Woman Refuses To Let Down A Client Who Booked A Year In Advance Just So Parents Can Go On A Dog-Free Trip, Gets Called A Jerk
We all know someone who believes that the world revolves around their wants and needs.
It could be your higher-up that expects you to put work first, regardless of all the emergencies you might have in your life; perhaps an overly audacious neighbor who has an issue with a tree growing in your yard; or, in this case, a family member who demands you cancel your commitments and watch their pet just because they don’t want to take it with them on their last-minute trip.
Folks like that act like everyone owes them something. They’re not shy and tend to throw fits when things don’t go the way they want. Plus, they’re also known not to apply the same set of rules to themselves – they have a God complex, if you will.
Cutting ties with individuals who suffer from the entitlement mentality will help you keep your sanity, but it’s not always possible, and sometimes, standing up for yourself is all you have left.
More info: Reddit
You’re not obligated to prioritize someone else’s needs simply because they’re a family member
Image credits: Daniel Flathagen ( not the actual image )
“AITA for refusing to cancel on clients to help my parents go on vacation dog-free?” – this netizen turned to one of Reddit’s favorite communities wondering whether she’s a jerk for not letting her clients down just so her folks could go on a vacation without their 15-year-old beagle mix. The post has managed to receive 3K upvotes and 227 comments discussing the situation.
Woman questions whether she’s in the wrong for not canceling on her clients so that her parents could take a vacation without their dog
Image source: u/grassandsass
The OP’s parents decided to go on a last-minute trip and asked her to pet-sit their 15-year-old beagle mix
Image source: u/grassandsass
The author began her post by revealing that she has a business that provides dog-walking and house/pet-sitting services. She’s the only employee and usually books sitting stays 6 to 9 months out. She tries to accommodate last-minute bookings, but it’s not something she can always work into her schedule – however, the woman’s very upfront and honest with her clients regarding this matter.
In June, her parents decided they wanted to go on a vacation. They booked two separate weeks and asked her to watch their 15-year-old beagle mix. The OP happened to have a cancelation for the first week and she was able to help them out – however, the other week had been booked nearly a year prior, and she made it very clear that she would be unavailable.
She was able to accommodate the first set of dates – however, the second set was booked nearly a year in advance
Image credits: Brian Evans (not the actual image )
Image source: u/grassandsass
The first set of dates came around, and suddenly the OP was told that she’d also be watching her sister’s 3-month-old puppy. She was expected to monitor the overly energetic pup and keep its “shenanigans to a minimum” around her parent’s 15-year-old dog. She was also responsible for keeping their feeding areas separate to avoid any altercations. The dogs don’t live together regularly, and the woman admitted that it was stressful and a lot to handle since the decision to leave the puppy was so last-minute.
The second set of dates was approaching, and the author was asked whether she was excited to watch the dog
Image source: u/grassandsass
The OP reminded her mom that she was booked up and later received a text blasting her for jeopardizing their trip
Image credits: Daria Focht (not the actual image )
The second set of dates was approaching, and the author picked up a few dogs and took them on a walk in her parents’ neighborhood. Her mom found them and asked whether she was pumped to watch her beagle mix in two weeks’ time; once again, the OP reminded her that she had those days booked with another dog – the mother rolled her eyes and requested that she cancel.
Naturally, the author of the post wasn’t going to cancel on anyone just because her parents decided to travel at the last minute – plus, they were going to a dog-friendly place, so it’s not like they couldn’t take their dog with them, they just preferred not to. The OP’s beloved mother texted her a couple of hours later, blasting her for jeopardizing their trip.
What do you think about this situation? Would you cancel on your clients if you were in the OP’s position?
Fellow community members shared their thoughts on this matter
Am I the only one that makes sure that if my dog's aren't going with me, I have someone to watch our animals, before I finalize the booking?
I am a petsitter and I have had to tell family no. And it is usually last minute requests for trips that they have known about for some time.
