Candle Lake Cautionary Tale

We had a house and pet sit agreement set up months in advance and had several lengthy phone conversations with the homeowners. It is our habit to keep in touch with the homeowners over long periods to assure them that we are coming and the homeowners have told us that they like this.

It is always a bit of a gamble for both parties. We don’t want to be the ones who cancel because some homeowners put a lot of money into their travel plans; buying plane tickets for example.

If a cancellation must happen one should at least give as much time to inform the homeowner or the house sitter as reasonably possible.

As we sit in our campsite about 100 km from Candle Lake and a couple of days early, we give one more call to confirm our arrival date and time. At that time, we were told by the woman of the house that her husband has injured his leg but is getting therapy, so not to worry. We’re told that their departure date will be a couple days later. The contact call was initiated by us and this conversation with the homeowners should have been a red flag! We’d had a similar experience with the last minute cancellation last year because of a health condition.

We accept their explanation of a delay – no problem.

Two days pass and we get a call from them to come to the house and that our room is ready. They told us that Farley, their cat, was looking forward to meeting us. They confirmed that they would be leaving early the next day.

Because there is no place in Candle Lake, Saskatchewan, to purchase bulk fresh produce, we let the homeowners know that we would be bringing up two months worth of perishables.

Later that day, we arrive at their beautiful log house on the lake and get a full orientation. They scrambled to prepare the spare room which we should have taken as a second red flag. In the meantime, we’ve stored all our vegetables and meat in their refrigerator and freezer.

The following morning, during breakfast, the husband tells us that he’s changed his mind and they will not be going on their vacation. We were shocked! He gave the reason that his leg was hurting too much.

We bring up the idea of compensation for all the goods we had purchased and that we don’t have the storage capacity in our small RV. They agreed to calculate the cost from the receipt we provided but not much else. Even though we were provided with a financial settlement, the whole experience left us feeling empty. We call the house and pet sitting experience a bit of a crap shoot. We experience strong pangs of disappointment when there is no practical notice of cancellation.

Cows Love the Ural

Dairy cows gaze at our Ural

We travelled east along Township Road 422 in Central Alberta with our motorbike and noticed that the cows in one of the pastures raised their head and paid attention to the Ural. In some cases, we were the only vehicle making noise on the road but on more than one occasion, we were among other cars and trucks. 

Their eyes were fixated on the motorcycle.

Weeds on beautiful display

We came to a stop at the intersection of Highway 20 and drove straight across to hitch up with Nesbitt Road. This beauty took us into the town of Rimbey. Along the way, the weeds were on display and showed us their fabulous colour. 

We drove the bike through the town and then headed home on some pretty sloppy roads. The sand is thick on these trails but the Ural seems to love it. Frank keeps her steady and works with her bucking and what seems like Bronco kicking.

Horses gawk at Ural

Afterwards, we glided along on a smooth paved secondary road and were gawked at by a group of horses.

These grazers rarely lift their heads to pull away from their feed. The Ural is worth the effort.

Our trek home was on a long gravel road. We arrived at our destination happier for having explored the area.  

Susan waves hello

Lesson Learned

Clear Instructions

We’ve learned to insist on written instructions from the owner on how to care for the pet and home we’ve been invited to dedicate our time to; in this case, 5 dogs and 2 cats.

We complied with this homeowner’s request that we arrive a few days early so that we could watch how she does things with her pets. Although we did ask, she insisted on doing all the feeding, bedding down, eye and ear cleaning, laundering of soiled blankets, opening and closing of overnight kennels, hand feeding three of the dogs, measuring the feeding amounts for each pet and all other things associated with tending to their needs.

Taking Notes

I’m embarrassed to admit that I followed her throughout the house and into the yard with my notepad recording her actions and instructions. Even after nearly six months of contact with the couple, and our asking for a working manual, none had been prepared. I also learned that if I didn’t get the directions correct when I spoke to her about them later, she would chastise me saying I told you before and would reluctantly tell me again. We asked for a brief meeting that evening. 

We let them know that it was their responsibility to develop a procedure manual with enough detail to identify the specific needs of each pet and how they want us to treat the house. Without a working manual, we are left to adapt the best we can to support the habits of the pets.

Results of Change of Habit

We know that when a pet, for example, is used to being let outdoors at a certain time of the day and it is prevented from completing its brain-seared habit, the pet may suffer from anxiety or relieve itself right there in front of you.

As house and pet sitters, we dedicate our time and energy to the well-being of the pets and are proud to protect the homeowner’s property.

Our learning has set in motion our asking the home and pet owner to send us written instructions before we arrive. The document will allow us to ask questions and for them to elaborate on specific instructions. It provides for open-minded conversations.

We depend on written instructions

Deaf Not Dumb

Frannie ready for her walk

Frannie, our most recent responsibility, is a Bijon mix breed of dog. 

She's 14 years old and referred to as a senior by her owner. She's deaf and very capable of using her other senses. She experiences her world through her nose first, then eyes, then ears. She only became deaf recently and so her habit of barking to be let in from outside still works for her and for us. 

We walk her daily and she is very good on leash. While quite of number of dogs we've cared for are not leash trained, Frannie pays close attention to the walker and is very respectful not to tug on the leash. When we stop to take a closer look at our surroundings she remains still and waits patiently for us to continue. What a lovely habit.

