't use them again. A story...

My seventh grade math teacher ran a kennel in Mississippi. Over the summer, he went on vacation for two weeks, and had someone to run it for him. They never showed up. By the time he got back, some of the animals had starved, and some had begun preying on the others.

I might let a neighborhood friend off the hook for a family emergency, and I would certainly forgive this organization if they have a good excuse, but if this person or organization doesn't have the responsibility to handle crises without risking your pets, I'd find someone else.

And I would certainly demand a refund, probably before you filed a complaint. I would file a complaint, anyway, but I would wait until I heard their story. It could be understandable, or it could be negligence, and you should know before you file the complaint--with the associations and with the local vet who recommended them. Make them have to explain it to these groups before these groups recommend them to anyone else. It's not like cleaning a house or washing a car--these mistakes can reach a point where they can't be undone.

Just my input. If you are like me and hate to confront, steel yourself, be polite, be yourself, and be understanding, but don't back down. You're right, they're wrong. If they try to bully you, take that as a sign that this was not an accident they regret.

Just my worthless advice. :-)

[bertha katzenengel]

7. not worthless at all

"steel yourself" and "don't back down" are two bits I could stand to remember. Thank you. I just left her a message.

[ernstbass]

9. You may want to contact the vets who recommended them

I would certainly want to know about this if I was considering a pet sitter. Pets aren't like houseplants - this is a serious matter and I would be HOT!!! Call the chamber of commerce also.

[sbj405]

11. Talk w/ her. If the answer is not satisifcatory, alert the orgs and vets

listed.

[Hugin]

2. Ask if your instructions were clear...

Ask them to repeat your instructions to you...

It could be they weren't competent to do the task asked of
them. (I doubt this)

Otherwise, politely ask them to return your key and send
them away without payment. You hired them to do a particular
job in a particular manner. They did not perform the service
and they do not require payment.

They obviously hold you in contempt or they would've done
their best.

[bertha katzenengel]

10. I should hope they were clear. She's been our pet sitter for nearly four

years. She knows the drill. Either something pissed her off and she decided to take it out on our cats, or something is wrong in her personal life. That's the best I can figure.

[barb162]

17. She knows the routine. If she was sick she should have had someone

cover for her. I would ask her what the fuck happened in a very direct, professional (you are a contractor here basically) manner. WHatever she says,it doesn't excuse her from not taking care of your animals properly or calling you when you were on vacation. I always call in once a day to a sitter to make sure things are going smoothly and they have my numbers where I will be and that is taped to the cabinet above the cat food on the counter. They are to call me if there are any emergencies or if somehting is wrong. Even if she was in the hospital she could have had a relative or somebody fill in. SHe should have had backup.

By the way, what happened with the 20 bucks?

Also, unless her excuse was so good (like she was in a coma) I would NEVER use her again and I would tell the people who recommend her of your experience to protect other innocent people needing pet sitters. If you can't get the key back, you know what to do...change the locks fast if you think she might get retaliatory.

I find the whole thing inexcuseable. Your pets could have died or been seriously sick and it is obvious she dropped the ball on just about everything for which you contracted her services. There is no reliability here and that is precisely what you needed.

[bertha katzenengel]

12. West Coasties getting home from work . . . any thoughts?

:kick:

[leftofthedial]

13. I'd get rid of all those fucking cats

[bertha katzenengel]

15. They don't fuck.

They don't have the 'nards.

[leftofthedial]

16. :-)

well, it depends on what the fucking meaning of fuck is.

:-)

[friesianrider]

22. That's mature...

:eyes: Fucking stupid comment.

[leftofthedial]

25. that's me

fucking mature

still, for all you mature people out there with no senses of humor, the fucking question was "How would you handle this situation?".

I would get rid of all those fucking cats. Solve two problems (at least) at once.

[friesianrider]

29. Hmm...

"Get rid" of them? NOT funny to those of us who treat our pets with respect - there is no "get rid" of them. Would you take offense if you had kids and when they were misbehaving I said why don't you "get rid of that brat at an orphanage"?

I hate fucking stupid ass idiots who think animals are disposable like trash. If you get an animal, you'd best be prepared to keep it for life. If you think that's funny then have a damn cookie but don't expect ME to laugh.

[leftofthedial]

30. I treat my pets with respect too

I have two in the house right now. I'm not saying get rid of them because they are misbehaving.

I'm saying get rid of them (adoption, not murder) because I don't like fucking cats, especially thirty-nine of them or however many it is the OP has living in and out of her house and upstairs and downstairs and requiring a full-time staff of five housesitters every time she goes out of town. However many she has, it's way too fucking many.

OP asked my opinion. I gave it. You read all sorts of crap into it that I didn't say.

BTW, I do like horses. And dogs. And birds. I'm even nice to my ex's cat, believe it or not.

And leave my misbehaving brats out of this.

I leave you with a quote from those wise philosophers, The Uninvited:

I asked God for the Holy Word
ageless wisdom never heard
He just said to feed the birds
love your pets, clean up their turds

[friesianrider]

34. That's just absurd.

Get rid of them by adoption? Oh, right, that makes it SOOO much better.

"...because I don't like fucking cats, especially thirty-nine of them or however many it is the OP has living in and out of her house and upstairs and downstairs and requiring a full-time staff of five housesitters every time she goes out of town."

First of all, she doesn't have 39 cats. Second of all, she doesn't need a full-time staff of 5 housesitters everytime she goes out of town. You are just being ridiculous and making totally stupid statements that are untrue.