I will absolutely call a friend or a family member if they run a business that provides the service I require. However, the first thing I make clear is that I don't expect a discount or special treatment simply because we know each other. I'm not entitled to your service simply because we know each other. If you insist on giving me a discount for this reason, I'll accept with grace, but I will not ask for a discount.
My sister always insisted that I sell her products at cost rather than retail. However, she NEVER reciprocated. Now she doesn't get the time of day from me.
Load More Replies...
Y'know, my mother's dog is elderly (as is one of her horses, who is 31), and while she's itching to come visit my sister and I, she doesn't want to travel with him, so she's not traveling. See? Easy. Prioritize your loved ones over things like vacations. My sister and I are in good health. Tim-Tam isn't. My sister and I would be upset if he *wasn't* her priority. Definitely NTA, but a victim of self-important family members.
She should pay for you guys to visit her (like travel expenses, not bribry) if you can swing the time away from your own lives - that way you all get the visit without inconveniencing Tim-Tam :)
Load More Replies...
I swear I could have written this. I'm going through something similar myself. My parents decided to go on vacation, in February they started making arrangements, asked me if I could watch their dog. I said sure. Flash forward a few months, I got a job that requires me to spend stints away from home. I told them, with months of warning, I could no longer guarantee my availability. At great risk to my new job, I still tried for time off. I was not surprised when I was denied. My mom, with weeks left to go, decided to cancel her trip, because even though I gave her warning, she didn't bother finding backup. Apparently it's all my fault they can't go on holidays. Sorry for getting a job so I could pay my damn bills.
You tried to be accommodating while still taking care of yourself but ultimately she had plenty of time to find a solution but instead chose to sit in the mud and cry.
Load More Replies...
Your parents have options, you as a business owner do not. Good for you.
Almost good for her. She agreed to watch the dog for the weekend, but it's with her sister M-F. Her sisters are both going on the trip so I have no idea how the sister can watch the dog. I think they'll dump the dog on her on Monday, expecting that she won't say no. Her parents suck. She doesn't get invited to go on vacation while they work around her sisters' schedules so they can go. No should have been no, because even if she says thos is the last time they do this, they won't believe her (because she's probably said that several times in the past and didn't stick with it). If I was in her position, I'd put a note on their invoice that they need to find somewhere to board the dog or a person to stay at their house because she will not be accepting them as customers again. And then stick to it.
Load More Replies...
NTA, if a person has no time she has no time to dog-sit her parent´s pup. Other people have to look for an external dogsitter either. Or stay home.
I would have been no contact awhile ago. It's hard but sometimes no family is better than bad family. They never invite you on family vacations? Then maybe get some chosen family....
Family of Choice can be far more loyal and loving than a lot of the DNA member's club. I don't care who birthed me~~treat me like a 2nd class citizen long enough and I will emigrate.
Load More Replies... Hang on, I have dogs and I have never, ever expected anyone else to care for them. I’ve never even asked! I’m including family. I would never ask them in anything other than a dire emergency. It’s not that I don’t trust my family with my dogs, but the dogs were my mine and my husband’s choice, not theirs. We won’t leave them in kennels either, again, our choice. The one is a rescue and kennels aren’t a good association for her. It wouldn’t be fair to her or the kennels. It means we can’t do things sometimes. So be it. We knew that when we took them on. That’s what we signed up for and we find a way. Holidays are lovely but we find places we can take them with us without stressing them.
Awww it's like your sweet pets are your adopted kids..so sweet 😍💗😊
Load More Replies...
NTA - family should not expect treatment that is different to a paying client - even if they are paying. How would they feel if they had booked with you and two days before you contacted them and cancelled their booking for someone else ? Bet they would be pissed and yet they expect you to do that to someone else. Good for you sticking to your decision !!
Don’t watch their dogs ever again. They are clearly taking advantage of you. And they will continue to do so.
