I cannot recommend this service for any sort of dog sitting. I contracted Kathy to take care of my two dogs while away on a cruise for a week. Eventually Kathy agreed to my schedule which was once a day in the morning to feed, water and interact with the dogs, and every other day twice.
I have a three season room where I keep my dogs with their crates, food and water. They have a doggie door to a completely secluded and secured dog space with a six foot fence around it. This situation has worked for me for all of my dogs in the 11 years I've lived in this house. My dogs have never gotten out, no animals have ever bothered them, and they've never been sick from eating something in the yard.
Kathy did not instill confidence in me during her first visit to discuss care, rates and get to know us. As a veteran from an animal hospital, she talked about how she didn't feel comfortable with the dogs able to leave in and out of the house and that they could interact with wild animals, eat something and get sick or some other unforeseen misfortune. I think it's good to be prepared, but these doom-and-gloom scenarios seemed unfounded given my decade of experience at my residence.
I had my phone off at sea and realized upon returning to cell activity in the states that Kathy had left a message that it was so cold during my vacation, that the dog water had frozen and she decided to close the dog door and visit the house three times per day, and that we could discuss the difference in fees when I got back. Two things here: first, it has been colder during the days we keep our dog space open to the dogs since we returned (and also last winter when it was absolutely frigid), and the dog water has NEVER FROZEN in my house in 11 years. The dog space is heated. I find the frozen water story really hard to believe. Second, I was frustrated that she would unilaterally decide to visit three times daily, which would have more than doubled her fee making it more expensive than just kenneling them, which I was trying to save a little money on with a pet visitor. When I came back home, I asked to speak with her about the new billing and she dropped it, saying that it was her decision to come more often. In any case, I felt as if I had cheated her for services.
Kathy was recommended from my previous pet sitter, who did a fantastic job with my dogs, sending texts daily to let me see her progress, confirm that she was actually visiting my house, and also takes plastic for payment.
My small dog was scheduled for a spay at the vet exactly one week after my return. Three hours into the vet visit, I got a call from the vet asking me if I knew that my female was pregnant. Of course, the answer was no. Her 11 year old companion had been neutered over ten years ago and could in no way sire a pup with her. I asked the vet how far along she was and they said 2-3 weeks, directly coinciding with the time Kathy was taking care of my two dogs. I wanted to talk to Kathy about this, but first asked her to return the key to my home. She suggested that since she knew the code to the garage, that she just drop the key off at my home in the afternoon and visit the dogs. No one would be home, and I really wanted to find out what happened while she sat for them. She agreed to visit later in the evening when I would be home and just before her scheduled evening pet visits. I got a message from her earlier in the day that she had a family emergency, and she couldn't visit in the evening so she just unilaterally decided to drop the keys off at the house through the garage. When I finally got a chance to talk to her on the phone, at first she was incredulous that my vet could accurately gauge a pregnancy. Then I asked her if she brought any pets to the house while I was gone. Her answer was no. I asked her if she took the dogs anywhere. Her answer was no. She had no idea how my 10 month old puppy could have gotten pregnant during her contracted service period.
I've since changed my locks and garage code. Kathy seems like a nice person, but when I trust someone with my most precious pets and the ability to come and go into my house, I want to feel confident that their word is solid, they will do what we agree to, and I'm assured for the safety of my pets. Kathy did not give this kind of service. I do not recommend All Creatures Pet Sitting. read more
