Don't trust thy animal sitter!

[chopperrambo]

Hi All!
No I'm not trying to make all animal sitters look bad in any way! But maybe you'll start looking at them closer before having them take care of your friends! I went to Germany to see my family for Christmas for nine days and was horrified to find out about things that had happened! To start from the beginning, I had known this girl for six months and even worked with her. I even thought we were friends! I asked her to take care of my two horses, six dogs, a pig, a cat and some chickens for me. My one dog happened to be pregnant and I thought her due date was well before my departure, but as fate has it she gave birth to them 2 days after I left. I asked a few friends if they could take her and they couldn't; so when she asked me what I wanted to do with her I told her to leave her in her kennel and she should be fine, but she had the house key too so in case it got cold or something put her in there. Yes, I was kind of in a bind with her and didn't want to burden anyone with that so I didn't really know what else to do. Ends up, she takes the mom and pups to her house, put them in a crate outside and took care of them; which I appreciate very much! But when I got home I find my horse had a few deep gashes on his cheek that were infected and had not been taken care of nor did I get notified about them. Her claim was they were there before I left, which they weren't. Even if they were how come she couldn't ask me what to do about them! Also that day I asked if I can come by to get my dogs and to give her the money I owed her. Her answer was "No, I don't think you are a good home for them. Just let me keep the mom for 6 weeks and I'll keep the puppies and you get the mom back. Or I'll call Animal Control on you." My answer was give me my dogs back and you can go ahead and call ACC 'cause I have nothing to be ashamed of! Long story short I called the cops and got my dogs back from ACC that day. She's lucky I'm not that way or the cop wanted to charge her with Grand Theft and Animal Cruelty for not taking proper care of my horses cheek. That afternoon she still had enough nerve to harass me!
Also as the weekend progressed I figured out that she deliberately fed my horses in deep sugar sand (grain and hay) despite my explicit instruction not to do so! And I find all sorts of grain thrown out behind the barn in deeper grass as if she only came out once a day and had to do something with the other meal without me finding it! Whats messed up is that every time I asked her about his cheek and all the grain, etc. she wanted to switch subjects back to the dogs and what a horrible owner I am! At least Palm Beach Sherriffs Office and ACC helped me out greatly! Thanks!!
I'm so disgusted and hurt that someone I trusted could do something like that to my animals! If you have a problem with me, tell me, punch me!! Don't let it out on animals that can't feed or defend themselves!! But on the bright side everybody is alive. I have so far avoided colics, and his cheek is healing! I will definitely not go away for a while and if I do I'll probably have cameras and take a VERY close look at the person helping me!!

[Coral Reef Riding]

First of all, there are many responsible caretakers that are also responsible in all other areas of life.  They are wearing 100 hats and keeping 100 balls in the air while paying the bills, putting their kids through school and holding a full time job.  Then there are the others.   Make sure that the person you hire has references especially if you are leaving the country. 

[Classic2010]

It's true-----having your animals cared for while away on vacation is so very important.  I also went away for a couple weeks for Christmas.  I did not know of anyone to care for my horses and asked Ingrid Taskin to recommend someone.  She told me about Heidi Michelbrink.  Heidi did a great job taking care of my horses.  If anyone needs a wonderful, responsible person to watch the pets...here is her # 561-662-2045.

[leahsmom]

I am the person she is referring to.  I am NOT afraid to say my name here, but I will keep this private.  The people whose opinion I care about know who and what I am.  There are plenty of people here in Wellington who know me VERY well as a professional, experienced and caring animal owner and caretaker.

A few things to consider:

1.  The property in question is divided into two parts.  One of the horses is kept in the front area around the house, where there are multiple hazards such as trucks, trailers, exposed pipes, and other piles of junk.  There is no shelter for this horse.

2.  The second horse is kept in the area around the barn, where there are also multiple hazards and junk including an old bathtub he eats his grain out of.  There is a small lean-to shelter in this paddock.

