I don't know if anyone on KU uses her services, but after what my friend just went through, I would suggest another service!

My friend went on vacation over the holiday weekend and left her 5 lb dachshund in "Aunt Sue's" care. When she got there, she saw there was a pit bull in a cage and Aunt Sue told her he was aggressive and would be kept separate from the other dogs. Since my friend had used Sue's services before, she trusted her.

Unfortunately, this woman did not keep them separated and allowed them all to feed at the same time! This KNOWINGLY AGGRESSIVE pit bull attacked my friend's dachshund and tore his throat. He had to be rushed to the Deerbroook Animal ER for emergency surgery.

Thankfully, the pit didn't get his trachea so, he is expected to make a full recovery. Aunt Sue has only paid $700 leaving my friend to pay over $1200 and he has at least two more visits to remove his drain and to make sure he's healing ok.

Normally, I don't get into the local business rants, but the negligence in this situation is so enormous, I had to warn other families. Please find an alternative to this pet sitting service. She does not know how to care for animals and her negligence almost killed my friend's pet. 

Her website advertises she makes home visits. I don't think I would have/would leave my dog at someone else's house. If she should be bonded and insured... I would still spend the $100 to file a small claims suit against her and her business. 

Well, because it was a good experience the first time, she thought it would be ok. He's a very sweet, social dog and does well with other dogs. She never thought this would happen, especially after being told the dog was aggressive.

This situation is so messed up, it boggles the mind that it happened. 

She is definitely responsible for the entire bill ALL OF IT 

She is definitely responsible for the entire bill ALL OF IT


In stepped another rocket scientist. LMFAO

Poor dog. 

Aunty Sue must be an idiot.

We used a pet sitter once. Kinda freaked out dog out even though we introduced them before we went on vacation.

Next time we left her with Leash and Bridle and she loved it.

Bad girl, Aunty Sue. Bad girl. 

I think it's a tad more serious than a "bad girl" comment.

And nowhere on her website does it say she's bonded and insured. :( 

That won't matter in small claims court. If she doesn't pay the amount awarded your friend can put a lein on her house. 

Cannot put a lien on anything in the State of Texas... Been down that road. Will put a judgement against her business. She needs to be bonded and insured to run that type of business. If not... My pet sitter comes to my house. 

Sounds like this is not a business. 

Honestly, it's not just the money, it's the situation. This woman obviously took in more pets than she could handle and allowed a horrible situation to occur. Making people aware of this situation is more important than anything, to try and prevent it from happening again.

I hope my friend gets her bills paid...don't get me wrong. 

How horrible! Prayers for pooch and family... 

This info needs to be spread on all the local websites- she should find another prefession. 

She owes all of the medical expenses if she's got any professionalism or basic sense of right and wrong.

Idk how you can make a mistake like that if you work with animals.

At the very least, it's all her fault and she should be very compliant to make it right.

I've heard things before that weren't good. 

Bump for the morning crew! 

How very awful. How is her little dog doing? She should not be in business. First of all, of course she should pay for all of the vet expenses.

But if she can not handle and protect the pets she is caring for she does not need to be in the business. I don't even have a dog and I know that they are territorial when feeding, especially animals that are not used to each other. But she even said the pit bull was aggressive so wth was she thinking letting them eat together?????

That being said, in hindsight, if I was taking my pet somewhere where a caged larger dog was being boarded and I was told in advance that it was an aggressive pit bull I think I would have turned around and left. I know your friend probably was caught off guard and trusted her, and wishes now she had done that. 

Normally, I don't get into the local business rants, but the negligence in this situation is so enormous, I had to warn other families. Please find an alternative to this pet sitting service. She does not know how to care for animals and her negligence almost killed my friend's pet.

Don't mean to disparage your comments, DP. You probably only have one side of the picture.

First hand ranting is acceptable (here it's normal). Second hand rants are questionable. The picture becomes very cloudy.

Fully realizing that an event of note occurred, the circumstances surrounding it are hearsay, maybe exaggerated. I'm not quick to criticize any business on the basis of hearsay. 

Fully realizing that an event of note occurred, the circumstances surrounding it are hearsay, maybe exaggerated. I'm not quick to criticize any business on the basis of hearsay.

This isn't a court of law, its one persons opinion and relating a story that person was told by a credible source. 

This happened to a very close friend of mine, this isn't gossip nor am I disparaging her business for some petty reason.

This situation happened....her dog is damn lucky to be alive. Because of the seriousness of what happened, I think people need to be aware...if this happened at a children's day care center, people would be screaming from the rooftops. Pets need advocates, too. 

*LOL*,

She felt exactly as you described. She has a lot of guilt for leaving him there, but, trusted this woman to do right by her pet. After all, that is her business! 

First hand ranting is acceptable (here it's normal). Second hand rants are questionable. The picture becomes very cloudy.

What is cloudy about a pet being viciously attacked while in the care of pet sitter and then the owner being stuck with a big vet bill? Unless the OP made the story up, which I doubt, there aren't too many ways there can be another side to the story.

Either the pet was attacked or not. Either the vet bill was paid in full by the dog sitter or not. 

I have zero motivation to exaggerate this story or make a mountain out of molehill.

I'm not in the pet sitting business, I have never spoken out against any other pet business, nor have I promoted any other pet business.

This thread was made as a warning to other families who may consider this business for their pet care needs. Nothing more. If you find that to be in question, by all means, take your pet there. Just know you were warned. 

Cannot put a lien on anything in the State of Texas... Been down that road. Will put a judgement against her business. She needs to be bonded and insured to run that type of business. If not... My pet sitter comes to my house.



Yes you can. You won't get paid on it though until the house sells whatever year that may be. A friend of mine sues all the time. 

Thanks for this warning. Poor pup! The last thing a person wants is to worry over their pets while they are away let alone come home to a seriously injured pet!

I have a great pet sitter who does a great job. Better, my pets all love her! I've used her often. 

As a pet sitter myself, my greatest fear is that harm comes to an animal in my care, or that they escape. It's something constantly in my mind, making sure that safety is always a priority.

I know accidents can and do happen. We are only human. But this was truly avoidable with basic safety precautions. Maybe she just wasn't thinking. I get that we have days when our minds are cluttered. But if that's the case and we make an error that has dire consequences, we pay for it, willingly because it's the right thing to do.

I really believe only animal lovers need to be doing this. You can get careless if you have the, 'it's just a job mentality." Pets are family members and their value isn't measurable. 

A friend of mine sues all the time.

classy friends! 

Wanted to give a quick update:

The owner of the pit bull contacted ny friend and paid for half of the bill she was stuck paying. That's all he could afford, and she was so appreciative of his sincerity.

Aunty Sue has not contacted my friend since this happened, nor has she paid anything more. 

Nice the owner did so... 

Aunts Sue needs to be sued. It's her fault and she should pay. Kudos to the Pit's owner, a stand up guy to pay bc he had no responsibility to do so.

How much is still owed?