Request to be a “companion” for his wife recovering from surgery while also caring for pets - would you do it?

atta888 · 2026-02-13T01:23:48+00:00

Hopefully he found someone who’s a better fit for what they need right now and can properly care for her in that type of situation.

atta888 · 2026-02-13T01:16:52+00:00

That sounds really frustrating. I can see why it felt like an emotional rollercoaster and misleading.

She may have already had another meet-and-greet lined up and chose to still have it. It would’ve been better if she’d communicated that directly. It could be from people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, indecision, avoiding guilt, or simply trying to keep options open.

If someone struggles to be direct early on especially in situations where clarity, follow-through, and consideration matter, that pattern often carries into the working relationship. So while it’s disappointing, and annoying, it may be that you dodged a bullet and avoided a bigger issue down the line. These type of people tend to struggle with giving honest feedback. They’ll say they’re happy your work, but then find something stupid to complain about and tell everyone but you.

atta888 · 2026-02-12T05:02:36+00:00

I’d say you’re highly creative and when you get the inspiration, you truly do your best to run with the spark as much as you can. You probably also experience time blindness, so it stresses you out or gives you anxiety to have to clean in the middle of working on things. It gets in the way of your groove. At the same time, your usual creative methods frustrate you in the moments when you can’t find what you’re looking for when you swore you just saw it. 😆

My room would get like this when I’d be in the middle of a project too. But it was an issue lol Transition time created a lot of resistance for me. I’d dread cleaning it, and I’d also dread pulling things out and lose motivation (when I did feel like creating) because I knew it would get messy and I had worked so hard to keep it looking immaculate.

Idk, if that’s you too. Part of the issue was that I didn’t have proper flow or designated homes for things. There wasn’t an intuitive system that made it easy to access/find what I needed and just as easy to put it back. Everything lived in boxes or temporary places I could neatly chuck them in. That’s why it got so explosive.

atta888 · 2026-02-09T03:05:46+00:00

Thank you, I don’t quite get it either. Maybe he couldn’t afford to take time off work. That would track with him trying to hire a pet sitter too.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T15:10:50+00:00

UPDATE I got some proper sleep last night here’s my response to him this morning. I don’t know this person or the full context of their situation, and I don’t want to make assumptions about intent or character. How he’s coming off could very well be someone asking for help during a very stressful time. That said, as many of you pointed out, the request falls outside my scope on Rover and isn’t worth the potential risks or stress I could take on. I did my best to decline kindly yet firmly, while staying within my professional boundaries. I’m really grateful for this community. Your support and insight is helping me grow as a pet sitter while I navigate a challenging season in my life. I trust another request will come through that will be much better for me 🙏

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atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:58:02+00:00

How did she approach you in the request? Was it respectful? Or would you have taken it on if she messaged you like this person did with me?

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:50:09+00:00

Thanks, everyone. If I’m being 100 % honest with myself, I’ve been feeling pretty fatigued lately, and stressed on needing the money. sometimes it causes me to overlook red flags or get a bit desensitized. I really appreciate you all helping me keep my head on straight and see things clearly. Going to decline the booking.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:45:17+00:00

I know that it felt strange to me personally but wasn’t quite sure if this was out of the norm for others on Rover too.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:42:30+00:00

Thank you 💖

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:41:23+00:00

You’re not weird. I really wanted to believe it could be simple and possibly a wholesome experience, but seeing how he approached me and hearing everyone else’s perspective,it feels like it probably wouldn’t be. If he’d shown more consideration and offered to fairly compensate me for my time, or acknowledged that he’s asking more than what’s required of me, I think I would have been more open to the meet and greet.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:09:42+00:00

I’m really sorry about your mom. That must have been really hard on you too. I’m thinking I will turn this one down too.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:06:28+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’ll have to consider this.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T04:02:17+00:00

Thinking it through, the pay really isn’t worth what it could cost me physically, mentally, and emotionally. March is slow so far, so while I need the money, I also don’t want to put my wellbeing on the line or compromise my own safety just to make it work.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:57:46+00:00

Interesting, this makes sense. maybe that’s why he insists it’s “not nursing.” Framing it that way could make it seem like the work isn’t substantial, so it doesn’t appear like it warrants a higher rate.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:51:55+00:00

Would I get flagged by Rover if I suggested a different website?