3.  The two chickens and large turkey are kept at the back of the property in a small enclosure about 5 feet by 6 feet.  I don't know if this is adequate or not, I don't know much about keeping poultry, but they appeared ok.

4.  The pig is in a pen in the back next to the chickens.  He also appeared fine, sleeps a lot though.

5.  The dogs are kept in kennels with chainlink fencing between them.  There are six total.  One UNNEUTERED male pit bull, and five females, only ONE of which is spayed.  ACC has no record of the 5 unsterilized dogs; at least not under the names I was given.  The four unspayed females are pit bulls.  ( I have nothing against PBs, love them, in fact, but we certainly don't need anymore)

6.  One of the unspayed females was kept in a separate kennel, about 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep.  It is wide open and faces north, where the coldest winds come from.  

7.  The main kennels are concrete floored, with only a flat roof over them, no side protection.  Only one female actually had a doghouse to go into to shelter from the wind. (not the pregnant one)

8.  When she informed me of the pregnant female she also informed me that this was her second accidental litter and that the last time she did not know she was pregnant and came out in the morning to two dead pups.  When I asked her what she wanted me to do, she shrugged her shoulders are said "I don't care, if they die they die, I don't want them."  She never mentioned ANYTHING about bringing them inside, she really didn't care.  In fact the only reason she gave me a house key was in case I needed blankets for the two horses, which were just inside the back door.  

9.  When I arrived on the morning of the 24th, the female had already given birth to one pup.  The females on either side of her were growling and being semi-aggressive towards her.  She had NO doghouse or shelter to hide in. A second was stuck, and already dead.  I got it out, tried to resuscitate it but no go.  Knowing the forecast for the next few days was going down into the 30s, I made a few calls, got hold of a large crate and took her home.  I put her on my patio under the eaves with a heat lamp and heating pad, and surrounded the crate with cardboard.  I could not bring her in my home for two reasons:  I have three dogs of my own, in a small house and I didn't want to endanger the puppies, and the mother was INFESTED with fleas.  SO many along her spine where she couldn't itch that she was bleeding.  But she was warm and safe.  

10. The female ended up having 5 healthy puppies.  I called the owner Germany and she returned my call the next day.  When I told her the female had had 5 healthy pups and that they were with me, she stated "Oh, thanks, but you should have just let nature take its course.  When I get them home if they die they die, or maybe I'll take them to ACC to euthanize them."  Over the next few days I de-flead everyone with Ivory soap and on the advice of a vet I gave the mother a dose of Frontline.  They were fat, healthy puppies and the mother was doing a fabulous job nursing & caring for them.  

11.  She was also upset I had brought her two horses into the stalls in the barn on the nights it dropped to 29 degrees.  "they're happier outside" was the response I got.  NOTE:  In Palm beach county you are required BY LAW to provide shelter for your animals if the temperature drops below 40 degrees.  Since the horse up front had no shelter, I had to bring her in.  I brought the other in for company, since I don't know how close the horses were.  

