People often ask me if there are ever any disasters or unique issues that I encounter while pet sitting. In the nearly three years I have had this business, I have had to log these items so I wouldn't forget about them...the list is getting quite lengthy. My next few posts will hopefully tickle your funny bone with some of these crazy stories :)
Breaking and Entering
I have a client who has two dogs, Hershey and Pixy; Pixy needs insulin shots every 12 hours due to her diabetes. Usually, my visit times are fairly flexible and if I don't hit the precise requested time, I am within an hour of that time. With clients who have special-needs animals, like little Pixy, however, it's very important for me to be right on time since there are medications involved.
So, Hershey and Pixy's mom was out of town for several days and I kept a tight schedule, visiting every 12-hours and administering Pixy's shot at each visit (they use potty pads). I was entering and exiting through the garage door, then getting into the house via a door off of the kitchen, which locks from the inside. On my last scheduled visit, I opened the garage door as usual and went to open the door to the house and it was locked. A cold sweat ran through my body, hands got all clammy and visions of Pixy going into a diabetic coma began running through my mind. Did I lock the door before I left the night before? Is the door just stuck? FART!
In a panic, I ran to my car (sadly leaving my iced latte on the sidewalk to melt before I could enjoy it or benefit from it's caffiene-y jolt that I need so early in the mornings) and got a host of items to help me bust open the lock on the door: bobby pin, writing pen, credit card, tire guage (WTF did I think that was going to do??), screw driver, paper clip. MUST. GET. INSIDE. TO. GIVE. SHOT!!!
And so I began my first experience breaking and entering a home. I tried the credit card, it didn't work; bit off the little nobby things on the end of the bobby pin - ladies, you know what I'm talking about - and swallowed one...stuck it into key hole to pick the lock...nope. Ran back about 10 feet and prepared to break the door open with my body...thought this through and realized that was a bad idea.
I then had a thought - I had been letting the dogs out the back sliding door and I noticed that the little pin thingy that goes in the top of the door to lock it was broken off and they were using a pen in it's place. Surely I can shimmy the door and wiggle the pen out of the hole and get in that way. I ran around the back, began jiggling the door and after about 20 jiggles, the pen fell to the floor and I was in!!! Whew.
As I entered the house, the dogs didn't run to me as they usually do and I fully expected Hershey to be freaked out a little bit because of my unusual entrance - aren't dogs supposed to bark and growl when someone breaks into their home? Five seconds pass and I hear them barking behind the closed bedroom door...five more seconds pass and my little pea brain began to work through this whole ordeal - THE CLIENT WAS HOME!!!
Sure enough, out walks my poor client in her robe after being awakened by a crazy lunatic breaking into her house. She saw me and I'm sure I was the color of a vine-ripened tomato, flushed with embarrassment. I began apologizing and explaining my panic to get to Pixy for her meds. Luckily, this client is super cool and actually appreciated the lengths that I went to to get in the house...laughed and actually paid me extra for my troubles!
A couple words to the wise if you hire me to care for your critters - 1) I WILL get into your house one way or another to get to your animals if they are in my care!!! 2) Wear clothing at all times as you never know when I will bust in!
Happy Thursday, everyone!!
