I have a client who booked me for 8 am and 5pm for two small dogs. I didn’t think anything of it, she mentioned they might use the pee pad between visits and left me a full bag of them. I’m fine with this, I like cleaning so it’s not an issue for me to ever clean up pads, or clean surfaces or accidents. The issue is when there’s an accident on their furniture.
This client has a white linen-y couch and when I got to last nights visit I noticed two large pee stains on it, and the puppy pad was mostly unused. I was confused and concerned about the mess but I took pictures and sent them asking if she has any supplies or cleaning methods she typically uses to clean this couch. I don’t own a white couch and I don’t want to mess up the fabric by cleaning the stain the way I would clean my non white couch. She hasn’t responded, fair, she’s on a trip. The stain very well may be set in but I communicated it as soon as possible so I’m not too concerned.
The issue is, I got in for my morning visit today and I shit you not, there is what I can only assume is a pee stain on her wooden table. I have no idea how to clean it, the most wood cleaning experience I have is with monkey pod plates and bowls. I tried to clean it with the supplies I have easy access to, the cleaner dried out and this stain is still there. I don’t know how to send her another message to explain “oh yeah and I think one of them peed on your table, because there’s this huge stain I didn’t notice before” when she hasn’t responded to the first one.
I know it’s not my fault, I stay longer than scheduled (usually 45-50 minutes) and make sure they’ve peed before I leave. I didn’t schedule the visits so what happens between them isn’t my responsibility, but I hate the thought that she’ll eventually respond and be upset that all of these stains have occurred within the first 50% of my visits with her dogs.
How are y’all dealing with accidents and messes? My partner got oddly frustrated for me and insisted that for some reason cleaning accidents wasn’t part of my job and that there should be a fee. They have only ever cared for their parent’s very well trained dog, and my mother’s monster dog, both of which never have accidents & they do actually get “hazard pay” for watching my mom’s dog because he resource guards. I have no idea if I’m too soft to agree, or if it’s just that I don’t mind the cleaning, but it has stuck in my head. Obviously cleaning litter boxes and litter, puppy pads and bowls and an occasional sweep up are our responsibility, but are there seriously sitters out there who charge for cleaning accidents? I always assumed accidents just come with the job and haven’t ever been bothered by it.