So sad such an old loveable loyal dog is involved in this mess
Load More Replies...
Yeah I think that would be best too since she said it's really hard for her to get payment from her dad.. Like he is doing her a 'favor' by making payment.
Load More Replies...
Having 2 older dogs myself, I understand why they don't want to bring their dog even if the place is dog friendly. As they age, they often dont travel well. That being said, OP's parents, and truthfully, sisters, are whack! She has a business to run. They know this. Either make your appointment with her well in advance, or have one of the sisters, or their hubby's, care for the dog. OP is definitely NTJ here.
Sounds like she still in the end gets stuck with the dog she said they wasnt the type to just leave the dog behind and they are going to do just that according to her edit. I bet once they are gonna the other sister will be unavailable the days she said she would be.
I really hope they don't do that to her but it certainly sounds like something that whack family would do
Load More Replies...
NTA. She's running a business, not a charity. That starts at home, and I don't see the poster's family being those kind of people. I'm in constant amazement at the bs people are putting up with on the regular from their family...I can't do it. So much peace without the drama and shenanigans.
Why did I get recommend this article and why does it say it was posted one day ago when the reddit thread it's referencing was from a year ago? I literally read this article before a long time ago. :/
This site is primarily click bait. Copying Reddit is a cheap way to generate content, so that people will come, and create enough traffic to get advertisers to pay for ad space on this site
Load More Replies...
Let your yes be yes and your no be no. I admire people that respect that your word is your bond.
I have 5 Jack Russells. My sons are in college now (from my previous marriage) and my now-husband (8 years) never had kids. These pups are his kids (and mine). We don't go anywhere, honestly, unless it's to see one of the boys, and even then, we're only gone 2-3 days max. We chose to have dogs, they didn't choose us. And we're very "weird" about who watches our babies, too. My own mother? No way- she has a lot of pain issues and even though she always says she can watch them, I'm too scared one will be too excited around her and she may fall or something else may happen to her. We have a niece who is a vet tech, and we have paid her to stay at our house and watch them (coordinated with her days off). But I just don't feel right leaving them alone for too long. We are all they know- it would kill me if they thought we abandoned them (another thread lol). In any case, NTA, don't get a "pet" if you can't treat them like family.
Also, we sometimes have to bring one or two with us if they're sick or, as it happened, my "momma" had a litter and all but one passed away or was stillborn. The one that survived didn't even have his eyes opened yet, so we brought them both with us to Louisiana (from Texas) for a graduation. She had a pretty rough go of labor, and didn't immediately take to her pups (only 2 lived passed birth) and we bottle fed the two until one passed during the night- literally 2 hours after I fed him. I still don't know why he passed, unless it was because I had to give him cpr at birth and it took a bit before he took his first breath. The other was actively trying to get out of his amniotic sac as soon as he was born! (He's a healthy, happy and crazy 4 month old pup now named Lucky or chub chub, depending on mood lol). They become your kids. My oldest has a pup now and he tells me the same thing- it's like you're their parents.
Load More Replies...
She did the right thing. Her family needs to learn how to be less selfish and think of how things would be in opposite situations.
NTA. No means no. And honestly, have they ever asked you to go on vacation with them? Who would watch the dog(s) then? You’re running a business, and you don’t work for them. Last minute to someone who is booked a year in advance is asinine.
NTA OP, where I grew up there were a couple of dog sitting places and I guess you would take the dog there? I don't have a dog so I never looked into it. You declined the second group of vacation days. They had time to look up some place like that, or ask a friend to check on them each day. Do they even pay you? People book hotels and flights in advance, they should do the same with their pets. You know, like your client did.
Most parent's teach their children to honor commitments and now they want you to blow off your client's? Way to go Mom and Dad .
Your parents need to respect you. Stick to your guns and don't feel guilty!
NTA. I think you need to stop pet sitting for them at all. You should be invited to "family" vacations. I would go lc or NC with them. Sorry, but your entire family sounds awful.
