Woman Refuses to Dog-Sit After Learning Pup Has Raw Diet

A woman has withdrawn from an agreement to dog-sit for a friend after learning about new caretaking expectations tied to the pet’s diet and grooming routine.

Posting on the online forum Mumsnet, she asked whether it was unreasonable to feel uncomfortable with the added responsibilities and to step away from the arrangement just a week before it was due to begin.

According to her post, the woman received a message outlining the dog’s new raw diet — a change from the dry food she’d previously used when looking after the same pet.

“I can’t cope with that as I’m vegetarian and autistic and have issues around food smells!” she wrote.

Raw feeding for dogs often involves preparing meals made with human-grade meat and vegetables, a diet some believe supports better digestion and health.

In addition to the dietary change, her friend also asked her to take the dog to a grooming appointment.

“I’ve said it’s not going to be possible for me to facilitate the raw feeding or the appointment,” she explained. “This has caused a massive issue as my friend wasn’t prepared to back down, so I’ve said, ‘sorry, you’ll have to make alternative arrangements.'”

The woman added that she had seen her friend recently, but there had been no mention of the raw diet at that time. Previously, she said, she was only expected to feed, walk, and look after the dog.

Many users on Mumsnet supported her decision to cancel, arguing that the new expectations made the situation more complicated than initially agreed. “It is a very different ball game to tipping some kibble into a bowl twice a day,” one commenter wrote.

Others sympathized with the friend, noting that she might not have realized how the new feeding method could pose difficulties. One user pointed out, “She clearly loves her dog and would not want to stick him or her in kennels — even if she could get a place — so you are forcing her to cancel her trip over what she sees as trivial matters.”

Despite differing opinions, most commenters agreed that the grooming appointment could easily be postponed until after the trip.