12.  As regards the grain question:  Since I could not figure out how to turn on the lights, and was afraid to mess with the spiders web of extension cords, I was working with the headlights of my car and a flashlight when I was there at night.  On BOTH mornings before the cold nights, when I was there doing AM feedings, I set up the stalls for the night.  Filled water buckets, put hay in, set out blankets and for the horse who got grain, I placed his Ziploc Baggie in the feed tub so I wouldn't have to hunt for it in the dark.  Unfortunately that night I forgot and put him in first then went and got the other horse.  When I came back (2min) he had the bag in his mouth and was playing with it.  Of course it opened and about 1/4 of the grain was flung about, going out the back window of the stall.  I would NEVER deliberately throw grain on the ground.  He always ate out of a feedtub, a bucket (it was rainy one morning) or his crazy bathtub thing.  
13. Given her attitude on both occasions that we discussed the pups, I thought it appropriate to offer to take them and raise them instead of the fate she had in mind for them.  When I picked her up at the train station ( I also drove her to Miami Airport when she left), I made the offer of either A.  Keeping mom and pups and finding homes for all or B.  Keeping mom until pups are weaned and then returning mom to her.  All at no cost to her.  She turned me down flat and sulked the whole way home.  I told her she could pick them up the next afternoon.  (It was New Years Eve).  She agreed and I dropped her home.
14.  At about 8 or 9pm that evening she sends a picture of her horse’s right jowl area.  It has a small se.  As far as I can honestly remember, he had it the entire time she was gone, as I looked at it on the first morning and it was scabbed over.  Believe me, he is FINE, and this is NOT animal cruelty.  She also informs me she wants her dogs.  I told her no, it’s NYE, you can pick them tomorrow as we agreed.  
15.  She then proceeds to send a barrage of text messages calling me a thief, a liar, that I don’t know how to take care of animals, that I don’t care about her horse and calling me every name in the book.  She threatens to call the police.  I end up blocking her number from my phone to avoid her nastiness.
16.  So now I am angry.  And I tell her about all the laws she’s breaking:  Not having a hobby breeders license,  leaving the mother to whelp outside in the cold with no shelter, not having her dogs tagged and registered (she gives her own rabies shots – not recognized by ACC), not providing adequate shelter for the dogs  or the horses.  I tell her she can get her dogs tomorrow but I am reporting her to ACC.
17.  The next morning I am still upset about sending these week old puppies back to this awful woman who does not care if they live or die.  So I call ACC for advice.  Tell them the whole sad tale.  They advise me to turn mom & pups over to them and let her come claim them.  I do this, and while I am at ACC she texts me again saying she’s at my home with the police.  The deputy calls me and I tell him the animals are at ACC.  She can come get them.  He informs me that is grand theft since she claims this MUTT dog is worth $2100.  I get ACC to speak with him and he backs down.  
18.  I go home and find out later that the officer called the director of ACC (at home, on her day off) and informed her the dogs were stolen.  She promptly released them back to owner with no impound fees.  
19.  I have STILL NOT BEEN PAID for the services I provided in caring for her animals.  I only ask for the agreed upon terms - $30 per day for 7.5 days.  I am not asking for reimbursement for the crate, dog food, flea medication or gas in driving her to Miami & picking her up at TriRail.  
20.  I have since spoken with the director of ACC AND the Deputy’s supervisor, both of whom expressed deep regret over the way he handled the situation and the ridiculous threats he made against me.  Both agree that the situation should have been handled much differently and BOTH have assured me that I did nothing wrong.  
The only thing I could have done differently was call ACC the morning the mother started whelping.  But I never for one second believed that this girl would be this cold hearted and downright nasty.  Lesson learned there, believe me.  

If she can afford cameras why can't she afford to take care of her animals AT LEAST to the standards of the law??  
If she's so concerned with a se on her (supposedly) $30,000 horse why is he living in a dump?
If her dogs is worth $2100 why did she leave it outside unsheltered to have pups?
If she's so concerned about her dogs why are they not tagged & registered with the county?
If she cares so much why did she allow this "valuable" dog to get pregnant accidentally for the SECOND time???

[leahsmom]

Oh by the way - me being such an awful person and all - I also invited this woman into my home for Thanksgiving and have been there for her when she had "personal issues".  When she lost her job I also let her use my computer to search for work.  She actually booked her ticket to Germany on this very machine!!

But hey - I'm just evil, right?

People . 

[allieoop]

Thanks, Classic, for the nice words about my daughter.  Heidi is an animal lover to the the 'nth' degree
and always  has her dad and me as back up.  So happy you were pleased with the job she did. 

[Classic2010]

Thanks so much for taking care of the horses and giving me peace of mind while I was away!  As soon as I met Heidi, I knew she was trust worthy.      

[Coral Reef Riding]

I will hold back all my comments because there are three sides to every story.  However, when it comes to money, services were rendered and should be paid regardless of the differences in opinion upon the owners return from out of the country.  Remember "the bright side".  All the animals were found alive and no colics.  The caretaker needs to be paid and this subject will be considered closed.

