Would you own up straight away or try to replace it?
What would you do if you were looking after a friend's pet and had an 'accident'?
Own up. Whenever we look after a pet or someone looks after ours I make it clear that if anything happens to the animal in their/our absence not to feel the need to try and cover it up.
Some years ago I was a live-in cat sitter for a friend who'd gone on holiday for a couple of weeks. During one of the update phone calls made, I commented that "The cats were missing you". I don't think the owner heard the last word, for I was given the 4th degree interrogation about how they went missing!!
I very carefully had to explain that they weren't missing, as in not here, just missing their owner. I don't think I'd have survived if they really had gone walkabout! If I pet sit again, I'd now choose my words carefully when the owner asks how they're getting on...
But, irrespective of that, I think that being honest about any accident or similar, is the best way to deal with the situation. After all, they did trust you with their pet, so why betray that trust, however difficult it may seem at the time.
I very carefully had to explain that they weren't missing, as in not here, just missing their owner. I don't think I'd have survived if they really had gone walkabout! If I pet sit again, I'd now choose my words carefully when the owner asks how they're getting on...
But, irrespective of that, I think that being honest about any accident or similar, is the best way to deal with the situation. After all, they did trust you with their pet, so why betray that trust, however difficult it may seem at the time.
Originally Posted by kochspostulates:
“Would you own up straight away or try to replace it?”
“Would you own up straight away or try to replace it?”
I think the owners might realise that their dog has been replaced with an imposter.
Own up. I did when my cat bit the tail off Ronnie or Reggie (they both looked the same to me) the nursery gerbils. I found it in the middle of the living room floor.
Our neighbours cat got hit by a car when we were looking after it. Had to be put down. We felt awful.
I used to have goldfish that looked suspiciously different when we got them back after a holiday.
Owning up would be best.
I used to have goldfish that looked suspiciously different when we got them back after a holiday.
Owning up would be best.
Own up
When I was younger my friends/neighbours went on holiday and we had to look after their one eyed guinea pig (who was getting on a bit). He died in his sleep and when my mum found him (she did look after him properly to be fair) she was a bit worried. She told the neighbours and they were understanding about it.
When I was younger my friends/neighbours went on holiday and we had to look after their one eyed guinea pig (who was getting on a bit). He died in his sleep and when my mum found him (she did look after him properly to be fair) she was a bit worried. She told the neighbours and they were understanding about it.
Own up.
Unless it's a tortoise. They all look the same. Just get one the same size - could cost well over a grand but better than admit you killed it.
Unless it's a tortoise. They all look the same. Just get one the same size - could cost well over a grand but better than admit you killed it.
Originally Posted by Croctacus:
“Own up. I did when my cat bit the tail off Ronnie or Reggie (they both looked the same to me) the nursery gerbils. I found it in the middle of the living room floor.”
“Own up. I did when my cat bit the tail off Ronnie or Reggie (they both looked the same to me) the nursery gerbils. I found it in the middle of the living room floor.”
OMG, did the gerbil die?
Always own up. I was cat sitting once and a friend of mine broke a casserole dish and was all for lying about it!!!! 
However upon the owner's return I confessed to the accident and the owners were really cool about it.
However upon the owner's return I confessed to the accident and the owners were really cool about it.
Originally Posted by Roooty:
“Always own up. I was cat sitting once and a friend of mine broke a casserole dish and was all for lying about it!!!!
However upon the owner's return I confessed to the accident and the owners were really cool about it.”
“Always own up. I was cat sitting once and a friend of mine broke a casserole dish and was all for lying about it!!!!
However upon the owner's return I confessed to the accident and the owners were really cool about it.”
It's not the same thing as a pet though is it. You can just go to the shop and buy a new casserole dish or give them the money to get another one.
We house sat for our friend and looked after the cat we went out for the evening and when we came back she was lying in the road after being run over, it was very sad.
We owned up straight away.
We owned up straight away.
Don't do what my dad did when he looked after my mouse about 30 years ago. He told me that he ran outside when my mum left the door open. It wasn't until I was about 35 years old that he told me he had given him away.
Poor William.
Own up, it will be painful but at least you won't feel guilty for years like my dad.
Poor William.
Own up, it will be painful but at least you won't feel guilty for years like my dad.
