A woman’s attempt to find a last-minute dogsitter for her two labradoodles ahead of a family holiday in Brittany turned into a distressing experience when the chosen sitter became unresponsive and difficult to manage.

The dog owner, based in central Chichester, began searching early for someone to care for her pets, Otto and Goose, due to the complexities of traveling with animals post-Brexit. The required animal health certificates, rabies vaccinations, and limited availability of pet-friendly ferry accommodations made taking the dogs abroad challenging. With this in mind, she decided to leave the dogs at home under the care of a sitter.

Initially, the owner engaged a man, identified only as Peter, but he withdrew less than a week before the holiday due to accepting a paid job, leaving the woman scrambling for a replacement. She soon connected with a woman in her mid-30s named Zoe, who presented herself as an experienced pet lover and agreed to arrive shortly before the family’s departure to meet the dogs and their routine.

Despite meeting Zoe in person on the day of departure, concerns quickly arose. Zoe was described as somewhat unconventional and uncommunicative, often providing vague responses about the dogs’ care. The owner’s family expressed unease early on, but she initially dismissed their concerns.

As the holiday progressed, the sitter’s lack of communication intensified. She declined requests for regular updates and was reported to have shut the door on a neighbor sent to check on the dogs, refusing him entry or to provide further information. Attempts to contact Zoe were met with silence for 48 hours, leading to heightened anxiety about the dogs’ wellbeing.

In response, the owner arranged for a neighbor to intervene and requested Zoe vacate the property. Zoe reacted angrily, resisting the move and expressing frustration about the inconvenience. The situation eventually resolved with Zoe leaving the house to stay at a nearby hotel. Throughout the ordeal, the dogs remained unharmed, but the owner was left shaken by the experience.

This incident highlights the challenges of arranging pet care on short notice and the importance of thorough vetting and clear communication between pet owners and sitters. The owner, reflecting on her experience, plans to secure pet-friendly accommodations well in advance for future travels to avoid similar difficulties.