Craziest Stories Of My Time As A Professional Pet Sitter
I've been working with animals for over four years now and that chapter in my life is finally coming to a close. Looking back over the years, there have been more highs than lows in this career. Funny thing is, I never sat out to work exclusively in the animal industry for as long as I did, it just happened one summer.
I desperately needed a job to help pay for my college apartment - that I was still being charged for during the summer - and there was a kennel position available in my area. So I took the chance because of money and my love for animals.
Little did I know, that job would be a savior to me during one of the hardest summers of my life. This article would be quite long with the endless stories I could write about, but these select stories are just some of the few that stood out to me over the years.
The time a client was upset I followed her instructions
In this first story, I had been working as a contractor for over a year now and had (or so I thought) a great working relationship with this particular client. This client has specific instructions for her dog like she can only stay outside of her doggy room if she did all her potty, and that includes poo and pee.
Still, following? Well, one time it was a super hot summer day in Georgia and the dog only wanted to pee. Makes sense cause it's so hot and she was barely eating her food, so I was expecting that. According to the client's instructions, if Macie hadn't done ALL her potty business then she couldn't stay upstairs.
I had three visits with her that day, and on the second visit, she still hadn't pooped. I double-checked the instructions and called my boss to let her know because I really didn't want to put Macie back in her doggy room, she loves to be upstairs with the big bay windows and television.
My boss reassured me that if that was the instructions then I have to follow through. Cut to 30 minutes later I receive a message in our pet portal with the client basically yelling at me for putting Macie back in her room. It was awful, so bad that my co-workers started calling my boss to stand up for me and reassuring her that what I did was right and exactly what the client stated in her notes.
Within an hour and a half, the whole issue was resolved with the client apologizing for berating me so harshly. She realized I was only going by what I was told and took back everything she said.
After that experience, I realized no matter how great of a working relationship you have with a client, at the end of the day they are not your friends. Anything can go wrong in an instant and you will definitely be blamed as it was during your care.
My first dog bite
I have only been bit twice in my short career and this story is my first experience. I was walking a reactive dog for his evening walk. His name was Lucky and he had the cutest, slightly floppy ears going for him. We had walked this route a thousand times, usually around the same time as well. He was one of my favorites to walk because we kept a great pace and he barely stopped except to potty.
On this night walk, we were 10 minutes from his place, and all of a sudden Lucky found an old ice cream cone and popped it in his mouth. My first instinct was to quickly put my hand in his mouth and try to take it out. Wrong answer, because he locked his jaw so I couldn't take it!
I quickly realized Lucky wasn't going to let me take this dirty cone out of his mouth, so I just let him have it. It was definitely my best lesson in what not to do when you have a determined dog. Now the dog wasn't being malicious or anything, I was just the dumb walker who put my hands where it didn't belong.
The second time is a charm
The other time I was bit by a dog was when I worked at my last kennel job. We had a dog in our inside pen that we usually use for older or big dogs that can't fit in the regular-sized kennels. He was a Great Pyrenees - a beautiful dog - and one of the sweetest, gentle giants you've ever seen. Surrounding this pen was a white picket fence and most dogs tend to put their paws in the little slots and usually can get themselves out of it, this day that didn't happen.
So I went to try and pop this dog's paws out of the little slots of the fence, but the more I tried to push up the more he kept resisting. It got to the point where the more pressure I put on his paws, he then instinctively bit down on my hand. When I say bite down, it was done in a response to me causing a bit of pain, which is understandable.
He bit down so much that it broke the skin and started to bleed a little bit, nothing horrendously bad, just something that'll need a little bandage. As I pulled away, he popped his paw out all by himself! After getting called away for a few minutes, I went back to check on the dog and my coworkers told me that he put himself in time-out. Lol!
The dog felt so bad that he caused me pain, that he willingly put himself in a corner. A timeout if you will. I went to console and let him know I was okay. Having moments like that made me appreciate how sensitive some animals can be, especially when they don't mean any harm.
