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Changing mind on taking job after initial meet and greet?

I've had an awkward situation come up that I am unsure of how to handle. I'm hoping I can get some feedback on how to proceed.

Situation: After a couple of M & G reschedules (where the owner and I got along wonderfully), I finally made it to the owner's home. The address seemed simple enough on Google Maps, and the owner's directions ("We are at the end of a long driveway at the intersection of __& __") It took me forever and a day to find her home as it was not clearly marked and could not reach her in the area because of the poor to no cell service. At this point, I was just determined to find her due to couple of reschedules. She finally came up to the top of the driveway to meet me and I followed her down a dirt road, with very few houses, deeply wooded -there's no way a Google map would have led me there. The driveway, about a mile long, had been patted down of the big snow we recently had but knew if I were in any other vehicle, there's no way I could make it down the hill and up a steep muddy road to finally reach their house. The usual Meet & Greet occurred, I was introduced to what was needed; again we got along fabulously) The day being sunny and melting snow, I hadn't started pondering the situation closer. When I left, the plan and details had been agreed to. As the day went on, I started getting quite nervous about the job, having now seen the remoteness of their home, how the road would be horrible to travel if the weather was snowy during the time of the drop ins, dark as all get out around there, houses spead five acres or so apart.In previous conversations I had spoke to her about the problems my current vehicle was having but to not worry. (My current vehicle being AWD and a champ in the snow). In thinking on it further though, I realized if my auto decided to do what mechanics had told me could happen at any time, there's no possible way my old back up car would be able to make that trek. In addition, I am scheduled to actually sit at a house about 20 min away. But when approached with the job, I hadn't been to the remote location yet and believed I could handle both the drop ins and sitting assignments. All of this occuring just before Christmas and who doesn't need extra $$ around Christmas? After the meeting I had texted her with the pleasure of meeting her and explained the process of booking the reservation. But, giving it more thought as the day went on, I begain to question whether this was an assignment I should accept, due to possible weather challenges making it difficult to ... (more)

2 Answers

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I think you've expressed all the appropriate explanations in terms of wanting to make sure her pups receive care but questioning your own ability to fulfill this request. Put the blame on yourself and your unreliable vehicle. Tell her that, although it was wonderful to meet her and her pups and would like to take care of them, you don't think you can commit because of your vehicle, especially in the winter or whenever you have snow. You think it would be a better idea if she looked for someone nearer who dealt with the conditions on a daily basis. And thank her for meeting with you but you are sorry. Owning up to your limitations IS being professional. You do not want to disappoint her and not be able to take care of her pups.

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I read you your entire post but already had an answer by the first 1/2 of paragraph one.

Would I take it? No. I would never accept anything out of my personal comfort zone. She sounds like a nice-enough client, but, she chose to live in a remote area, one that makes pet sitters difficult to obtain.

For perspective, my sister in law lives in the "boonies". She's very nice and has two dogs. She has to take her pets to someone in a nearby city for boarding. That's just how it is.

I've rejected clients at the MnG because their dog was a safety risk, and I know she probably won't be able to find anyone to take that risk. But that's life. Her choice to own a people aggressive dog. In no way am I obligated to care for it even if she took time to have a MnG with me.

FWIW, that is the purpose of MnG's... To weed out clients we don't want (as well as for owners to confirm a sitter they've contacted is the one they want).

Again, just my outlook on it.