Entitlement. Businesses like this depend very much on word-of-mouth and recommendations. The parents expect them to cancel on a client who booked a year in advance just 2 weeks prior? I don't suppose they took any time to think about what that could do to their business? One negative review could be very damaging. I had a cleaning business where a client of mine tried to cancel on me just an hour before (as I was walking out the door) because they were going out of town. I asked if it was an emergency, and they told me no, they had had the trip planned for a year; they just hadn't bothered to tell me. I told them that they could pay me for the day or find themselves another service. Plain and simple. No excuse for disrespect.
Take your dog with you if it possible! IT certainly is not right to assume anyone will take care of your animals! Good grief. I have 4 dogs. I just don't go if I know that my dogs may not be OK. My dogs are more important to me than a vacation!
She needs to train her parents like she would a dog. When her parents take a dump on the carpet, stick their nose in it till the message sinks in
What is with these parents who think they are owed anything from their kids? I am glad my parents aren't like this and I certainly will not be liked this to mine. Whew, I would drop them faster than a hot potato, parents or not.
We are lucky we have family to watch our dog for free. But as soon as I plan for our vacation (if we can't take our dog) I ask them if they are able to dogsit. Even 1+ year in advance. They love dog sitting but I still make sure they are ok with it. If we are vacationing last minute which is rare, we'll ask them only because they want our dog to stay whenever possible (it's like therapy for them), but if they can't I am prepared to budget for our groomer who dogsits on the side. There are so many options these parents could have done - having back up dogsitters is key. So NTA about this OP.
He should probably be okay with it. But we'll let HIM clarify the issue.
Load More Replies...
People who have toxic parents (or relatives or spouses or, really, anyone toxic they are around a lot like a boss or coworker) often have been manipulated to feel like they are the AH so they come looking to a broader community for reassurance in their own sanity.
Load More Replies... Am I the only one that makes sure that if my dog's aren't going with me, I have someone to watch our animals, before I finalize the booking?
I am a petsitter and I have had to tell family no. And it is usually last minute requests for trips that they have known about for some time.
I will absolutely call a friend or a family member if they run a business that provides the service I require. However, the first thing I make clear is that I don't expect a discount or special treatment simply because we know each other. I'm not entitled to your service simply because we know each other. If you insist on giving me a discount for this reason, I'll accept with grace, but I will not ask for a discount.
My sister always insisted that I sell her products at cost rather than retail. However, she NEVER reciprocated. Now she doesn't get the time of day from me.
Load More Replies... Y'know, my mother's dog is elderly (as is one of her horses, who is 31), and while she's itching to come visit my sister and I, she doesn't want to travel with him, so she's not traveling. See? Easy. Prioritize your loved ones over things like vacations. My sister and I are in good health. Tim-Tam isn't. My sister and I would be upset if he *wasn't* her priority. Definitely NTA, but a victim of self-important family members.
She should pay for you guys to visit her (like travel expenses, not bribry) if you can swing the time away from your own lives - that way you all get the visit without inconveniencing Tim-Tam :)
Load More Replies... I swear I could have written this. I'm going through something similar myself. My parents decided to go on vacation, in February they started making arrangements, asked me if I could watch their dog. I said sure. Flash forward a few months, I got a job that requires me to spend stints away from home. I told them, with months of warning, I could no longer guarantee my availability. At great risk to my new job, I still tried for time off. I was not surprised when I was denied. My mom, with weeks left to go, decided to cancel her trip, because even though I gave her warning, she didn't bother finding backup. Apparently it's all my fault they can't go on holidays. Sorry for getting a job so I could pay my damn bills.
You tried to be accommodating while still taking care of yourself but ultimately she had plenty of time to find a solution but instead chose to sit in the mud and cry.
Load More Replies... Your parents have options, you as a business owner do not. Good for you.
