Before I left I was asking how I should approach the petsitter about paying her. We had never discussed payment. When we went to pick up my dogs, I had money ready. I had the exact money that I would of charged for 2 dogs for 10 days.
She would not take my money. She said, that she had some upcoming out of town business meetings the next few months and that she would need me to watch her dog for those. So basically, she approached it as a "trade off". I was perfectly fine with that. I hugged her and told her how grateful I was that she took care of my dogs.

Anybody who knows me that my dogs are like my "other" babies, who I could never board at a kennel... Also, I would just not "Ask" just anybody to take care of my dogs.

So I have been thinking that I wanted to do something for her. I dont know this lady all that well. I mean Ive known her for over a year, we met at an doggie adoption show. I saw that she has tons of books all over her house. So yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble and got her nice "Thank you" card, and a $25 gift card. I am going to mail it out to her today.

I know she didnt want the money I offered her on Tuesday. I am hoping that she wont be offended that I am sending her something.

By Vicki on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 08:22 am:

Well, I don't think she will be "offended" but she might be a little uncomfortable with it. She approached you with the trade off of services and you agreed to it. Now, you have given her 25.00 basically. If it were me, I would now feel funny about not paying you for the dog sitting services when I needed them. JMHO

By Sandysmom on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 09:22 am:

I think a trade off makes things even. JMO, I wouldn't do any more than that. A thank you card is enough.

By Breann on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 10:07 am:

I agree w/the others. While it is super nice of you to think of her and get her the giftcard, she will now feel like she will owe you something when you watch her dogs. Sounds like maybe she is trying to save $$ by doing a trade.

By Andi on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 10:37 am:

I agree with everyone. My neighbor and I would trade off dog sitting when one of us would go out of town. The first time I did it for her she gave me a $25 giftcard to Island's. After that when she took care of our dog I felt like I needed to get her a little something, so I got her a git card.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 10:47 am:

I agree - given that she is the one who said "trade off", if you do anything else other than a nice hand-written thank you, you put her under obligation to respond in kind - and that could go on forever. Don't send the gift card if you haven't already.

By Jackie on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 10:56 am:

Well its too late, as its in the mail LOL..

I had a friend in my neighborhood take care of my outside cat while we were away. Basically she came over and put food and water in her dish. When I asked my friend if she would do it, I told her Id pay her and her daughter.(This is a friend who is going through a rough divorce and has little or no money. This is why I made the offer)She said no she didnt want me to give her or her daughter money. So instead, I bought them a small souveneir from Disney. So it was not payment, just a token of appreciation.
I dont consider the gift card payment, I consider it a token of my appreciation, not payment.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 12:31 pm:

We used to have a neighbor, who would go away for the weekend, or sometimes just overnight and she liked having my kids go and check on her cat. She knew that the cat would be fine, alone, overnight, but she felt better knowing someone was looking in on her cat. The paid my kids $5 apiece to do that. We really didn't do that much, except check on her food and water and play with her a little bit, but my kids loved the spending money and then we got a little bit of a cat fix, since we can't have our own cat.

By Kate on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 01:22 pm:

A souvenir from Disney is one thing, but a monetary gift card is another. Also, the price of it is obvious and it's the same as cash. It was very kind of you, but I do think your friend will now feel pressured to respond in kind. If she insists on paying you this next time she goes away, I would let her so she's not uncomfortable.