"Our sitters were angels, delivered to us and Penny"

Updated 2 July 2024

The thought of something bad happening to a member of your furry fam is simply unimaginable. Sadly, for pet parents Jen and Ian to adorable pup, Penny, the unimaginable became a reality during a sit, while the couple were a 10-hour flight away. 

Luckily, in the wake of their worry and (unimaginable) stress, Jen and Ian had two angels by their side to help out in their hour of need: Penny’s trusted house sitters…

“This community cannot be underestimated”

A ten-hour flight away, the couple were visiting Jen’s father who was seriously poorly at the time, so emotions were already running high while their pup was back home. And to make matters worse, disaster struck as Penny suffered a serious injury on the second day the couple were away. 

“It was an emotionally charged time for me personally, as I was a 10-hour flight away spending time with my dying father and could barely stomach the news about Penny”

Despite the situation they were facing while away, the couple offered to return home to look after Penny after the injury. But luckily, the sitters they welcomed had two seriously warm hearts. Taking Penny’s situation into their own hands, they made sure the poorly pup got all the care, comfort and medical attention she needed to start recovering.

“They delivered in spades”

Luckily in the wake of disaster, Jen and Ian had landed two caring sitters who gave Penny all the love and attention she needed after the injury. Thankfully, this allowed Jen the peace of mind she needed to stay with her father while he was unwell.

“Knowing they were already part of a trusted community helped us make our decision, and we just knew from our conversations that they were right for Penny” 

And they couldn’t have been more right about their hunch for their sitters’ good will. Despite being a two-hour drive away, Penny was driven straight to the vet hospital where she was given an MRI and spinal surgery that same evening, and stayed for some five days afterwards.

“They were so comforting, calming and reassuring, on top of being level-headed and realistic”

The once-lively Penny was brought home a helpless pup in recovery, needing every ounce of love and care from her sitters.

“She was on strict bed rest, requiring constant monitoring, multiple doses of medications and physio twice a week for the duration of the sit.”

And thanks to her trusted sitters, Penny was taken through the care programme and given the medication she needed to recover - Jen and Ian told us, “their graciousness was not lost on us”

“They delivered in spades, communicating calmly and often throughout the sit, with photos and videos of Penny's progress”

“They went beyond the duty of care”

After the stressful situation that unfolded, there was certainly light at the end of the tunnel for Penny and her humans - massively thanks to her trusted sitters.

“After a successful surgery, we came home to a happy Penny who is now learning to use her hind legs again, and we know her phenomenal progress is in large part due to our sitters’ endless love and support” 

And luckily for all of the pet parents in this community, our sitters look after pets in the place vets agree they’re happiest: home. This meant that Penny could recover in a space that helped her to feel safe during such a scary time.

“The care and attention Penny required could only have been provided in this 1:1 caring environment, in the security of her own home”

And filled with gratitude for the care that Penny received and their sitters’ kindness, the couple have a few final words of wisdom to share.

“This community, built on the love of animals, cannot be underestimated and I hope our story will help to inspire other pet owners the world over to open their hearts and homes to fellow animal lovers through TrustedHousesitters.”

Hear from Penny’s sitters

“While our pet sit quickly turned into 24x7 medical care, it couldn't have been more gratifying! We are looking forward to Penny's eventual full recovery and are hoping to meet her, Jen and Ian again someday!”

“This has been the most enriching experience for our beloved dogs and for ourselves”

Want to hear a tale of friendship, adventure and two tail-wagging Goldies? Great - explore Tom and Liza’s story here.