I am pet sitting two rats in my house for a friend who went out of town with her family for New Years. When the arrangement was made I was told that the rats would be leaving tonight. They have been here for a week now. I'm not a huge fan of rats but they have been pretty low maintenance so I haven't concerned myself with them too much. I was really looking forward to them leaving to tell the truth because they are starting to smell and I have nothing to clean their cage with. (They are class pets that have been living at the school so everything is there - I don't have access to it) I really don't mind watching them and feeding them and cleaning up after them (if I had the supplies). I found out today - through Facebook - that they aren't leaving today but tomorrow and after parting with her family she and her friend (went with her) are going to a different place for 3 days for some fun. I just want to talk to her about the fact that I don't mind watching the rats for a short period of time but if she is going to extend her visit which requires me to watch them longer I would have liked to have been notified as soon as the decision was made. As of 2 hours ago when the post was made I still have not heard from her - and I've tried calling and texting because if they have to stay 3 days longer than planned I'm cleaning their enclosure and they will need more food. but I don't want to pay for everything. I'm trying to be nice but I am feeling a little taken for granted right now and I'm not really thinking rationally. Please let me know - what you would say?
I'm also going over to her house every day to check on her cats while she is gone and I'm kinda glad I saw the Facebook post or I probably would not have gone tomorrow.
Feed the rats to the cats. Problem (s) solved!
I'd probably just suffer through it this time, then decline next time she needs someone to watch her rats/cats.
:(
Go ahead and buy the supplies that you need to take care of the poor rats - they should not have to suffer because the human who fobbed them off on you is irresponsible.
Chalk it up to a learning experience that teaches you to never offer to take of her pets when she is out of town ever again.
You are being taken advantage of - Sorry. She sounds rather flighty to extend her vacay without actually calling you and asking you if could continue to take care of her pets.
Alternately, you could leave the rats at her house, with the cage door conveniently unhinged, forget to feed the cats, then the cats would "take care of" the rats for you.
Sigh. I hate it when pet owners show so little regard for their animals :-(
ETA: even if they are class pets they are HER responsibility, SHE took it on!
I would write on her FB wall (not a PM) a very cheery message, "Happy New Year! Glad you guys are having fun! The animals here are fine, though since you are going to be gone longer than expected I did have to buy some supplies for them, but no worries, we can settle up when you get back!"
Litter for the rat cage is very cheap, and if you run out of food for the last few days they can probably eat any and all of your fresh vege scraps.
Good luck, and going forward I don't think I would be pet sitting for this friend again if I were you.
Feed the rats to the cats. All taken care of.
I would make a comment on her post with something like...."Looks like you are having a great time - I forgot who is supposed to get the rats from me? Can you let me know what time they will be here."
Hmm... here's a suggestion....
Post on her fb that since she had said she was going to be home on a certain day, that you had made plans for the weekend...... and that you won't be there to take care of her pets! See if that gets a response?
There was a post some time ago about some friends that were taking care of their dogs, and they mis-understood when the family was coming back...and didn't go over to take care of their pets that last week... one of the dogs died in the house! Clear instructions and when they are coming back MUST be given to avert possible death/illness because of mis-understood instructions.......
I stopped reading at rats, ewwwwww
Can you take the rats back to her house? I'd do that. Does she have cleaning stuff over there? If she does, you won't have to pay. If she doesn't, you won't have to smell them. Since you go over there to take care of her cats, you can take care of the rats there too.
If she doesn't have what you need for them and if you will have to buy something, FB her and tell her that you need more supplies for the rats and you will need for her to call the pet store and purchase them over the phone for you, and then you will pick them up. That way, you will not get stuck with the cost of the supplies. If she asks why, tell her that you cannot afford to pay for the rats' stuff.
I would be upset about this too, if I were you, but go ahead and take the rats back to her house, and that will help.
Dawn
Text her: Rats starved. I bet she answers.
I would just text and ask who is picking up the rats. If she doesn't answer, I would text again and say "the cats were really happy to see the rats. The rats, not so much."
I would leave her the following voicemail message: "I was expecting you back yesterday. That's when the lease ran out at my place. I am taking the rats back to your place today/tomorrow; they are stinking my place up, and I don't have the supplies to clean up after them. I see on Facebook that you guys are extending your vacation, but I'll assume that you've made other arrangements, since you did not make them with me. Have fun!"
I would inbox her the same message on FB. Then, I would follow through with dropping her rats off at her home. I'd still go and check on her pets, but I wouldn't tell her that. I would lead her to believe that I am done with them.
Mamazita has great advice.
Buy what you need fir a few more days and give her what's left along with the receipt when she picks them up.
Live and learn! Betcha won't watch them next time!
Well,
This is awkward. Since you guys made an arrangement for the rats to stay in your home for a certain period of time, and they decided to stay longer, you are not obligated to take care of the rats. It depends on what you want to do, here. Do you want to take care of the pets, if you do, then call your friend and tell her, you know what, rats need supplies, make the necessary arrangements. Your friend will have to send you the money, to cover her pet expenses, I advise against doing it for her.