"However many she has, it's way too fucking many."

Says who? You? If that is your constructive comment, then maybe you shouldn't be making one.

"You read all sorts of crap into it that I didn't say."

No, you made it apparent you're an inconsiderate asshole, and I called you on it. Don't fucking judge this lady because she's compassionate enough to help animals in need. More than I can say for 99% of this fucking board who thinks animals are disposable and animals don't deserve any kind of respect.

And BTW, apparently you DON'T treat your pets with respect, because any respectable pet owner would never give up any of their pets and wouldn't make statements like "I fucking hate cats." I fucking hate most people...can I start killing them and use that as an excuse for it?

Please. If your only comment is something obnoxious to the OP for doing a MORAL AND COMPASSIONATE thing for her pets, then STFU. Jerk.

[leftofthedial]

35. yeah, you're right. I'm so stupid and evil.

I don't know how, but you can just see right through my facade and tell the truth about me. In reality, I'd put all the cats in a bag and drown them, but only after trying out all those urban legends about cats and microwaves and clothes dryers and nine lives and always landing on their feet and shit. Drowning would be way easier than finding homes for 39 fucking cats. After all, there are plenty of cats. Know why? Because they are fucking cats!

Now shut up and get me a beer, would you?

Okay. NOW you can call me a jerk and know what you are talking about, unlike in your previous posts.

If only you had the slightest interest in reality instead of whatever your agenda is, you'd learn that I've never done anything remotely describable as anything other than kind to the dozen or so animals who have been fortunate enough to be part of my life. I like most dogs better than most people for sure. But "caring" for 14 to 16 cats is excessive in my opinion, which is WHAT THE OP WAS ASKING FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE!



on edit: I'm not only evil and deserving of your righteous hatred, I also can't type for shit.

[Deja Q]

14. Change the locks too.

[Kenneth ken]

18. dear empath extraordinaire

I'm sorry you came home to this situation. :hug:

You definitely need to find out why it happened. Do it for yourself, but mostly you need to defend your kitties, keep them in mind when you are talking to the person. I hope your ferals come back soon.

:hug:

:loveya:

[bertha katzenengel]

31. K.K.

You are so sweet. Just words on a 'puter but I feel the genuine caring. My goodness, now I've had two events today that have just covered me in warmth. :hug: Thank you.

[Old_Fart]

19. You don't owe the person one damn cent

Spread the word around about the neglect. One of your cats could have died from starving to death. I would want to slap the person myself but that's not an option. If they come by for payment tell them to get the hell out of your house before you call the ASPCA and file abuse charges on them. :mad:

[undeterred]

20. I have no patience for people who put animals at risk

I'd get really angry.

[MissB]

21. I'd say fire her.

Ask to meet with her. Write down what you want to say (much like the above points in your OP). Get your key back, and find another service.

She put all your kitties at risk. You wouldn't want to come home to dead kitties- and that is your fear here, isn't it? She's blown your trust. How on earth could you go away again and leave her in charge? You'd be worrying about whether she is doing her job the entire time you were gone.

Just think of your cats when you meet with her. She failed her job.

If you don't want to confront her in person, do it by mail. Don't let her go without expressing how badly she failed you, whether in person or by mail.

[Old_Fart]

23. Check your house for missing things

If she isn't doing her job she could be ripping people off. She could be on drugs or booze and she might need help. If thats the case and you like her help her out.

[friesianrider]

24. Excellent suggestion (and my advice)...

As someone with 7 indoor cats and 7 outdoor ferals that I feed, vet and have had neutered/spayed, I can attest to the importance of keeping a regular feeding schedule for the outdoor cats because they will leave if not fed. If they are regularly fed, they have no reason to leave and will stay. It is not a joke to those of us who treat our animals like our children.

I would write up a letter and spell out all the problems like you listed above in the OP...say that because of this, you are severing ties with this business and will no longer be using their services. Also demand your housekey back within 7 days or something like that. Say that because the service was beyond unacceptable and could have resulted in the death of one or more of your pets, you are requesting a substantially reduced (or zero) balance due for their "services." Before you send it, I would call and ask to speak to the owner of the business. After that phone call, send the letter certified.

This is NO joke and should be taken very seriously. No one would accept this kind of "care" for a child, so why should a pet owner accept it for their pet? Totally and completely unacceptable, and I'd sure let the owner know it.

[Old_Fart]

32. If the outdoor cats are missing

Some of them might be dead.

The suggestion to write the letter and send it certified is a great suggestion. That way she has to sign for it and its up in her face. She will have to face reality if something is wrong in her life.

Bertha, I would offer to help her at the end of the letter. If she didn't want it and didn't have a legal excuse she would be dust in my book. There is no excuse for what she has done.

[Seabiscuit]

28. Fire her ass and don't pay her a penny.

Take pictures of everything immediately, get witnesses, and document your complaint to her in a letter, and let her take you to small claims court if she thinks she's earned a red cent.

She didn't do *any* of her job tasks adequately.

No judge is going to find any claim she makes for pay very compelling under these circumstances.

Worst job performance I've ever heard of. And I used to practice employment law.

[rustydog]

33. Re- Key your house, ask sitter what happened.

There is no excuse for not geting in touch ith you if she could not fulfill her obligation.
If responses are not satisfactory, fire her. You don't have to worry about the key as the locks are changed. (she may have made duplicates)