Any pet owner can attest to the importance of giving their furry friends tender care. Whether it’s a daily sniffy walk for your pup or snuggling with your special and unique cat, most people want to make sure they’re giving their beloved animals the best care possible, even they can’t do it on their own.
Having the peace of mind that your pets are well taken care of while you’re out of town is very important, but it’s work that deserves to be paid for, no matter what.
A professional pet sitter asked for a ‘volunteer’ to watch her rabbits for free as she was ‘fully booked’ with her own pet-sitting jobs.
The unnamed pet sitter posted on the subreddit r/ChoosingBeggars, looking for someone willing to give her and her rabbits a solid for free, while she took money for other people’s pets.
“Still looking for a volunteer willing to help my two bunnies, Rain and Mari,” they wrote.
Aside from rabbits with names that make them sound like hippie kids at a co-op preschool, animals really do require a lot of work and attention.
“They need mucking out, cleaning, de-matting, disinfecting, game time, and grooming,” the post stated. “It will be a 2 hour session every Saturday.”
The pet sitter wants 8 hours of free pet sitting a month without realizing how ridiculous that request is.
According to Indeed, pet sitters in the US earn an average of $15.96 per hour. At the lower end of the pet-sitting pay scale, they earn about $10.55. On the higher side, they earn $24.16
A 2023 business guideline said pet sitters could charge up to $250 to $375 per week, depending on the level of services they provide.
They asked for someone over the age of 18, noting that in the first unpaid pet session, the person would “walk around and show how to do everything and [given] introducing babies.”
The pet sitter describes strict specifications for rabbit care, despite not wanting to pay anyone for the job.
Although they asked the young adult to sign a contract specifically outlining that they were OK to work alone, the pet sitter also said, “There’s always someone at home, so if you need any help, you can ask them … I will not go away. , very happy to help if needed.”
The pet sitter also shared the emotional backstory of a rabbit, Mari, a story rooted in loss and trauma that made the animal “depressed” and seemingly aggressive.
“He was rescued by my brother and went with Mari’s brother, who sadly died after they came home to us,” they explained. “She loved him to pieces and was devastated by his passing.”
To cure her bunny blues, the pet sitter gets a replacement rabbit, which Mari “absolutely hates.”
They gave specific guidance about Mari’s emotional and practical care, saying, “She is very happy living with him but she does not want physical touch from anyone or anything.”
“Miss Independent Lady!” the pet sitter declared, trying to make Mari the Rabbit’s physical aggression seem like a cute personality trait and not a danger.
“He doesn’t want to be picked up, and he’ll cause havoc if this is the case, so PLEASE don’t pick him up!” they warned.
All work deserves pay, even if it’s just a few hours on a Saturday, and especially if it involves fighting a rabbit that’s ready to bite anyone who touches him.
Whatever is going through this pet sitter’s mind that they feel they should be paid for their work, but not extending that professional courtesy to anyone else is truly out-of-touch, no matter how hard life is in this economy.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango’s news and entertainment team. He covers social issues, pop culture and everything to do in the entertainment industry.