I write this review because I would not want any pet owner to experience what I experienced with…read moreBones. Specifically, with the owner, Christa Sharp.
Christa showed complete disregard for the wellbeing of my cats and for the safety of my home. She was unprofessional, unpredictable, noncommunicative, and unreachable. My last petsitting from Bones was March 3, 2018. It left me completely distraught over whether my cats were even okay while I was more than 1,000 miles away. I begged Christa to confirm that my cats were okay. She never did. Never. It was absolutely cruel and cold. An overview of the visit is here, for you to make your own decision about whether Bones is right for you.
I started with Bones in the summer of 2014. Service was great for the first two years. It went downhill, then uphill, and then downhill again since then. Christa, the owner, did my last petsitting visit in Durham, NC on March 3, 2018. I unexpectedly was stuck in New York City because of a Nor'Easter that grounded all outgoing flights.
I booked my Saturday morning, 30 minute appointment through the Bones online scheduling system on Friday (3/2) at 7:30AM. For past visits, Christa had encouraged me to write instructions into the booking system for what my cats needed. (Even though the cats' routine was the same as shown to Bones in 2014 and never changed much.) So, I wrote instructions in the booking for what was needed, including the fact that my house alarm was set and on. I put *** by this fact, emphasizing that whoever did the visit would need to be ready to disarm the house alarm with a certain code in a certain place. Done. Booking submitted.
In addition, the online schedule system displayed a note that indicated a pet owner should text Christa if the owner was scheduling a visit for within the next 24 hours. I was close to that cutoff, so I texted Christa about the booking. She texted back "Ok thank you I can do it".
Fast forward to Saturday morning 10AM. My phone rings. I miss it. Caller ID indicates it was my security company. I call them back. They tell me that the front door alarm of my house was triggered. I tell them it's okay and they cancel dispatch. I immediately text Christa and ask if she is at the house (10:01AM). No response. I wait. I text again (10:19AM), explaining that I got a call from my security company that the house alarm was triggered. I gave her directions to disarm the alarm. I asked if she could relay those instructions to whoever was at the house. She responds (10:23AM) that she didn't have her phone with her and did not know how to use the alarm. She says, "I am sorry I was not able to turn it off". I text back (10:25AM) that it's okay, since she still should be there she can shut off the alarm now. I remind her that the instructions for disarming the alarm are written out in the note for my booking as well.
Her response (10:26AM): " I am not doing a 30 minute visit with the alarm blaring. ... I guess I will go turn it off but this is the last time I can do any sitting for you. Thanks."
Think about that text for a minute.
1. She didn't stay 30 minutes for the 30 minute visit.
2. She didn't read the instructions that I left for the visit, which she specifically told me to write.
3. She didn't contact me about my alarm going off.
4. And MOST IMPORTANTLY - she left my house with the house alarm blaring - with my two cats inside, helpless to get away from that distressing sound. !!!!!
I, of course, sent a series of texts begging her to confirm that she did go back, that the alarm is shut off, that my cats are okay. (Again - she explicitly states that she does not take phone calls.) No response. No response. No response. The End.
This entire experience with Bones / Christa was not just unprofessional and wrong, it was CRUEL to my cats and to me. No one like Christa should be pet sitting. Please, please, for the sake of your pets (children), find a different pet sitter. Find one who actually cares about animals and who will communicate with you.