She is probably not answering your calls because she wants to avoid an awkward conversation, where you tell her you don't want to take care of the pets. It's important that you let her know this is not what you want to and that you have fulfilled your end of the arrangement.
"friend: I don't mind petsitting your pets a few days more than agreed, I however do mind that you haven't told me because I have plans. I will not get the supplies needed, please make arrangements, or send the money so I can get them myself. Please reply soon, or I'll have to leave YOUR pets back at your house"
We often try to avoid uncomfortable conversations and end up in even more uncomfortable situations, remember to do exactly what you want to do. Do not feel guilty, if you decide not to keep the pets, or not to buy supplies yourself, you did your best under the terms agreed upon, that's all anyone can ask.
I wouldnt' do anything through Facebook, I would try really hard to get ahold of her on the phone and tell her she needs to make other arrangments for the rats,
or say, glad she is ahving fun, since she is staying longer, who will she be contacting to pick up the rats and take care of them now.
but most likely you will be stuck with them AND the friendship will be over.
Try one more time on her phone. If she doesn't answer leave a comment on her facebook that is kinda funny but to the point. Hey Sue, the rats gotta go, runnning out of food, getting kinda smelly, I thought they were leaving Tuesday. What time can I expect you?
I have had a lot of pet rats over the years. She should have given you supplies so you could clean their cage, but since she didn't, I will let you know how to make it ok for them until she gets back. Empty the old litter and discard in trash. Use some cardboard, as in an old cereal box, or even better, a thicker cardboard if you have it, to line the cage. Layer paper towels on top of that. As for food, the rats can eat what you eat for the most part. Some fruit and veggies, oatmeal, crackers, bread, whatever you have to share with them. I often also give them a empty box to play in, but you don't have to do that. I would also tell her that this is not ok - you should be paid for the gas of going back and forth to take care of her cats, as well as the extra time.
All I can say is, you are a good friend. Her, I'm not so sure about? Very inconsiderate............
Yes you are definately being taken advantage of here no doubt about it...your "friend" is very very rude and inconsiderate. If you end up spending any money on these rats she needs to pay you back every cent you spend. Keep your receipts and give them to her with a total of what she owes you!!!! If they were not class pets I might just suggest that you just drop off the rats at her house and leave them! This could really be a deal breaker for the whole relationship in my mind.
All I can say is, which technology these days she is more than likely getting all your messages, texts and has the nerve to not respond...and to put on FB that they are staying longer without telling you first is rude. Yep they are taking advantage of you. Sorry and good luck!
I agree the rats would find themselves back at her house out of reach of the cats of course. But I would still take care of them. Just let them smell up her house instead of yours.
That's if she doesn't return your messages.
I house sat for a lady one time and totally missed the date she was supposed to return. I saw an itenerary and thought it was theirs. It wasn't, it was an old one for her husband. Anyway, after dinner we went to the drive in and saw 2 movies with her kids that we were watching. When we got back they had come in from Finland and she had to clean the kitchen and put up all the stuff I had left out.
It really helps if stuff is in writing and posted on the fridge or something. She really needed to let you know but she could have forgotten exactly when she told you she would be back.
I would be livid. The rats, yes, they smell if you can't clean out the cage. I would go ahead and do that (if you know how, if not ask at the pet store/petsmart), if you can. I don't know what supplies you have (something to keep them in while you clean out the cage?). It isn't fair to the rats to be neglected, and it isn't fair to the kids that they belong to (the classroom full of kids, who possibly chipped in their own money to buy them--that's what my son's class did in 4th grade). So take good care of them, for their sake, the kids' sakes and your own soul. Same with the cats.
But I would definitely contact your friend and ask if she has made other arrangements that she forgot to share with you, because you were expecting her to pick up the rats TONIGHT and have plans for the weekend that don't involve driving over to tend to her cats.
And I would NEVER. EVER. Agree to "pet sit" for this person again. And I'd be certain to say why, if they should ask.
It's kind of rude that she didn't call you about extending her vacation, especially since you are caring for her cats. Maybe she just hasn't gotten around to calling you yet?
Give her a day to call you, and if she doesn't then you should call her, and if she doesn't answer, message her on FB. Ask her if she wants you to continue feeding the cats (hint hint) since she's staying longer.
It's rude, but not the worst thing in the world. I think what you say depends on how close a friend she is. If she's just an acquaintance, then next time she asks you to care for her pets, simply decline and tell her why.
If she's a closer friend, when you return the rats let her know that in the future you would appreciate it if she let you know in advance if she plans to extend her absence.
Is there any way you can take the stinky rats back to her house and leave them there and feed them when you feed the cats?
If not, I would send her a FB message and let her know that you are going to have to buy some supplies if they have to stay longer and asking her to get back with you right away if she has made other arrangements. Tell her you intend to go out at X time so she knows what the time frame to respond is. If you don't hear from her, buy the supplies and pass the cost on to her.
She probably just didn't think about the cage needing to be cleaned. If these rats normally stay in a classroom, she may not have thought of it.
