dog sitting vent and advice welcome

[kdkjoshi]

This is a bit of a story-
My husband and I went to Hawaii almost 2 weeks ago with the plan to be there through the 15th. The min we got off the plane, he got sick. 3 Emergency room trips, an admission and a medevac back home. He is still in the hospital, they are trying to figure out what's wrong. Heart and kidney failure.

I had a neighbor taking care of my dogs ( a lab, 2 min pins, and 1 yorkie), He was also feeding my chickens. Everytime I talked to him he was positive and all was well. The yorkie- Maggie- is dog aggressive and is cared for separately from the others. The dog sitter knows this and agreed to care for her this way.

The scene when I walked into the house at 6 am after 3 days without sleep including a very stressful flight home, was almost more then I can describe. All 4 dogs were loose in the house. ( they are kenneled or restricted to specific areas when I am not home) together.

When they saw me, the fight was on. I quickly stopped it and looked around. Poop everywhere, Turkey platter of liquid poop in the middle of the living room, poop on the furniture, the floors, the walls, the ceiling... what wasn't pooped on was peed on.

They hit my pantry hard- door should have been closed- 25 lbs uncooked rice, 10 lbs cake mix, marshmallows, gal of peanut butter and much more. If they could reach it, it was ate. and pooped. and spread around the house under the piles of poop.

The lab and 1 min pin were sent outside. Maggie into her kennel. Koko ( min pin 2) was missing. A quick walk outside, revealed dead chickens. The pet sitter thought the chickens would enjoy being loose, I guess. Of course the dogs went after them. Final count 6 dead birds.

Back inside to look for Koko. I called and heard her crying. She was hunched up, shaking and panting hard. In a lot of pain. Directly to the ER Vet.

$2500 later and one night, it has been determined that she has a ruptured disk in her neck with soft tissue damage from being bit. She is my smallest dog at 6 lbs and 4 lbs lighter then Maggie the yorkie. They have her sedated as well as on Tramadol and Pred.

I called my regular vet and have an appointment to see her in the morning. Koko is being released to me under strict, minimal movement instructions. I am trying to set up an area for her as the ER vet says this will last at least 6 weeks.

Suggestions?

Information about a blown disk in the neck?

To top it off, the dogsitter didn't notice a thing wrong. He did discover an ear problem with the lab. Took him to the vet for surgery. Didn't take the prescribed meds for him or take him back for follow up to have the drain removed. And I have to go pay that bill as well. His appointment is also tomorrow, but not at the same time as Koko. Maggie has 2 puncture wounds, so she has a vet bill as well. I guess Lani- min pin 1 just cheered then on. no injuries.

Im trying to clean up the house so I can go to bed. No place to sit, much less sleep that didn't have piles of liquid poop on it. Including my bed.
The husband is in ICU going through a bunch of tests, so at least he is in safe hands.

Can you imagine if I had returned on the 15th instead of the 7th?

[matese]

OMG, I am speechless. First let say how sorry to hear about DH, I hope all is going well for him. Sorry cannot offer up any suggestions on care for your injured babies, I am horrified at what you came home to. What was your pet sitter thinking of. A tale of horror for sure. Venting is good, releases some stress.

[dottiesyrky]

Oh no, what a horrible start to a vacation! I am so sorry that your poor hub got so sick and for all that trauma and stress that followed you home.
I cannot imagine coming home to that mess and chaos and sick dogs too. What was the sitter doing all the time???? I feel for you with your hub in ICU and sick dogs at home plus the terrible clean up you had to do. I admire your stamina and courage under fire and pray that your hub gets better soon and the dog family and your home return to normalcy. Getting rid of the poop stains and smell may well take time, but hope it is not too bad.
No I cannot imagine a return on the 15th!!!!! The 7th was terrible enough.
Praying things turn around for you all soon and your bed becomes your haven of rest again. Hang in there, it can only get better? Good wishes and a pile of empathy, wish I could do more.

[Faboosh]

OMG... Just... OMG. I can't even imagine. Wtf... Just WTF??!!

Where did this petsitter come from? I would be raising all sorts of hell and sending them bills for damage, etc. In fact, I hope you know a good lawyer- I'd be holding him responsible for every injured pet, every damaged piece of furniture, every vet bill, etc.

I am SO sorry to hear of all this and will say prayers for your husband and your sweet lil dog. I'm also so sorry for the loss of your chickens and your house being torn up. How violating this must feel. Please come vent if/when you need. Goodness, just wow.

I'm sorry.

[kdkjoshi]

It helped just to type it all out. Thanks for the empathy.

She is walking, but not her normal self. The vet report says 2 collapsed disks in her neck. She is to be kept Absolutely quiet and still. no walks or anything.6-8 weeks with a weekly follow up appointment. This is going to be fun (not).