[chopperrambo]

Just a short response to her stupid reply! Obviously she's going to try to make herself look better! There was much more than a little grain behind the barn. If she was throwing out what he was flinging around, why not into the trash where he couldn't get to it? She didn't come home having to deal with one horse being distended and colicky and the other one ping all water cause they had ingested so much sand. Not in 5years that I had those guys did I ever have a colick problem! Two in one weekend? Kinda strange! All my animals are well cared for! In fact ACC came out this morning and told me everything is up to par!! She was actually very happy with me! There is nothing wrong with any of the kennels or shelters for the horses. I have a barn for the horses and yes they are MUCH happier outside!! Cold weather or not. I put multiple blankets on my horses which she failed to do despite my telling her! Trucks, trailers all over? One down truck that belongs to my brother in-law and my pretty nice looking horse trailer? Yeah that makes my property look like a dump. Of course I cared about the pups and their fate! I didn't say I din't care if they died or not!! Why would I fight so hard to get them back? If i didn't care I would've left them with her. She almost got herself arrested! She is lucky I'm not a charge happy person! And about the cuts on my horses face, i spoke with the other girl taking care of them over Christmas, those cuts weren't there according to her. It's a py way of finding out who she really is but at least she can't hurt them anymore!!

[chopperrambo]

Yeah and I offered to pay her the day she picked us up and she didn't want to go to the bank cause her boyfriend was more important. That was before she turned nasty and before I find my animals not having been taken care of properly! The money I've spent getting my guys well again already amounts to more than I owed her. I'm not one to stiff people but that was definitely not what I expected to come home to. I had no serious colicks to where they needed surgery but it s watching them in pain especially since it could have been avoided!

[Coral Reef Riding]

The caretaker came to the property daily and fed.  She deserves to be paid.   Even if she didn't take the money when it was offered, there was a verbal agreement and it is the right thing to do.  Send an email or personal message requesting an address to mail the check.  Leave the animosity in the past where it belongs.   This is advice from an unbiased person reading these posts.  

[Classic2010]

I gave the wrong telephone number for Heidi--it is 561-662-2405

[leahsmom]

ACC tried three times to contact this onwer but she evaded them.  When they did finally make contact, ACC has cited this person for all six unregistered dogs.  She has also been ordered to either obtain a hobby breeders license or surrender the puppies at 8 weeks. 
In her first post on January 4th she claimed no colics.  Now she says two in one weekend??  Which is it??  The ACC officer saw the that the wounds on the horse's face were open and covered with bugs.  She was also ordered to get vet care for him. This was SIX DAYS after I last cared for him, and the pics she sent me show small wounds that are scabbed over.  hmmmmmm. 

I still have not been paid. 

My address:  1530 Shaker Circle  Wellington, FL 33414

(I am not afraid - she already knows where I live) 

[Justin]

REALLY???...How petty of the two of you to be airing your business/personal dealings with each other out on this well read public board.  Don't you think it's time to act like adults and keep this 'he-said, she-said' argument between yourselves and those involved...eg: ACC?

[leahsmom]

REALLY. 

I am well known in this community, and even though she has not posted my name, many people know who both she and I are.

I will not stand by and let her smear my name while she treats her animals like dirt and doesn't pay her bills.

BTW - I have tried to resolve this amicably, but she refuses. 

[Lexus]

Justin, well said, this thread is not the purpose of this wonderful board.

[deb be]

Maybe we can learn from others mistakes and better be able to avoid finding ourselves in similar situations by some of the stuff we read.  Its alittle hard to blame someone for chiming in if they feel wronged or accused.  Like someone else said theres more than one side to any story. 

Whatever.....   

 

[chopperrambo]

I'm so sick of replying to this but I'm not going to let her keep lying about me either! ACC looked at my horses face and saw it was taken care of and not full of bugs! She did not tell me to get vet care for that since I've already been treating it! Everything at my house is up to par as far as shelters etc. Everybody has their shots but since I don't have new tags I have to get new ones. I also told her since it will be cheaper I will get them all spayed and neutered. Funny I get the brunt of all this when really I only own two of them and one is spayed. Yes since I can't afford a hobby breeders license and these laws are fairly new I will have to surrender the puppies at 8 weeks. Wich is what she nor I wanted for them. Good job calling them! As far as the colicks are concerned, they were on the weekend but I did not want her to get satisfaction from my suffering!