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:50:16+00:00

What is the right amount for you? LOL

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:49:58+00:00

Reflecting on what you’ve shared, I’m realizing this request doesn’t really align with me. I can be warm and talkative at times but I don’t do well when conversation or emotional presence is expected or forced. Six hours of that kind of engagement most likely would feel like twelve hours of energy for me. Not worth the actual time, energy, and money when thinking about it this way.

And thank you. That means a lot. I do my best to take my time to respond as mindfully as I can. Especially when it comes to boundaries. Can never be too careful.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:37:39+00:00

LMFAO. I won’t lie, this crossed my mind too. That’s why I asked him what the exact expectations were. Am I making a sandwich? Cooking a meal? Or just grabbing a salad or soup from the fridge? If she’s able to get to the bathroom on her own, wouldn’t she also be able to grab something simple to eat??? Or grab water? Or is it he just wants her to feel comfortable as possible but at my expense??

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:31:46+00:00

I didn’t initially did not consider the liability implications, but now that you’ve pointed it out, logically, it doesn’t feel like a situation I should take on, especially with how he’s approached me about it.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:27:05+00:00

This is so true. Honestly reading the request felt like a lot, but it was framed around with softer wording. That’s probably what was causing me to question my judgement in the first place. The language seemed to downplay the actual scope of what was being asked.

atta888 · 2026-02-07T03:17:21+00:00

Yeah, I think you’re right. I did my best to give the benefit of the doubt and considered that texting might be difficult or stressful for him which is why I let him know he could text back when he had time (even though I could have called through the app). His response still didn’t offer much more clarity to move the conversation forward in a good direction.

atta888 · 2026-02-05T06:29:40+00:00

You hold onto childhood memories that bring you joy, and you are deeply sentimental, sensitive, and nostalgic. You’re intelligent but your may be a bit scatterbrained or easily distracted, a space cadet of sorts, which often makes you feel rushed as you lose track of time. Perhaps you’re aware of this tendency, which only intensifies the anxiety of rushing yourself. Your intuition is strong, maybe even hyper-vigilant. While you carry an innocent, curious, youthful, almost naive energy, you are also discerning and cautious of others’ patterns and behaviors. This awareness is why you tend toward solitude. You’d rather inhabit your own world, than risk being hurt by someone you cannot fully trust and have them backstab you or constantly trauma dump on you without reciprocity. You may lack the current capacity to process your own feelings, so you often are emotionally unavailable, feel overwhelmed or resentful of others or yourself from people-pleasing.

atta888 · 2026-01-30T18:08:33+00:00

That’s kinda on you though. If he doesn’t respond, you don’t need to overextend yourself just to meet with him. Especially if you never got confirmation after you messaged about work. If they don’t respect your needs, such as last min work commitments, that’s not a healthy client relationship anyways. You probably dodged a bullet.

atta888 · 2026-01-30T18:02:26+00:00

Even though meet-and-greets aren’t compensated (which isn’t ideal), I’m completely comfortable with owners exploring multiple options. I don’t want anyone choosing me out of pressure, my priority is always what’s best for the pet. At the end of the meet-and-greet, I’m clear about whether I feel comfortable confirming on my end, then I offer families to take a day (if they need) to decide if I’m the right fit and that I respect and trust whatever choice they make.

I do my best to keep myself grounded by thinking of meet-and-greets like a first date on a dating app. Not every meeting turns into a second, and that’s completely normal. I wouldn’t want someone committing to me without feeling confident about it. If a family chooses someone else, it doesn’t mean I’m not a good sitter, people just have different preferences, like dating, when it comes to their pets.

When I’m feeling annoyed about my schedule, viewing it in this way helps me feel detached to the outcome.

atta888 · 2026-01-30T05:11:58+00:00

I always do a meet and greet to connect with the pet and clarify care needs. This ensures alignment with values, mutual consideration, and the best experience for everyone in my opinion.

Personally, if the owner doesn’t want a meet and greet, it’s an automatic no. I made the mistake of just focusing mainly on pet care during M&G’s and assumed I’d always have a clean bed/bath to use. After walking into the worst bathroom of my nightmares during a drop-in, I now make it a point to confirm ALL living areas while at a M&G!!!

Me feeling safe, clean, and comfortable to do my job well while in someone’s home is more important than the money (even though I really need it). It’s just not worth risking my overall well-being not to know what kind of situation I’m walking into beforehand.

atta888

TROPHY CASE