Checking yard ornaments

We've accompanied her on explorations beyond what her owner has recommended. Frannie is usually walked to the top of the nearby hill and back home by her owner. When we explained to the pet owner that we tend to walk minimally one kilometre one way she said that her little dog would enjoy it.

When her noise picks up a new scent, like farm animals, she gives out a low growl and piddles along the road side more often. She's got the strength and stamina to handle our strolling pace.

Rural crime watch sign

Ms. Frannie is a rescue from a drug house and as a result is suffering with lung and esophagus issues. If, for example, she is given too much water she will spew it back up. Her owner gave us exact instructions on how much water to provide for her. 

Feeding instructions are one of the many important directions you need to ask of a home and pet owner. We strongly recommend that you instruct the home owner to write down the advice they expect you to follow. 

Two Cats, One Cat

Liddle in the shower

Our information-sharing phone conversations with our latest pet and house owners always included updates on their two cats, Liddle and Fuzzy. However, the day we arrived at their home in Kamloops, BC, we were greeted by one cat.

"Is the other cat too shy to come out from his hiding place?" I said.

"No. We had to put Fuzzy down this morning," the pet owner said. "He was very sick so we decided to let him go."

We stood in silence. My eyes welled with tears.

"I'm so sorry," I said.

Frank stepped forward and wrapped the homeowner in his arms. After a few seconds, we went to the kitchen table and sat to enjoy freshly brewed tea. The owner held her working manual in her hands and described all the daily and weekly tasks we needed to perform during our stay in their beautiful home.

by Lodro Rinzler

Losing a pet is a heartbreaking experience, and throughout the afternoon and evening spent with the homeowners, we witnessed their practical steps from the common stages of grieving to their acceptance of the loss of their long-time precious pet.

Evidence of their acceptance of losing their beloved cat came across in their empathic stories about how Fuzzy experienced a slow decline in his ability to reach his litter box in time to relieve himself or conger up the strength to jump to a higher perch from ground level and how he struggled to eat his special-needs dietary food.

We are now sitting one cat - the survivor, Liddle. We've learnt over our years as pet sitters, that by keeping the pet's routines as normal as possible, not to intentionally reinforce behaviour changes perhaps caused by the loss of his buddy, or overdue the attention to the pet, makes for a comfortable situation for the pet and for you. For example, these pet owners said that Liddle does not like to be picked up and held. He likes human companionship and sits with us when we listen to the radio or lie contentedly on his large comforter as Frank plays violin tunes behind the closed gate. Some barriers have been built by the owners to prevent all the cats they've had over the years from getting on restricted pieces of furniture.

In general, we always follow the owner's directions and respect the habits familiar to their pet.

Cats are precious pets

Liddle's habits are our command. His morning rituals include waking us up to provide him with fresh water in a washed bowl, a small scoop of liquefied cat food on a clean dish and a generous scoop of crunchy cat food - the same food his friend, Fuzzy used to get. In the meantime, we tend to his litter box. Later, when either Frank or I hear his meows, we open the front door so that he can explore the great outdoors. He's a gentle cat and with confidence, his tail standing straight up saunters throughout the property staking his territory.


Later in the day, if for example, one of us has had a shower, he comes afterwards to lay on the floor of the stall.

Pet and house sitting have many rewards.

Meet Dudley - A Cool Cat

"Good morning, Dudley," Frank says. He bends over and taps the 14-year-old scraggly furred cat on the head.

Dudley looks up at Frank and presents his happy face. It is one of many looks he can conjure up depending on his mood and the going circumstance. He patters over to his feeding bowl and sits in front of the display for a while. He changes his mind about eating his crunchy food but licks liberally at his filtered water. Later in the day, he'll scoop one pellet at a time from his bowl onto the mat under it and chews each morsel from there.

His favourite treats are 'Temptations' for cats. Any flavour will do.

I perch where I like, thank you

He rests wherever he likes including the top of the toilet bowl.

"Be sure to leave the toilet seat down," this homeowner said, "because Dudley likes to sit on the toilet seat." At the time, we shrugged our shoulders and both imagined we'd have to see it to believe it. And eventually, we did. We are genuinely entertained by this quirk of his.

He responds instinctively to his name. He comes to Frank when he's called with his tail standing straight up. We've learned over the years as pet sitters, that when a cat holds its tail high in the air as it moves through its territory, its expressing confidence and contentment.

Dudley is a man's cat and follows Frank in and out of rooms like a puppy. If the activity is just a bit too much, like when Frank goes outside to shovel snow, Dudley lays patiently on the carpet at the door. When Frank goes out to the balconies and clears the snow, Dudley sometimes joins him and licks the ice.

Frank tending to the snow

Frank and Dudley ~ tea time

In the evening, Frank and I watch one program or another on the television. Dudley waits patiently for Frank to get settled on the luxurious leather couch and then skulks stealth-like first onto the arm of the seat, then creeps behind his head to what we've interpreted as his hidden position and then he slides carefully down the back of the couch, stops and with one paw at a time, makes his way onto Frank's lap. Once settled his wears his complacent face.

Dudley with Frank ~ evening time

During our human sleeping hours, Dudley has found many satisfying centres to curl up in. He's mastered the technique of making himself comfortable at Frank's neck on the large bed, splaying out on the blankets set on the two loveseats in the basement, or curling up contentedly in his personal cat bed in front of the fireplace.

Dudley's days are filled with things he likes to do. He's a cat. He's a cool cat.