My dogs are inconsolable when I am not around. If I left them home for over 3 days, I am sure the older one (17+) would probably give up, even though he is healthy other than his age related infirmities. The little guy is a rescue, and suffers the worst separation anxiety you can imagine. If I am out of sight he howls incessantly, even if I am just out on the sundeck.
You have seen the number of “pet-sitters” that have been charged with animal abuse have you not? I’ll not chance such a thing with my charges, thank you very much.
I’ll take the boys with me. They both travel well, and I am tuned (trained?< BG >) to their leg stretch/exercise/feeding/watering needs. You do what you think is right for your pets, I’ll do what’s right for mine.
As a matter of fact I have and most of them come from the 'gig' economy, not true pet sitting businesses. It is one of the biggest issues our niche business runs into. People hiring off 'app' style sites and not taking to account things like:
Is the sitter trained, background checked (a real one), insured for care custody and control, insured for your home, insured through worker's comp., has experience dealing with the challenges your pets may present. And lastly, is the pet sitter accountable to you, management, or an 'app.'
So many of the recent reports of bad pet sitters come from the 'gig' type economy. While Rover.com plans an IPO offering early next year and just acquired DogVacay, needless to say it gouges into the truly professional pet care industry. People who claim to love their pets like children often hire the lowest charging sitters off those 'apps' and the pets sadly pay dearly for it. And the owners are left literally holding the poopy bag as Rover.com is just an app platform and not a pet sitting company.
And you are right, not every pet sitter even if a pro, is going to be right for every situation. But that is where we don't hesitate recommending you to better resources because we want what's best for you and your pet.