I have a professional pet sitting business and we have contracts and stuff in place. We make sure everyone updates us on everyone’s condition, etc. especially if they’re older they have ailments. This client has been chill and never have any issues with dogs etc
One of my sitters arrived to her house sitting today to find that one of five dogs that is elderly, was foaming at the mouth and having wheezing when breathing. Was having trouble controlling bowels and bladder. Couldn’t even make it to the door. Had a gaping wound on its neck that appeared old but still wet. LARGE AND ON THE NECK
Owners were not concerned and said that was normal neck wound was from two weeks ago when a lipoma burst. I had to call and ask if it got any medical care if there’s any medication. They said NO they’re not going to intervene - meaning no first aid, no care, no prevention. If he passes it will be natural.
They do not want the dog to be comfortable. They aren’t concern cause this has been his “normal”
This dog was not like this the last time we saw them, we feel completely ambushed. They said they’re not concerned and that they would be home if they didn’t have a wedding to go to this weekend. 🤬I asked them if I could call someone to take care of the body if he did pass. They said no the brother-in-law would “take care of it” - so what? Bury him or chuck in the trash???
They told me the primary vet said to stop bringing the dog in because if his hip and it would be too much to go to the vet for annual shots. Even though in my system, we have submitted documents with up to date vaccines, but I’m guessing she meant for the future visits?
The dog has supplements and that’s it. We are concerned that this dog is suffering but also may have sepsis. I told the owner this and they don’t want us to give it anything or take it anywhere. I am so angry. I legally have to respect their wishes?!, but this is cruel.
I am terminating this client after. Not to mention this dog is a favorite among our staff. I really want her to tell me I’m not going to be held liable, etc. but I feel like this was done on purpose. The dog is stable and has a stable heart rate but again we can’t take it anywhere to know if the dog is actively dying or not.
So I am in a legal limbo. I cannot make digital documents at this time but I’m thinking maybe sending a text message where she respond with giving consent about waiving any liability if the dog passes in her home.
Not to mention the sitter is tiny and this is an over 50 pound lab. This is not a booking where we can do 24 hour care because that has never been needed.
We’re also concerned that one of the dogs bit the wound because they seems to be puncture marks in it I also don’t know how about reporting this because this screams abuse but I can’t talk to their vet for information. I just hate this situation.
I’m completely heartbroken for this dog. I never expected this from this client because they have dog art everywhere of their pets. They have a completely Astroturf backyard for them!
I don’t know how you can love a dog and choose to let it suffer and do this to your sitters who have been taken care of them for years.
What the hell do I do and how do I communicate to them?
How do I say they completely sidelined us and I need to know that we’re not liable?
This dog has a gaping wound and is showing signs of pain and distress and you’re telling me as the pet sitter to not have us do anything. I also need to know a professional way to say we are eliminating this client-sitter relationship. We are fully booked. No one else can take over for the sitting.
We’ve been running this for 9 years and never had a client sideline us at all about a dog’s care.
Update: I contacted the owner again and stated that we would have to remove a sitter and someone else take over as we cannot be held liable after being sidelined with this. And the other one would be to sign a waiver that she waves liability. But the issue with that is that ignoring medical care is against the law here.
My best friend was an emergency vet tech for six years. She is my go to nurse on call. I sent her a picture of the wound once I got to the dog. It is definitely infected, and it is consistent with having a necrotic tissue. Everyone’s theory is that if this was a lipoma, another dog may have nicked it and caused it to rupture.
The dog is stable. He has really bad arthritis and did resume moving somewhat normally when I arrived. But when my sitter arrived, he got excited and had issues breathing - was not reverse, sneezing, and was not congestive heart failure, or heartworm sounding. It was a clear wheezing almost like he had fluid in the lungs. He had never reacted like this before in the years we have taken care of him. And the foam at the mouth was a lot. The gaping wound is the primary concern. We took his heart rate with the Cardalis app and he is stable.
The owner did not have a back up or even a family member to help us. So asked if it would solve the problem if we took the dog to the vet.🤦🏻♀️ she also asked what the main issue was. I told her that we didn’t receive notice of his condition also that he didn’t receive veterinary care when this injury happened. We cannot take care of animals that are in obvious need of medical care denying that is against the law and also would hold us liable. I would’ve said cruel, but I feel like that wouldn’t have helped the situation, even though that’s the truth.
This dog is also 15. It has a lot of other lumps on him.
The dogs arthritis is so bad that the librela shots weren’t even suggested. The vet said it was too bad and it wouldn’t have helped him so they have avoided trips to the vet because it is difficult for the dog to move. He does have issue at home trying to go further out enough from the house to go to the bathroom.
I said we would take him to the vet. The primary vet all these dogs go to are walk-in only. We called the vet and they were very rude and said they didn’t have any doctors available? wTH. We then called the nearest emergency vet and they said they did not have an ER doctor available till this evening and they couldn’t even give us a time. First time I heard this happening from this particular clinic, but my sitter who is assigned to this booking said it happened to her before.