[PrincetonEquineTransport]

This is GREAT!!!!!   Like being in the 3rd grade all over again........

[smhill]

Everybody has their shots but since I don't have new tags I have to get new ones. I also told her since it will be cheaper I will get them all spayed and neutered.

FYI, I was able to get a dog spayed at ACC Pahokee for free, and they were able to get us an appointment within a week of my initial call.  For $25, they included microchip, tag, and rabies.

[cmaxson]

pit bulls are done for free at ACC

[saddlediva]

As a pet sitter, this is why I only take people who are referred by other customers (I call the animals my clients). This way, I have an idea of how they take care of their animals beforehand and all of my customers are my friends. I have never had a complaint and when my friends come home, their barns and homes are cleaner than when they left and there is usually a home-cooked dinner or snack in the fridge. When I walk into their houses, their animals are all over me and I flop down on the floor so they can sniff my pockets for the treats they know are in there. When one dog didn't "look" right (he was walking instead of cantering and he had a faraway look in his eyes) and I couldn't reach his people in the Everglades, I took him to the emergency vet (because these things always happen on Sunday or at midnight) and he had a baseball-sized tumour that had burst and he was bleeding to death. Vet said chances were 80% malignant. I asked what would his quality of life be if it turned out benign, she said 6-12 months of good QOL. Lousy odds but I knew that his people would go for it. I handed over my  card without hesitation, then went in and gave Jake a pep talk and told him we all loved him and that he was strong enough to pull through this and we would be waiting for him when he woke up. Then I gave him a kiss and went out to talk to the vet some more. As an afterthought, I asked what the surgery was likely to run and she said "Up to $5,000." Okay! So you may want to make prior arrangements with your vet as to how much you'd be willing to spend or hope that your pet sitter has good  and would make the decision that you would. In this case, I made the right decision as Jakie lived for another year before dying of something else. Every animal I care for, I love as much as one of my own and their owners know it. So not all pet sitters are the same, same as mechanics or doctors are not the same.

[karen]

@ Saddlediva, your story made me tear up a little!!! How sweet!! What a wonderful pet sitter you are!! I am lucky enough to have a neighbor who would do anything for my dogs and cat too!! (she would even go to the barn where I board, just to reassure me, that my 2 quarter horses really are doing well) Like your clients, I do not worry about my pets when I leave town!!

[chopperrambo]

Thanks smhill and cmaxson for the info. I've heard about Pahokee and pitbulls being free. It'll be nice to have microchips in them as well! I've been trying to get my fiance to get his dogs fixed but we all know how guys can be about it. lol. I wish it didn't have to come to all this for him to finally agree! I was upset enough about the pregnancy but  happens and I sure didn't need her to add problems! Thanks saddlediva for your story! It was nice to read something so positive! 

[leahsmom]

You "heard about Pahokee" from me. SIX MONTHS AGO.  I work in the Glades.  You were NOT upset by her pregnancy.  You did not care if they lived or died. 

I will continue to post here UNTIL I GET PAID.  You have my address.  You started this thread, you'll have to live with the consequences. 

You didn't want me to think you were suffering?  It's your ANIMALS that suffer during a colic, not YOU.  Seriously???  How selfish, and such an obvious cover up for an out right lie.   Grow Up and pay your bills. 

[friday53]

I think this thread needs to stop.

[polomare]

chopperrambo, I suggest you go ahead and pay leahsmom.  That way, you look like the good guy in all of this.  If you don't pay her, it makes me think there is some truth to her claims.

Sometimes, you just have to be the better person.

[PrincetonEquineTransport]

DING...DING...DING

Ladies and Gentleman it is now time for round 3

Please get your drinks and popcorn and return to your seats ASAP

[Tisbouncy]

WOW, this post has had 631 viewers....Must be good!

