There was a case where a pet sitter was supposed to feed a dog regularly. But instead, they got distracted by their own affairs. The poor dog ended up starving and was in a really bad state when the owner returned. It took a while for the dog to recover fully. This shows how irresponsible some pet sitters can be.
In one instance, a pet sitter didn't clean the snake's tank properly. There was a build - up of bacteria which made the snake sick. The sitter didn't notice the signs at first. By the time the owner came back, the snake was very weak. This horror story emphasizes the importance of hygiene when taking care of snakes.
One horror story could be that while dog sitting, a strange noise in the attic made all the dogs go crazy barking at midnight. I was so scared as I didn't know what was up there. I tried to calm the dogs but they just wouldn't stop. Eventually, it turned out to be a raccoon that had found its way in.
I know of a story where a pet sitter was taking care of a rabbit. The rabbit was a bit finicky with its food. The sitter tried different types of hay and vegetables until she found the perfect combination that the rabbit loved. As a result, the rabbit became more active and its fur was shinier when the owners got back.
Sure. One success story is about a cat sitter. The cat was very shy and timid at first. But the sitter was patient, spending time every day just sitting near the cat, talking softly. After a week, the cat started to come out of hiding and would even curl up on the sitter's lap. It shows how patience in pet sitting can lead to great results.
The feeling of being in someone else's space and not fully understanding the history of the place can be terrifying. There might have been a tragic event in the house in the past that you don't know about. And suddenly, you start experiencing things like cold spots or objects moving on their own. It gives you a sense that there's something not right with the place, and it can be very unsettling.
The most common element is probably carelessness. Sitters might not properly secure the dog's living area. For instance, leaving a window open that the dog can jump out of. Another is inexperience. A sitter who has never dealt with a certain breed's specific needs can get into trouble. Also, distractions play a role. If the sitter is too focused on their own things like chatting with friends instead of watching the dog, bad things can happen.
One common element could be unexpected events like the dogs getting sick suddenly. When you're dog sitting, you might not be fully aware of their medical history, and a sudden illness can be very scary.
A friend of mine had a house sitting horror story. He was taking care of a large house. One day, he noticed that some of the food in the pantry was being eaten, but he was alone in the house. Then he found mouse droppings everywhere. Turns out, there was a massive mouse infestation that the homeowners hadn't told him about. He had to deal with trying to catch the mice all by himself while also taking care of the house.
Well, I heard of a dog sitter who forgot to feed the dog for a whole day. The poor dog was starving and started chewing on furniture out of desperation. When the owner came back, the house was a mess and the dog was in a really bad state. The sitter clearly wasn't responsible enough.