Maybe I’ve watched the movie In Her Shoes one too many times. Or maybe I’ve just romanticized the decision Toni Colette’s character makes when she quits her job as a lawyer to become a dog-walker. I don’t know for sure. But whatever the reason, I recently decided to apply for a job as a dog-walker. Partly because I could use the extra cash and partly, well, really it’s just because I could use the extra cash. And since I’m in need of extra funds, being a dog-walker seemed like the ideal part-time job. The pay’s decent, you make your own hours, and you get to meet all kinds of sweet animals. Plus, how hard could it be, right?
A couple of weeks later, I was offered the position as a Pet Sitter, making $9.50 per half hour. I completed my three hour on-site training and then, since they needed help during the President’s Day holiday weekend, I took my first assignments. The first client was easy as pie. Sweet dog, a little bit older and so gentle. He was fun to walk and everything was right where it was supposed to be – the leash, the dogfood, the vitamins – I fed him, walked him, and was on my way. This is going to be a breeze – they’re paying me to do this? I would almost do it for free! (Almost!)
The next assignment was not so simple. There was a dog and a cat at the house; it should have been pretty easy. Took the dog out and came back, so far so good. Next I tried to feed the cat but I realized that the food wasn’t where it was supposed to be. And then I couldn’t find the cat. My half hour quickly turned into an hour and and I still couldn’t find it! I finally locked up the house and left, hoping the cat (if it really existed) wasn’t going starve to death overnight.
The next day I went back for the afternoon walk. I let myself in the house expecting the dog to come bounding my way. No dog. I walked around and called her name, “Molly, come here girl.” No Molly. For some reason I glanced outside and there she was, sitting on the back porch. I knew they had an invisible fence (where the dog wears a collar that zaps him if he tries to go outside of the fence area) but I was surprised to see her outside. Well, no matter, I had a job to do. I took her out for a long walk and when she came back, she was tired but happy.
But now I was stuck – I didn’t know where to leave her. We are told to leave the animal as we found it, but I was confused. There were no notes indicating that she spends time outside and I was definitely concerned about the lack of a fence, dog-zapping collar or not. So I called my boss at her home. She agreed that there wasn’t much we could do other than to call the client and ask. The client didn’t answer the phone. I had no choice, no choice at all. I had to leave her outside.
About an hour and a half later I got a phone call from the client. “Molly was outside when you got there? That’s strange because we never leave her outside when we’re not home.” Uh-oh. I knew it! Apparently a niece was staying with the family and had locked the dog outside. The owner said she would send someone to the house to make sure the dog was still there.
I hung up the phone feeling awful. I knew it wasn’t my fault and that I had just followed protocol. But still – I felt responsible. What if her sweet little dog ran away? Or worse yet, what if she got hurt? I spent the entire rest of the weekend worrying about that dog and hoping everything turned out okay.
I can’t help but think that it shouldn’t be this hard, this dog-walking gig. I mean you go to someone’s house, you take their pet out for a spin, make sure it is fed and then you’re done, right? The problem is, I spend the entire time (and much more) worrying that something will happen to their beloved pet on my watch. And that doesn’t include the whole issue of walking into someone else’s house and being responsible for locking it up for them. Granted, I tend to over-worry about things, that’s a given. But still, it shouldn’t be this stressful.
I’m thinking that $9.50/ half hour is not nearly enough.
Do you use a pet service when you’re out of town?
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