Hold on, hold on....OK, feet propped up, and have me a good cup of coffee...continue please ladies!!

Oh sheesh...this is pathetic!  Deep sigh...oh well, at least the coffee's good!

Back to RFDTV

[HAPPYINLOXAHATCHEE]

I THINK ITS TIME TO PUT A STOP TO THESE POST I WOULD HOPE THE ADMIN 1 WOULD PUT A STOP TO THIS. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS YOU SHOULD SETTLE THEM OFF THIS WEB SITE. BUT THIS IS JUST MY OPINION

[PrincetonEquineTransport]

Stop THIS?  Are you kidding?  This is better than ANYTHING on TV......I'm thinking if they keep it up, they'll get their own reality show.....

First it was "Jersey Shore".....Now we have the "Loxahatchee Animal Feud"...entertainment at it's finest!!!  

[KW]

This is almost as good as reading some of the COTH website threads.   

[falkod]

I agree that disputes of this nature are better handled privately.  But, once accusations are made about someone I have known for several years, it is difficult to let them sit, especially when many readers of this Board know the identities of the participants. 

I am going to stay out of the she-said-she-said aspects of the specific situation, because I wasn't there; but I do feel it important for me to offer what insight I do have for those who wish to consider it.

Leahsmom helped me for three years with the extensive and detailed care of an aged horse with numerous medical issues.  For much of that time, she was alone in the barn with him. His care requirements and schedule were, to put it mildly, demanding.  For those three years, to the day he was euthanized, she did a remarkable job -  professional, truly caring, and giving of herself for the animal's sake.

I would be equally comfortable having her take care of my pets and look after my house while my husband and I are out of town.

[SaddlebredShowMom]

In the bottom right hand corner of each post there is a link that says "Report to moderator" . . . it's there for a reason . . .   

[pell7290]

  You started this thread, you'll have to live with the consequences. 

 

I wouldn't let anyone smear my name either 

[No scoops]

I have been following this STORY from the begining, first I can't believe how many animals were supposed to be cared for and for how much. Every person that I have talked to pays more for one horse than what Leah'smom charged for the entire pack. It seems to me as an outsider the original poster should pay the worker and chalk it up to a learning experience....maybe next time you will be able to find someone who works out for you. However, if you don't pay the person who did the service during the holidays you might not ever get another worker because they will be afraid you will not pay them either.   It is a New Year, pay the bill and move on. Once you pay it, you will find it easier to let go of the animosity. Good luck

[saddlediva]

First of all, thanks for the nice comments regarding my post. When I care for someone's animals, I know it can be stressful for the people and the animals. The people have my cell number and if they want to talk to their animals, I put the phone up to the animals' ears so they can hear Mom or Dad. It sounds crazy, but if it makes them feel better, that's fine with me. That's why I only care for animals in their own homes because I think they're more comfortable there. I go at least every 8 hours (more often if an animal is elderly or sick or if I'm in the area, which is a freebie) which means I'm there at 8A.M., 4P.M. and midnight. While I'm taking the dogs out for a midnight bounce, after they've done their business, I muck the stalls--yes, at midnight--so the horses have a clean stall and a flake of hay, a scratch behind the ears and a "hello carrot" and a "good-bye carrot". The dogs also get a "hello bone" and a "good-bye bone". The cats get a brown paper bag with a little catnip in it, and the birds get a new toy. If your animals aren't all over your pet sitter, if your horses don't nicker when they see her, they should. Watch how your animals react when the pet sitter shows up. It could tell you a lot.

[mysterypickles]

To those who dont like the thread, why are you reading it?? Perhaps you could simply just not click on it? I happen to be enjoying this story, and am curious to see how it ends.

[miss m]

Good reading...Id hate to work at ACC..to deal with these two...with all those critters maybe you better not plan any more "trips" .

[leahsmom]

Still have not been paid.   

[SpotLightEquestrian]

Somehow I have that feeling that you won't be paid.  Ever.  Because if she never pays you, in her mind, she's "won".