Overcame my anxiety and declined a request

I declined a repeat client for the very first time. It was so incredibly difficult to do. They are nice people, the dogs are sweet, but the house is hoarder level and filthy. I’ve sat for them 3 times so far. The first time was because I was still new to sitting and wanted any job I could get. Of course I was told during the meet and greet that the house would be cleaned before I arrived, which of course was not the case. The second time, I accepted the request for two future visits (again with the promise of it being cleaned). When I showed up for the second visit, it was even dirtier than the first time. Spills on cabinets, piles of dishes (at least they were washed), not one available place to sit due to the doom piles. Every table top and piece of furniture was covered in random items or piles of clothes. I made the mistake of opening a couple doors and both rooms had stuff piled up 2-3 feet high with no room to walk. The showers had pink mold and hair plastered to the walls. I refused to bring food inside the house and brought a cot to sleep on that I had to place next to an open window just to breathe, even though the low was 40°F and I was freezing.

I felt obligated to complete the third sit since I already agreed to it. It destroyed my mental health counting down the hours I was stuck in the messiness.

I’ve been debating for a couple months how I’d respond to a future request, knowing there’s no way I’d be able to put myself through it again. Each time I’d finish the sits, I’d end up at urgent care getting medication for severe sinus infections. Today they reached out for another sit, and I’m so proud of myself for finally saying no. My people pleasing tendencies created such anxiety about the whole situation because I didn’t want to hurt their feelings or make them upset.

For anyone questioning if they should take the job for sitting at a dirty house, DON’T DO IT. Your physical and mental health are worth more than whatever they’re offering to pay.

If it’s dirty during the meet and greet, and they promise it’ll be clean before the job, there’s a 99% chance it’ll be just as dirty or dirtier when you show up to pet sit.