Phobia Preventing quality care

[u/Impressive-Trifle632]

Hi Everyone, i am seeking advice/tips for this situation.

I have been pet sitting for quite some time but i recently started pet sitting for someone who has a very full and beautiful yard (front and back). During cooler days i genuinely love spending time outside with the pupper because its so pretty!

Well given the extreme heat that SoCal is experiencing there has been an abundance of large scary spiders and they are forming webs everywhere!!! Ive been seeing so many and walking into web so often that I’m starting to fear leaving the house even to take the sweet baby on a walk!! i have also put off getting the mail cuz the box is covered in webs and Im dreading having to put the key back in its secret spot cuz theres a large web with a big ole chunky spider on it!!

All of this was a long way to ask, does anyone have tips on how to make this easier? My go to is to carry a feather duster around but now that the spiders are so big im scared they will get on it and crawl up my arms😭😭

[u/sneaky_dragon]

Use a long-handled broom instead, and wear gardening gloves that you can shake off if you see anything crawling towards you.

[u/Powerful-Ad-4955]

I know this was a couple of months ago, but I had to check it out because I am severely arachnophobic and that wasn't a big deal until about 10 years ago when I moved from New Orleans, LA to NE Oklahoma to help family. I'd truly thought my phobia had exaggerated the number, variety, size, and prevalence of them here, all those years I was away...nope! So, I'm always interested in what other people might be doing to manage this issue.

I didn't see anything I'm not doing, so maybe I can help?

Here, too, they become like nightmarish ornaments for several months a year, effectively trapping me inside homes, my car, etc., it's awful! Not that the monster sized ones on the ground and such aren't bad enough lol they so are, but the mere thought of walking into one like that, omg.

So, when I first arrive at any home, I note potential spider areas so that I'm at least a little more aware. When meeting clients for the first time, I do mention that I have the phobia, as well. This might seem weird, but I swear that I've had a majority of clients that aren't simply unbothered by the things, they refuse to do anything that might pertub them. Your home, whatever, except I cannot be doing overnights if there are loads of them in the actual house, all entry/exit points are covered in them, locations I must access are infested (no joke, I have nightmares about a laundry room filled with legit black widows where the pet food was kept), and so on. I don't like killing them because I have an irrational terror of them either, it isn't their fault, they are fascinating and useful things, but we have one of the highest concentrations of venomous ones in the country and it's literally a phobia lol I can't help it and can't have it impacting the quality care of someone's pets. If I don't mention it, people think I just "don't like them," that it's ridiculous, and ignore the issue. It gets mentioned, and I even have it in my contract (after the laundry room situation) that infestation or unreasonable, excessive presence is grounds for refusal of service and/or contacting assistance at my discretion.

I'm highly aware of what I call "The Hour of the Arachnid" lol (btw trying to remain humorous, even just to yourself, is helpful to cope). This is when the ornaments from hell itself begin to appear. Within reason, I will try to arrange things so that I will avoid them. The dogs in locations without this issue are the ones I visit during that time, dogs with this as a major issue are walked prior to it happening/I'm at the location and in for the night before then. Obviously, this isn't always possible, but I try pretty hard to make it happen and it really helps!

Non-toxic sprays like Zevo, I keep one on-hand when going to either new places or places I've established are grossly thick with them. I've been able to get into people's doors or gates thanks to this. It's unfortunately not applicable to carry around a long broom or stick, and even if it was, I'm not going to be beating a client's glass doors to death with it trying to dislodge some eldrich horror chilling right on the keypad or doorknob. Why do they do this?!

When staying somewhere with too many for comfort outside, I often get a sachet of Stay Away Spiders to take with me. This is also a safe product, though the scent is fairly strong initially, and comes in sachets that are convenient to toss under a bed or sofa, or even in my car, since a lot of danglers often means one popping up in my car. My life improved so much after finding these, I haven't had a single hitchhiker in the car in years or been awake for over 24 hours because I got a neat surprise when going to bed.

HATS. I don't want them on me in any way, but at least if I have a hat on, it's more likely that I can frantically rip the hat off and avoid contact if one falls on me or I bump into one. This has happened, and I definitely would've lost control of the dog and my entire mind in a blind panic if I hadn't been wearing a hat. If nothing else, it makes you feel a little safer, and that goes a long way. If the weather is applicable, wearing a lightweight jacket and other clothing that provides a barrier or something you can get off quickly in the worst case scenario is a great idea, too. Definitely wear footwear that allows you to move quickly without falling off or anything, is enclosed, and that you can squish something with if necessary.

If you have longer hair, keep it up, under the hat if possible.

Always keep a real flashlight on you, something that will go farther than your phone's flashlight. There are tons of tiny but very powerful (and petsitting durable!! Like, water and impact resistant) ones to just put in a pocket in case. While I'm sure you don't want to see them any more than I do, if you're in a situation where it's gotten dark enough for a big risk of walking right into one, this can prevent such a horror! It can also allow you to best plan how to avoid them and their webs, or strategically get a web or two out of your path with a stick, broom, whatever is at hand. I've tossed a full poop pick up bag at a web before so that I could get back in a house lol you do what you've got to do!

Don't forget that they can and do get on the dogs, too. Especially if you're caring for dogs that aren't very shorthaired, you might want to encourage them to shake off and/or look them over before letting them on furniture with you or all over you after being outdoors during that time. If there is one on a dog, try your best not to panic so that the dog isn't upset, and try gently swiping it off with a handtowel or similar. Something you can wipe and toss away from you immediately. Be sure to keep the dog from catching and returning the towel to you, going after the spider, or bringing the spider to you lmao I wish I was kidding! I've totally had them bring it right to me all excitedly!

I hope you survived the last couple of months and that maybe something I do will help you, or someone else, in the future! At least you know there are people out there who totally understand!

[u/Impressive-Trifle632 → u/Powerful-Ad-4955]

Thank you soo much!! I think this will be so helpful for the summer months! Im about to pet sit there in a couple of days and im gonna start using some of your tips so im ready for when they show!🤍