Almost good for her. She agreed to watch the dog for the weekend, but it's with her sister M-F. Her sisters are both going on the trip so I have no idea how the sister can watch the dog. I think they'll dump the dog on her on Monday, expecting that she won't say no. Her parents suck. She doesn't get invited to go on vacation while they work around her sisters' schedules so they can go. No should have been no, because even if she says thos is the last time they do this, they won't believe her (because she's probably said that several times in the past and didn't stick with it). If I was in her position, I'd put a note on their invoice that they need to find somewhere to board the dog or a person to stay at their house because she will not be accepting them as customers again. And then stick to it.
Load More Replies... NTA, if a person has no time she has no time to dog-sit her parent´s pup. Other people have to look for an external dogsitter either. Or stay home.
I would have been no contact awhile ago. It's hard but sometimes no family is better than bad family. They never invite you on family vacations? Then maybe get some chosen family....
Family of Choice can be far more loyal and loving than a lot of the DNA member's club. I don't care who birthed me~~treat me like a 2nd class citizen long enough and I will emigrate.
Load More Replies... Hang on, I have dogs and I have never, ever expected anyone else to care for them. I’ve never even asked! I’m including family. I would never ask them in anything other than a dire emergency. It’s not that I don’t trust my family with my dogs, but the dogs were my mine and my husband’s choice, not theirs. We won’t leave them in kennels either, again, our choice. The one is a rescue and kennels aren’t a good association for her. It wouldn’t be fair to her or the kennels. It means we can’t do things sometimes. So be it. We knew that when we took them on. That’s what we signed up for and we find a way. Holidays are lovely but we find places we can take them with us without stressing them.
Awww it's like your sweet pets are your adopted kids..so sweet 😍💗😊
Load More Replies... NTA - family should not expect treatment that is different to a paying client - even if they are paying. How would they feel if they had booked with you and two days before you contacted them and cancelled their booking for someone else ? Bet they would be pissed and yet they expect you to do that to someone else. Good for you sticking to your decision !!
Don’t watch their dogs ever again. They are clearly taking advantage of you. And they will continue to do so.
So sad such an old loveable loyal dog is involved in this mess
Load More Replies... Yeah I think that would be best too since she said it's really hard for her to get payment from her dad.. Like he is doing her a 'favor' by making payment.
Load More Replies... Having 2 older dogs myself, I understand why they don't want to bring their dog even if the place is dog friendly. As they age, they often dont travel well. That being said, OP's parents, and truthfully, sisters, are whack! She has a business to run. They know this. Either make your appointment with her well in advance, or have one of the sisters, or their hubby's, care for the dog. OP is definitely NTJ here.
Sounds like she still in the end gets stuck with the dog she said they wasnt the type to just leave the dog behind and they are going to do just that according to her edit. I bet once they are gonna the other sister will be unavailable the days she said she would be.
I really hope they don't do that to her but it certainly sounds like something that whack family would do
Load More Replies... NTA. She's running a business, not a charity. That starts at home, and I don't see the poster's family being those kind of people. I'm in constant amazement at the bs people are putting up with on the regular from their family...I can't do it. So much peace without the drama and shenanigans.
Why did I get recommend this article and why does it say it was posted one day ago when the reddit thread it's referencing was from a year ago? I literally read this article before a long time ago. :/
This site is primarily click bait. Copying Reddit is a cheap way to generate content, so that people will come, and create enough traffic to get advertisers to pay for ad space on this site
Load More Replies... Let your yes be yes and your no be no. I admire people that respect that your word is your bond.
I have 5 Jack Russells. My sons are in college now (from my previous marriage) and my now-husband (8 years) never had kids. These pups are his kids (and mine). We don't go anywhere, honestly, unless it's to see one of the boys, and even then, we're only gone 2-3 days max. We chose to have dogs, they didn't choose us. And we're very "weird" about who watches our babies, too. My own mother? No way- she has a lot of pain issues and even though she always says she can watch them, I'm too scared one will be too excited around her and she may fall or something else may happen to her. We have a niece who is a vet tech, and we have paid her to stay at our house and watch them (coordinated with her days off). But I just don't feel right leaving them alone for too long. We are all they know- it would kill me if they thought we abandoned them (another thread lol). In any case, NTA, don't get a "pet" if you can't treat them like family.
