Do you have a policy you give to clients housesitting about them cleaning up before you come?

Definitely dont accept the booking! its unfortunate that animals have to live in those conditions and though you want to still help, you have to look out for yourself. Who knows what could be crawling around there and you don't want to bring anything you pick up there to other animals you come in contact with.

I had a client who's home seemed decent enough from the quick glance I did during the meet and greet, but once I actually came to do the drop-ins (luckily I wasn't staying overnight) and got a closer look, I realized just how filthy the home was. I refuse to service them anymore even though I feel horrible for the animals there. I ended up finding a ton of fleas on their cat who was secluded to one room and had started using the restroom in a corner because the litter box had literally never been cleaned out and there was no room for the kitty to go. They also didn't own a litter scoop. The dogs were both so dirty and their bowls were caked in old food that I ended up scouring. The floors were covered in grime and food that I ended up cleaning because I couldn't bear to let the animals sit around in that. Just horrible. Save yourself the mental anguish

I haven’t encountered that situation. Quite the contrary, homes here are kept so tidy and organized that they look like they could have a real estate showing when I’ve stayed there. I’m not a camper. If I observed the home was not up to my cleanliness standards, I would not ask. I would tell them that I’m not the match for them, without further explanation. I think to ask them to clean up would come off as far more offensive and it’s a very subjective standard. Also if their home is not clean, there’s a good chance that there’s better odds that their dog will not be kept up to standard.