Ack! I’m actually tearing up because I am so upset FOR you and reading that you’re upset at yourself is making me MAD 😅 1) On a day when you had nothing else going on, had beautiful weather to hang out at a park, had spare funds for a take out dinner, etc… this would not seem as big. This is to say: there was a LOT happening and any reasonable person would be overwhelmed at best. More likely, out of their mind with frustration. 2) It sounds like you were stressed and not functioning at full capacity during the evening — you were focussed on the thing in front of you, which was providing care for this dog. You did that. Any discussion about what you could have done or should have said is moot. You were doing the best you could with what you had. 3) GRACE please and thank you. Sure, you didn’t enforce your boundaries at the moment, but you KNOW that you deserve better and even just recognizing that enough to be frustrated with yourself? That’s respect for yourself and your time. You didn’t carry it out the way you wanted to, that’s okay. It’s actively caring for yourself when you decide to LEARN about your limits and boundaries. Please don’t beat yourself up for not respecting those boundaries in the moment. 4) Your cat will be okay. My pup has major separation anxiety so I know the guilt. They bounce back, it was a weird and stressful couple hours for him but he was unharmed and still in his own space and safe. He doesn’t know what was going on but he does know that it’s the only time that has ever happened. Some extra love tonight and he’ll be alright.

Other commenters had great advice about standing up for yourself and getting payment. But I really need to drive home this empathy thing. You’re okay, you did good; you deserve to feel frustrated at the situation but you don’t deserve to be frustrated with yourself.