I put her in a ex pen in a secluded room. she just went to the blanket and curled up to sleep within minutes.- she is whimpering in her sleep though. Next pain med not until 11 tonight. I bought a potty pad box for her and have to go set it up. Also a raised water and food dish.

I don't know what else to do to help her, other than let her sleep.

This sitter is a adult, younger man who lives next door. He has come over to help the husband and to take our lab running almost daily in the past year. He seemed to know what he was doing and was responsible. I guess not.

[kay miller]

All I can say is wow.I can feel your pain from here. Here's to a speedy recovery back to normal.

[yorkiemom76]

Wow, I can't even imagine! I don't know what to say to any of that other than I'm so sorry this happened to you and I hope your husband and dogs all are feeling better soon.

[Island Girl]

So sorry to hear about your hubby and I hope he will be ok. On top of that to go home to that fiasco.... leaves me speechless! Sending you good thoughts!

[R-Teddy]

I am so sorry for everything you are going through. I can't even imagine. I think I would curl up in the middle of any clean spot I could find an cry, THEN, Id find a lawyer and SUE the pants off that pet sitter.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by R-Teddy

I am so sorry for everything you are going through. I can't even imagine. I think I would curl up in the middle of any clean spot I could find an cry, THEN, Id find a lawyer and SUE the pants off that pet sitter.

yep.

[Verbena]

I am so sorry to hear about your pet sitter from hell ! . . . I had one last year. I have learned not to trust friends.

And on top of that you are having to deal with what is happening with your Dear Husband. . I am so very sorry. All I can do is to send you good thoughts, strength and hugs. Wish I was closer, in in NY. I could give you a hand

[Bellabean]

I don't even know what to say. I'm so sorry for you. Prayers that everyone recovers!!!

[SirTeddykins]

Wow, words cannot express the shock and upset I feel for you having had to go through finding your house and dogs in such a state after having to come home with a sick husband!


What do you intend to do about the pet sitter?

I really don't know what could be done apart from trying to get your house back in order and never trusting that person again.


I don't have any experience with a dog who has been seriously injured so all I can say is refer to the vet.


Please feel free to come here and vent as much as you need to - I think supporting you is the least we can do.


xxxxxxxxx

[DBlain]

Wow is all I can say, I feel so sorry that you have so much to deal with while your husband is ill. Was the pet sitter staying at your house or just checking in. I will say that 4 dogs with different needs that have to be separated and so forth along with chickens is a lot for anyone to manage, did he have experience caring for pets.

I hope your min pin recovers, and boy you sure have a lot of vet bills now, unfortunately I doubt there is much legally you can do to recoup that money. How much were you supposed to pay him per day, I hope you did not give him any money.

Just in case there is something you can do make sure to take lots of pictures before you clean up the mess

[kdkjoshi]

He lives next door and currently not tied to a scheduled job. So was real flexible. Experienced with larger dogs and with references. $100 a day plus anything he wanted to eat out of the pantry or freezers. Young, ( 30) We are the same age as his parents.

I finally was able to talk to him coherently this evening. He thought we were exaggerating the problem of having the dogs all together. So he thought he would get them used to each other so it would be better for us.
He had them in the yard for an hour and told them "no" when they approached each other, so considered them fine.

Then he put them in the house without kenneling. Apparently believes that kenneling is un-necessary except in an emergency. He had never indicated that belief to us.

Got dinner out of the pantry, didn't think to close the door.

The house was smelly so opened all the bedroom doors for a cross breeze. Didn't notice any poop. I guess he cracked the windows open too.

The chickens have auto feeder, auto waterer and auto door that opens and closes each day. All he had to do with them is collect the eggs every other day or so. They are molting right now so not many eggs.

he forgot to latch the door. He saw the lab get one chicken and Koko get another and figured he wouldn't know what to do with injured chickens so just let them finish them off. When he saw there were more out he couldn't capture them without clueing the dogs in and figured they would get away from the dogs by flying or hiding. Right!

He feels he did really good by taking the lab in when his ear got swollen. The repair looked good so didn't think he needed the antibiotics. Didn't want to ruin our vacation so was waiting to tell us about the ear.

He feels responsible and bad, but doesn't have the ability to pay.

I let him know that he is not welcome around the house or animals again.

I told him the damage and the cost of vet bill which isn't done yet. at that point, I couldn't talk to him anymore. especially when he asked if I was mad at him.

Im done, Never heard such an irresponsible list of excuses for what he decided to do. Going to concentrate on getting the pups well and cleaning the house, keeping up with the husbands treatment and try to get him back home.

Maybe a bit of sleep and a cry would help also.