Petsitting & neglect

[axl]

I pet sit for family pretty often. In the last 6 months I’ve noticed many dogs with quite bad mats. They are adored pets yet seriously neglected in terms of appropriate grooming. I don’t want to watch them any longer because I feel complicit. And I don’t know how to fix things without being a bitch! :mad:

I expected this weekend to be rough, but they have a Chessie which is impervious to everything!!! And then the kitty has a burr on his back he can’t reach! I’ve already removed a PAD from one ear of the other dog.

Help!

Besides reporting 5 cousins to the SPCA!!!

[cowboymom]

There is a Grand Canyon between being a “bitch” and “fixing things”.

Offer to help, offer to take them to a groomer, offer to point them in a direction, when you watch them bring a small pair of clippers/scissors and clip mats. I have several animals that mat up and it can be a juggling act to get them all taken care of in the shedding season.

Don’t be a bitch and come crab about it on a message board, HELP. Be a helpful human being. You sound very young and shall we say spazzy… how about taking it down a few notches and helping out. You say it’s a family-kids, bills, insurance, mortgage… ect… and they write you a check to help them out. Step in the gap a bit.

[axl]

I do sound stressed, young and stupid in my earlier post. Fair enough. I have cut out every knot/mat the dogs will allow,but what next? I leave dogs happy when I stay with them . How can I prevent future issues? What do I say to relatives that don’t really treat their dog well?

[axl]

I actually meant it was an issue with my family. For whom I pet sit…?!? Not “a” family. So I would like some advice about how to approach family members who generally feed/care/keep alive/ a dog but never consider trimming claws, etc…

[cowboymom]

I missed the part where it is YOUR family. Hmm-in my family I would be pretty direct about it so I’m not sure what your family dynamic is that you aren’t sure how to approach them. Family is no different than most though, approach them respectfully and show them how the mats pull and the long claws hurt the dog’s feet… I think I’d still just do it myself when I visit or find someone likely to listen and show them how easy it is to do. that said however, I mentioned in another post that people over-complicate dogs. Make sure you aren’t over stepping and coming on like a freak about mats and dog claws b/c if you do they will not listen to you. Be respectful, friendly, helpful and show them how quickly and easily you can drink a beer/watch tv/chit chat and do minor maintenance on the pets.

[MunchingonHay]

Sit down with the owner, your Family Member(FM) and polietly ask if they are ok, because you have noticed that they dog’s coats could use some attention? Are you (FM) stressed out with work/family/children/the pets? Is there something you the sitter can help with?

And please do this in a discreet, caring, and kind way, do not attack your FM. They may feel bad that they can’t maintain their pet’s appearance. AND they will feel bad that a FM noticed the downhill slide in their pet’s appearance.

Not every case involves a call to the SPCA.

[Nezzy]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;6281721]
There is a Grand Canyon between being a “bitch” and “fixing things”.

Offer to help, offer to take them to a groomer, offer to point them in a direction, when you watch them bring a small pair of clippers/scissors and clip mats. I have several animals that mat up and it can be a juggling act to get them all taken care of in the shedding season.

Don’t be a bitch and come crab about it on a message board, HELP. Be a helpful human being. You sound very young and shall we say spazzy… how about taking it down a few notches and helping out. You say it’s a family-kids, bills, insurance, mortgage… ect… and they write you a check to help them out. Step in the gap a bit.[/QUOTE]

Why is it the responsibility of the pet sitter to groom their dogs? Why should they have to be told? Mats HURT. They constantly pull the skin. It is the owner who should be dealing with this.

[lauriep]

Believe it or not, some people don’t KNOW the damage mats, long nails and general neglect can do. So, start as if they innocently just don’t know. Explain why these things need to be done regularly, show them how to do it, and then give them the chance to do better. If they don’t, it then becomes a different discussion. But start as a professional instructing people in a subject they are unfamiliar with.