The Perils of Pet Sitters

By Amy Fernandez

It’s a perennial topic in our crowd, finding someone reliable to care for your dogs. Family and close friends are the usual recruits, and yes, you generally owe favors for a lifetime in exchange for that service.

Well, this story will convince you that it’s well worth any price. Dog sitting has become big business these days. And the job description encompasses many things. But the top of the line, premium care option is unquestionably the dedicated, responsible, savvy few willing and able to take on “special needs” dogs.

That description varies, and jeezzz…most of mine fall within that category of health /age-related issues or just plain weirdness. I recently tried to explain this to someone and gave up midway. So, taking on this job, even for generous compensation, is usually a one-way negotiation.

So getting to the horror story shared in a recent New York Times article.

Louise Lawford, described as a licensed and vetted dog sitter, had her license revoked by the Birmingham City Council. The action stemmed from the latest in what turned out to be a long string of mysterious disappearance of dogs in her care.

This particular pair, Pablo and Maddie, a black Pug and a Pug mix, were elderly, creaky pets–not the type to normally bolt after a rabbit in the woods. Their owner, Becky Parsons, was out of the country so her mother got the delightful news of their disappearance. She did what we would all do. She drove right up there and started searching for her daughter’s pets.

She never found them, but while hiking around the woods outside Birmingham she did come across a whole lot of lost dog posters. And guess what…each and every one had mysteriously run off while good old Louise was walking them. Although this pushes the bounds of credibility, considering that almost all of them fit that creaky/weird category like my beloved pack. Half of them can’t find their way out or in the back door without help.

Well, by the time poor Becky got home from vacation, the news was even better. Turns out that this particular bit of British woodland is restricted to military personnel. Those records showed no evidence of Louise gamboling in the glen with her delighted charges.

She lost her license. Who knows what might happen next. But next time you’re sick of staying home doling out pills and wee-wee pads… hey, it could be worse.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=177877

Posted by admin on Jan 30 2020. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.