One of the scariest experiences in my career
Leo was an American Mastiff and the gentlest big dog you'll ever meet. And with that introduction, you'll understand why this story is so crazy.
Leo was about 130-pound Mastiff and apparently "small" for his breed. One day we were in the midst of our usual walking routine and all of a sudden he sees this other dog and just freezes. Now, Leo is a super friendly dog, and anytime another dog comes around he wants to say hello. But remember, he's 130-pounds, so most people instantly got on guard around him.
Leo froze and suddenly lunged towards the other dog. I was still holding his leash and a second later, I was almost dragged on the grass. I immediately jumped up to try and stop him from going after this dog, who for some reason, he didn't like.
The poor owner put herself between the dogs and I came running to grab his collar and drag him away. I was shaking and it seemed like she was also shaken up. I was able to get him away without any damage done except to my poor heart that was racing like crazy! Eventually, I got us home and Leo was just smiling away like nothing ever happened!
The whole ordeal scared me because I wasn't used to seeing Leo act up like that, but I was convinced that something was off with this dog that he didn't like. He never reacted to other dogs we had encountered in the past and never did after that incident. It's probably one of the scariest things that have happened to me working with dogs.
Working with animals has been an experience I will always cherish. They were there to comfort me when I lost my first dog Precious, and I'm still convinced to this day, that they sensed my grief and comforted me the only way animals can.
If you ever get the opportunity to work or volunteer with animals, please take that chance, you won't regret it. They make life so rewarding and only ask you to love them back unconditionally.
Opinions and Perspectives
Each of these incidents taught such valuable lessons about working with animals.
Ever notice how the scariest moments make the best stories later? Though they're not so fun at the time!
These stories perfectly capture why animal work is both incredibly rewarding and challenging.
The story about Leo really highlights how unpredictable even the sweetest animals can be sometimes.
Your experience shows why it's so important to respect an animal's boundaries and signals.
It's refreshing to read such honest accounts of both the good and challenging moments in animal care.
I'm curious about what made you finally decide to move on from pet sitting after four years?
Working with animals during college sounds like such a rewarding experience despite the challenges.
The way you describe each animal's personality makes them come alive in the stories.
Reading this makes me want to hug my pet sitter. They really do deal with so much!
These stories would make a great book! You should consider writing more about your experiences.
I admire how you maintained compassion even after difficult experiences. That's not easy to do.
The contrast between the sweet Great Pyrenees and the bite incident really shows how complex animals can be.
Your story about the animals comforting you during grief really shows their emotional intelligence.
Four years is a long time in such a physically demanding job. You must have really loved it.
It's interesting how you mention the job found you rather than the other way around. Life works in mysterious ways!
Those Georgia summers are rough on dogs. No wonder Macie wasn't feeling up to her usual routine.
Did you ever have any funny experiences with cats? They can be quite the characters too!
The Macie story is a good example of why clear communication is so important in pet sitting.
Sounds like you learned so much about animal behavior over those four years.
I would have been terrified during that Mastiff incident! You handled it really well.
The way you handled difficult situations shows real professionalism. Not everyone would stay so calm.
Your story really captures both the joys and challenges of pet sitting. It's not all just playing with pets!
I totally agree that anyone who gets the chance should work with animals. It's such a unique experience.
The ice cream cone story is a good reminder not to panic when dogs get into things.
Were most of your clients dogs? I'm curious about other pets you might have cared for.
Even after the biting incidents you stayed positive about the animals. That shows real dedication.
It's amazing how quickly situations can turn when working with animals. You really have to stay alert.
I had no idea American Mastiffs could be that big! Must have been quite an adventure walking him.
The relationship between animals and grief is so powerful. They just know when we need extra love.
This reminds me why I always tip my pet sitter well. They deal with so much!
Love how you can laugh about the bite incidents now. Sometimes the best lessons come from tough experiences.
Reading this makes me appreciate my pet sitter more. It's not an easy job at all.
