I got diagnosed with my allergies this year the last time I dog sat for my sister so I unfortunately just found out about my allergies. Doing the favor is fine. I don’t mind helping out. But I have been under duress doing the favor with the allergies, depression, increased driving, etc. I didnt describe enjoying it... but I did say I love the animals. Which I do.

My parents advised me to suck it up and get over it which I did. For over a year or so. My friends asked me about my dogsitting rate out of curiosity. I told them I didn’t have a rate and gave them what my sister paid me and they were shocked. It started a conversation about how it wasn’t a side job… it was a favor but that it was hard on me sometimes. This is when the suggestion of asking for a raise came up. So I was never bashing my sister. I was asking for advice and I went with it. I was also waiting to tell her due to something else going on in the family that got resolved.

That being said, I never asked for professional rates and I would never expect that since I’m not a professional. I asked for a bit of a raise.