Also, we sometimes have to bring one or two with us if they're sick or, as it happened, my "momma" had a litter and all but one passed away or was stillborn. The one that survived didn't even have his eyes opened yet, so we brought them both with us to Louisiana (from Texas) for a graduation. She had a pretty rough go of labor, and didn't immediately take to her pups (only 2 lived passed birth) and we bottle fed the two until one passed during the night- literally 2 hours after I fed him. I still don't know why he passed, unless it was because I had to give him cpr at birth and it took a bit before he took his first breath. The other was actively trying to get out of his amniotic sac as soon as he was born! (He's a healthy, happy and crazy 4 month old pup now named Lucky or chub chub, depending on mood lol). They become your kids. My oldest has a pup now and he tells me the same thing- it's like you're their parents.
Load More Replies... She did the right thing. Her family needs to learn how to be less selfish and think of how things would be in opposite situations.
NTA. No means no. And honestly, have they ever asked you to go on vacation with them? Who would watch the dog(s) then? You’re running a business, and you don’t work for them. Last minute to someone who is booked a year in advance is asinine.
NTA OP, where I grew up there were a couple of dog sitting places and I guess you would take the dog there? I don't have a dog so I never looked into it. You declined the second group of vacation days. They had time to look up some place like that, or ask a friend to check on them each day. Do they even pay you? People book hotels and flights in advance, they should do the same with their pets. You know, like your client did.
Most parent's teach their children to honor commitments and now they want you to blow off your client's? Way to go Mom and Dad .
Your parents need to respect you. Stick to your guns and don't feel guilty!
NTA. I think you need to stop pet sitting for them at all. You should be invited to "family" vacations. I would go lc or NC with them. Sorry, but your entire family sounds awful.
Entitlement. Businesses like this depend very much on word-of-mouth and recommendations. The parents expect them to cancel on a client who booked a year in advance just 2 weeks prior? I don't suppose they took any time to think about what that could do to their business? One negative review could be very damaging. I had a cleaning business where a client of mine tried to cancel on me just an hour before (as I was walking out the door) because they were going out of town. I asked if it was an emergency, and they told me no, they had had the trip planned for a year; they just hadn't bothered to tell me. I told them that they could pay me for the day or find themselves another service. Plain and simple. No excuse for disrespect.
Take your dog with you if it possible! IT certainly is not right to assume anyone will take care of your animals! Good grief. I have 4 dogs. I just don't go if I know that my dogs may not be OK. My dogs are more important to me than a vacation!
She needs to train her parents like she would a dog. When her parents take a dump on the carpet, stick their nose in it till the message sinks in
What is with these parents who think they are owed anything from their kids? I am glad my parents aren't like this and I certainly will not be liked this to mine. Whew, I would drop them faster than a hot potato, parents or not.
We are lucky we have family to watch our dog for free. But as soon as I plan for our vacation (if we can't take our dog) I ask them if they are able to dogsit. Even 1+ year in advance. They love dog sitting but I still make sure they are ok with it. If we are vacationing last minute which is rare, we'll ask them only because they want our dog to stay whenever possible (it's like therapy for them), but if they can't I am prepared to budget for our groomer who dogsits on the side. There are so many options these parents could have done - having back up dogsitters is key. So NTA about this OP.
He should probably be okay with it. But we'll let HIM clarify the issue.
Load More Replies... People who have toxic parents (or relatives or spouses or, really, anyone toxic they are around a lot like a boss or coworker) often have been manipulated to feel like they are the AH so they come looking to a broader community for reassurance in their own sanity.
Load More Replies...
110
74