Would not recommend. At one time Carolyn may have been great but she wasn't for us. She was hired to feed our pets at their regular meals times, clean the cat boxes, stay over night and visit mid day so they had company, and play with the puppy rather than walk him, she also offered to bring in the mail.
One star for bringing in the mail!
This was a horrible experience. I failed my kitties and pup. Things started off fine, she seamed knowledgeable and had experience. She didn't go out of her way to interact with the puppy or cats she was more business, what we needed and would it fit her schedule, where do they eat, litter boxes kept etc... She thought she would need extra time for the mid day visit because of the # of litter boxes and to walk our pup, so we agreed to pay extra, we also agreed to pay an extra $3.00. per day for gas because we are farther out than she usually works? We are in Ann Arbor, she says she care for pets in Ypsi and Ann Arbor. I should have said no thanks at that point but gas has gone up it was only $3.00. I realized the day we left for the airport things may not be ok and I was going to have to check in to make sure she was doing her job. She is a grown person with a business, I shouldn't have to baby sit her! The 13 days started with her showing up early when we were still home? She said she would come back soon. I commented no hurry they don't eat for another couple of hours. 1st red flag. I had emailed, and spoke to her about the feeding schedule multiple times, she said it was "no problem", it's why I hired her. The following week was one ridiculous question after another making me worry more. When she sent pictures, she would ask things a person with 20 years experience with animals should know. I then finally had to question her multiple times about why she was running late and remind her we could see her come and go on the doorbell to get her to start showing up on time. No reason or apology was ever given just everything is fine. It was not fine, my pets were being stressed by having their schedule changed both meals and potty breaks for our pup. I was so angry with her for not caring about them but what do you do when you are in another country and she has already taken your money, has your house keys and access to your pets. I also could't afford to hire a new sitter after paying her $1,980.00. We spent the first day home from vacation doing a deep clean of the house, our house trained pup peed in the hallway three times! It was so dry and crusted from different day for sure. The house smelled so bad! The cat boxes were clean but smelled like they had been sitting dirty for a while and absorbed the small, everything had to be cleaned. I reviewed her bill, yes after I had left a check and saw I was charged $9.00 per day for gas and possibly something else, the bill was all over the place and only partially what we talked about. I don't think she did the long afternoon visits. I then had to ask multiple times for my key back, it took three weeks after our vacation to get it, and wanted to come pick up a step stool she left at our house that she sat on to clean the cat boxes. I thought it was a donation because it was near a box of donations my son had set out besides I didn't want to see her again! Our last Communication was after I ask for my key again and told her I would pick it up at the P.O.box if she was actually going to drop off this time. She sent me a list of her company policies about returning keys with the policies and the charges! I wanted to say, oh now you want to follow policy! I told her I was not going to pay for the return of my key after so long and I shouldn't have to keep asking. She replied she didn't say she wold charge me and finally returned the key. Ridiculous and unprofessional! I didn't bother to ask about the overcharges, I have found a wonderful sitter and warn everyone about her company and to not trust Ann Arbor pet sitters list. I did a lot more leg work to find our new sitter and did't take advice from next door. read more
