Pet sitting and ethical question
1) The petsitter I was using is moving. She gave me the name of the other petsitting service in town but said she'd gotten a number of clients dissatisfied with that service -- but added she didn't know details.
I wonder if the problem was scheduling, rather than pet care? This other petsitter has no web site, maybe no email (I don't know yet.) I've been playing phone tag with her for two days now. Also, she is already full or almost-full for labor day and seems to generally require a lot lead time.
Sigh.
I'm having a co-worker look after them when I'm in Wisconsin next week, but I feel bad hitting people up for stuff like that all the time, especially since I know said co-worker also ends up with a lot of hamster-sitting. (The co-worker has a dog, but they don't travel as much as me. Maybe -- assuming we're not always gone at the same time -- I could work a cat-sitting for hamster-sitting deal with my hamster-loving co-worker?)
2) I finally got the flea meds off the vet... not Revolution, but Advantage Multi, which she says works as well but is cheaper. And indeed, the box I got at the front desk was a LOT cheaper than the Revolution. That made me nervous, and I went to look up reviews on line -- and it looks like the box was also a lot cheaper than it's sold for online. Which makes me wonder if they charged me for the 1-dose (or 2-dose) trial that the vet told me to get and which I asked for, rather than the 6-dose box they actually gave me? (For one dose they would have charged me too much, but for 2 it would be reasonable. When I got the whole box I thought the vet had forgotten she'd told me to start with one dose, since she seems to have forgotten to leave instructions at the desk like she said she would.)
If I had realized I was being undercharged while I was still there, of course I would have said something. But I admit, given that this would mean schlepping back over there during business hours (and/or more phone tag with the vet) I'm tempted to let it slide... or at least to let it slide until the next time I'm there for vet services, or if I happen to be driving by when they're open. (If they notice, they could also bill or contact ME, of course. They have all my contact info.)
Too evil?
Aside: the vet's golden retrievers are very cute and friendly. Also big. The one put his paws on the reception desk to say hello to me, like the world's furriest receptionist.
I wonder if the problem was scheduling, rather than pet care? This other petsitter has no web site, maybe no email (I don't know yet.) I've been playing phone tag with her for two days now. Also, she is already full or almost-full for labor day and seems to generally require a lot lead time.
Sigh.
I'm having a co-worker look after them when I'm in Wisconsin next week, but I feel bad hitting people up for stuff like that all the time, especially since I know said co-worker also ends up with a lot of hamster-sitting. (The co-worker has a dog, but they don't travel as much as me. Maybe -- assuming we're not always gone at the same time -- I could work a cat-sitting for hamster-sitting deal with my hamster-loving co-worker?)
2) I finally got the flea meds off the vet... not Revolution, but Advantage Multi, which she says works as well but is cheaper. And indeed, the box I got at the front desk was a LOT cheaper than the Revolution. That made me nervous, and I went to look up reviews on line -- and it looks like the box was also a lot cheaper than it's sold for online. Which makes me wonder if they charged me for the 1-dose (or 2-dose) trial that the vet told me to get and which I asked for, rather than the 6-dose box they actually gave me? (For one dose they would have charged me too much, but for 2 it would be reasonable. When I got the whole box I thought the vet had forgotten she'd told me to start with one dose, since she seems to have forgotten to leave instructions at the desk like she said she would.)
If I had realized I was being undercharged while I was still there, of course I would have said something. But I admit, given that this would mean schlepping back over there during business hours (and/or more phone tag with the vet) I'm tempted to let it slide... or at least to let it slide until the next time I'm there for vet services, or if I happen to be driving by when they're open. (If they notice, they could also bill or contact ME, of course. They have all my contact info.)
Too evil?
Aside: the vet's golden retrievers are very cute and friendly. Also big. The one put his paws on the reception desk to say hello to me, like the world's furriest receptionist.