A planned family holiday to Brittany was significantly disrupted for one owner when a trusted dog sitter's behavior escalated into a distressing situation, ultimately leading to her eviction from the property.
The homeowner, who regularly travels with her two Labradoodles, Otto and Goose, decided against the complex post-Brexit animal health certificate process for taking them to France. Instead, she opted to use a dogsitter, a practice she had found successful through platforms like House and Pet Sitters UK and Trusted Housesitters. These services often operate on an exchange basis, where sitters receive accommodation in desirable locations in return for pet care.
After an initial sitter, Peter, had to withdraw due to a paid job, the owner quickly found a replacement in Zoe. Described as seemingly friendly and accommodating over WhatsApp, Zoe agreed to stay at the owner's central Chichester home. The owner, Shona Sibary, was traveling for business the week before her family holiday and left feeling reassured about the arrangements. She had met Zoe briefly, but due to her busy travel schedule, failed to thoroughly check Zoe's references, relying instead on her reassuring messages.
Complications arose when Zoe's flight was rescheduled, nearly causing her to miss the owner before her departure. Although a last-minute adjustment allowed Zoe to arrive just before the family left, Sibary's eldest daughter noted a "bad vibe" from the sitter. Sibary's own unease grew as Zoe provided vague and uncommunicative responses to inquiries about the dogs' well-being, stating, "You need to trust me."
On the second day of the holiday, Sibary asked a neighbor, Mike, to conduct a welfare check on the dogs. Zoe refused to let Mike inside and stated she would not provide daily updates, which further heightened Sibary's anxiety. Sibary then sent a message pleading for better communication, to which Zoe responded by turning off her phone for 48 hours.
Fearing for her dogs' safety and well-being, Sibary asked Mike to remove Zoe from her home. A friend of Sibary's daughter was arranged to step in, and Zoe was offered a hotel room for the night. Zoe reacted angrily to the eviction, calling Sibary names and reportedly sobbing before packing her bags. Mike successfully removed Zoe from the property and took her to the hotel. The dogs were reported to be unharmed throughout the ordeal. The experience has led Sibary to resolve to book pet-friendly ferry cabins months in advance for future holidays.