The Macie incident is a good reminder to always document everything when pet sitting.
I can relate to falling into animal work by accident. Started as a weekend job and ended up being my career!
These stories really show how important clear communication is between pet sitters and owners.
The timeout story is hilarious! Though I feel bad for both you and the dog. What a sweet guilty conscience.
Did you ever figure out what spooked Leo that day? Seems so odd for a usually friendly dog.
I find it interesting how different dogs have such distinct personalities. Each story shows such unique characters.
The way you describe the relationships with these animals makes it clear why you stayed in it for four years.
That Mastiff story is exactly why I stick to small dogs! Though I guess any size dog can be reactive.
I'm surprised you only got bit twice in four years! That seems like a pretty good track record.
The part about it being a savior during a tough summer really resonates with me. Animals can be the best therapy.
Working with animals really does change you. I became so much more patient after starting in pet care.
I wonder if Lucky had resource guarding issues? That might explain the cone incident.
This makes me miss my old pet sitting days. The pay wasn't great but the love from the animals made up for it.
The Great Pyrenees story shows such emotional intelligence. Animals are so much more aware than we often give them credit for.
Macie's owner should have been more understanding. We all know how dogs can get in hot weather.
I'm curious about how many pets you typically cared for in a day during your busiest times?
Your story about the animals comforting you after losing Precious brought tears to my eyes. They really do know.
Sometimes the best jobs are the ones we stumble into by accident. Sounds like this really helped you through a tough time.
Reading about Leo made my heart race! I can't imagine trying to control a dog that size when they decide to lunge.
I appreciate how you handled the biting incidents with understanding rather than blame. Animals usually have good reasons for their actions.
The ice cream cone incident reminds me of my lab. Once he gets something in his mouth, it's game over!
It's refreshing to read honest stories about pet sitting that include the tough moments too. Most people only share the cute stuff.
That client situation with Macie makes me wonder if there was something else going on in the owner's life that day.
I've never tried pet sitting but this makes me want to give it a shot. Though maybe I'll start with cats instead of 130-pound dogs!
Working with animals during grief is so therapeutic. They give such pure, judgment-free comfort.
The timeout story made my day! I can just picture this huge fluffy dog sulking in the corner feeling bad.
Four years is a good run in pet care. It can be really demanding physically and emotionally. I burned out after two years.
I love that this article shows both the challenges and rewards of working with animals. It's not all just cute puppies and kitten snuggles.
Anyone else notice how the scariest experiences always involve the sweetest dogs? Its always the gentle ones who surprise you!
My dog would have eaten that ice cream cone so fast I wouldn't have had time to react! Lucky sounds like such a character.
I found it interesting how you fell into animal care by accident. Sometimes the best career paths find us instead of the other way around.
The Great Pyrenees story is both funny and sad. Poor baby felt so guilty! They really are gentle giants.
That first bite story taught me something new. I always thought you should try to get things out of their mouths too!
Actually, I disagree about not being friends with clients. I've made some lasting friendships through pet sitting. You just need good boundaries.
The Macie story frustrates me so much. Why give specific instructions if you're going to get mad when someone follows them?
I worked as a pet sitter through college too and it really is the perfect student job. Flexible hours and furry friends beats retail any day!
Interesting how Leo never reacted that way to other dogs before or after. Maybe that other dog had been aggressive in some way we humans couldn't detect?
The way animals comforted you after losing Precious really touched my heart. They truly have a sixth sense about these things.
As a vet tech, I always tell people never to put their hands near a dog's mouth when they have something. The ice cream cone situation could have been much worse!
The part about the Great Pyrenees putting himself in timeout is absolutely precious. Dogs are so emotionally intelligent, it amazes me.
That Mastiff story gave me chills! 130 pounds is no joke when they decide to lunge. I'm glad everyone was okay in the end.
I can totally relate to the client situation! No matter how careful you are following instructions, some pet parents can be really demanding. I've had similar experiences in my pet sitting days.