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.