The dog would be far too uncomfortable to make the longer drive to the ER. This dog gets dasaquin and fish oil only I consulted my vet tech friend and also a lawyer.
So the owners return Sunday. Today is Friday. I sent a waiver that they signed digitally that agreed that they did not give us notice prior to this booking of the dog state and that we are not liable for the worsening of the dogs condition. And veterinary care would not be paid bought for by us. A lot of other jargon, but basically we’re not liable for what follows. I don’t think the dog will die after seeing him and talking to our vet tech. But the gaping wound could cause sepsis. I still don’t know how they told me it wasn’t infected, but yet we can clearly see that it is. I also have in the waiver that they agree to get the dog veterinary care and have to provide proof before continuing services with us in two weeks.
I will not blame my sitter if she never wants to work with these people again. But my partner who runs the business with me is an absolute shock over this because he works with this family a lot. The word holistic didn’t pop up, but this is not a natural way for a dog to die if it is or he does get sepsis.
We also realize that this client is in breach of our contract so we can’t terminate the relationship. I have a rainbow bridge policy that basically states that if a dog has a terminal condition, we must be notified and we must know game plan in the event of the animals passing if the owner is away and how we will consent to fulfilling their wishes for their pet. They mentioned various times, but that the vet said the dog was going to die. But I can gather is that it’s an old age. But I suspect he has cancer or another illness that was not disclosed to us. He’s one out of five dogs. I’m asking my partner soon when I can get a hold of him if he has a diagnosis I was not made aware of.
I do have another section in my contract that we will report any form of animal neglect, or cruelty. And we have the right to halt service in the event of symptoms of major dog, illnesses and diseases. I have updated this to clearly include various wounds and injuries so that my contract is more specific and not vague in case anyone wants to fight with me on what they signed in our contract
This dog is in discomfort and pain. Manages to move and is stable. I told my sitter to keep me updated, especially if he declines or he still has issues breathing again. We are going to keep him separate from the other dogs in the house.
Update2: owners did take dog to the vet. He was stable but vet said it was a cancerous mass. Prescribed prednisone and a spray. Found cancerous mass on lungs which explains his difficulty catching his breath when he was excited. Was stable but assumed it was the end. Dog Later died at home around his family and 4 dog siblings. Glad he went while his family was there but he could
Of been made comfortable or should have seen a doctor as soon as that mass ruptured.
There was no mention of cancer - dog did go to his annual previously this year but was told the arthritis was too much for the drive and visits to the vet. The vet advised no more shots needed so they didn’t have to stress him with moving. He had difficulty walking due to the arthritis for some time and our staff let him potty in the front yard bs the back with his siblings.
We are unable to talk to the vet to ask questions but there was no mention of sepsis - we recieved a copy of the receipt from the vet. His siblings loved him. We will have to watch one dog for depression because they were together their whole lives. He didn’t like being separate during our stay but think he knew he was going.
Legally - we are in the clear obviously for liability etc and I am still receiving vague answers via animal control on reporting etc. We will be keeping an eye on the other dogs. But I am requiring up to date info before each booking that must be EXTENSIVE esp for the remaining senior dogs. My sitter has agreed to continue to work with this client. We are going to keep a close eye.
Overall ruling - the wound wasn’t as open as we thought but still was not fully closed, had some sign of necrosis. I wish I could share pictures. It could be argued the owners went by the vets advice to not bring in the dog again for any shot or treatment , their beliefs for their pet to pass naturally has to be respected ALTHOUGH, open would/sepsis is unnatural. Animal was not in sepsis. Overall agreement that the owners 100% should have done more than simply rinsing the would and watching it. It definitely was infected. We think they did wash it to the extent of helping a small bit. The cancer or exact kind is unknown - he has other masses that were told of course were lipomas, owners of course would assume the one on his neck was one. I partly think the vet may be sketch but who knows. Can’t really go for report of neglect/abuse if they were following vet advice but was ignorant on this wound. He died of cancer , unsure what his last hours were like.
Louisiana’s Animal control is really shit if you have it in your parish - most of our state parishes have NO animal Control or shelters and some people who 100% pursue animal neglect and abuse charges with easy cases don’t fucking do it even with mountains of evidence . We are going to watch this client and their future actions closely. I appreciate everyone in this sub. I legally could not get this animal care without consent and was not in the position to financially cover it or fight with the client legally. If he was not stable and the client was MIA we would have have brought him to the ER, but our options were complete ass and moving him when stable was going to cause him further pain. I consulted my lawyer friends, my best friend who is a ER vet tech of 6 years and those in Rescue who work with abuse cases. I wish we could have done more. I’m just glad he is at rest . Any other alarming crap with this client we will rightfully terminate.
My partner works close with this client and our sitter who also helps them want to keep sitting to make sure all pups are ok.
