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.

Questions to Ask to Promote a Happy House Sit

     Tell us about garbage pickup, recycling and composting in your area.

“Every second Tuesday is garbage pickup and you set out the black container. You use the black bags for garbage. Every other Tuesday, you set out the recycling stuff and that goes in the blue container. You use blue bags for that. Also, you set out the compostable stuff with the recyclable things but you have them in a separate white bag.”

“Oh, we don’t have garbage pickup out here. Just burn it. You can put the returnable bottles and stuff in the back of the car port.”

“Please put the compost material in the compost bin in the garden. I’ll deal with it when I get home.”

Learn about the neighbourhood garbage cycles

Tell us about your neighbours.

“You may not have much luck with the guy in that house. Last year, his dogs attacked ours and he blamed us for not building a proper fence. Since then, we’ve put up a double fence which has prevented any more problems.”

“The neighbours below us are great and know everything about the dogs. They have a key to our house. I’ve written their phone number on the routine document we prepared for you.”

“The neighbours next door were aggressive toward my husband while we were building this house. You should just ignore him.”

Learn about the neighbours

Please let us know about any medications you give your pets.

“We’ve prepared a card for you showing who gets what, how much and when.”

“Oh, we didn’t write anything down. We’ll explain it to you when you get here.”

“Clem has a half dose of meloxicam each morning for arthritis. Give it to him in a small one inch long piece of banana. Bella also gets a half dose of meloxicam each morning for arthritis. It also goes in a small piece of banana. In her piece of banana, Bella also gets a half dose of methocarbamol muscle relaxant.”

Learn about the pet's medications

    Happy house and pet sitting.

Two Blind Dogs

Two blind dogs,

Two blind dogs,

See how they run,

See how they run,

They bump into each other

In all kinds of weather

And they all fall down.

These two well-trained Labrador Retrievers don’t miss a beat while they are being walked, but they are blind. Their owners have been issuing voice commands for the older one for years and the younger dog has only recently been diagnosed with vision loss. The older white-coloured lab knows her way around but we must watch her when she gets up from her bed as she tends to wander toward the stairs to the basement and on one occasion, as told to us by her owners, tumbled down the steps. Now, there is a gate to block access to the stairs. 

Frank with two blind dogs

Our view walking the dogs

 We’ve been witness to them both bumping into objects including each other, exaggerating their stride with a high-step gait, walking with great caution and rambling with their nose to the ground. The older one’s eyes are coated white while the yellow-coloured younger one has enlarged pupils.

Refreshing hike with the dogs

We talk to them regularly and spend time with them throughout the day in the front room where their beds are located. The younger one swishes his large tail to indicate his cooperation while the older one remains still. We are left with the impression that they are each other’s best friend. They grew up together in Australia and travelled with their owners here to Canada.

Their walk ends at the gate

They are a magnificent breed and we love them.

Happy House and Pet Sitting

Big Valley - Big Hopes

Wooden grain elevator & Red River cart

“There’s a small house just across the street and down a bit,” the woman says. “It just went on the market.”

Frank and I look at each other and we seem to lock into the same idea. Hmmm. Let’s go have a look.

We are excited about the prospect of purchasing a place in this animated town of Big Valley. It offers a wealth of volunteer and possible employment opportunities. At this posting time, there is a call for part-time bus drivers, a part-time town Administrative Assistant, and various opportunities to entertain the visitors who arrive by train each weekend during the summer months.

We learn a great deal of the history of the town from the Mayor, the librarian, and the shopkeepers at the local café.

Replica of a Red River cart

“The grain elevator is not an official Alberta Historical Society colour but it is one of the last preserved examples of a traditional wooden grain elevator. We’re satisfied with its colour,” the Mayor says. “Also, to answer your question about the Red River cart, it’s not authentic. We do use it in our parade, though.” 

“The building we’re in was purposely built in this rustic theme to bolster the history of the town and more specifically to show off the Jimmy Jock story,” the shopkeeper says. We learn that it was once a Chinese café.

Jimmy Jock Boardwalk beside historic bank building

This morning, Frank is hiking up the hill to St. Edmund’s Church. It’s fully restored, operational and under the care of the Big Valley Historial Society – another volunteer opportunity.

Blue Church on the Hill

Big Valley Railway Station

Together on the street, we are greeted by ‘Eddy’, a local who offers us a tour of the Big Valley Railway Depot. The artefacts and displays are well laid out. The visitors are greeted by the locals and given a tour of the town and a meal. Yes, another opportunity to volunteer dressed in period costume.

We are met later by a realestate agent from Stettler, who shows us the small house. We are surprised and intrigued by it, and put in a bid. We haven’t heard from the lady since.

Big Valley is a community filled with enthusiasm and hope. Travel north of Highway 56 from Drumheller or south from Camrose, and enjoy the ambiance.