Most petsitters I know hate keys. It's not that we have some kind of phobia about them - although that would be understandable - it's simply that they have all the power. That terrible moment when you either shut a client's door knowing that your keys are inside on the work surface, or you reach a pet's home and realise that the owners have bolted the door from the inside, give me shivers.
I now have a good line of attack which is this:
Always get a set of front and back door keys. This is completely necessary because under Health and Safety laws, you must have a second exit route in case of fire.
Before you confirm a booking, try out the keys yourself. The client may have had that spare key for a while and not realise it's gone rusty.
Attach all keys to you. You can use a piece of leather round your neck or a clip on retractable cord. I clip this to my jeans.
Keep any keys you aren't using in your locked file or safe
Only have the pets names on the keys, not client's name.
WD40 can loosen up sticky locks.
One of my key experiences:
I walked a Labrador for a few years who, like all his breed, loved to carry things in his mouth. This fine and sunny June morning as he jumped into the back of my car, he snatched the keys out of my hand just at the moment I closed the rear door with the other. This particular car locked itself the moment the door closed. So there was Jack, car keys dangling from his gob and me, helpless, outside.
The temperature was rising fast and I knew I coudn't leave Jack in what was becoming an oven. I rang the AA who quoted half and hour but this was too long. I called my husband who told me how to break the window - you have to hit it at the right point apparently, something he learnt in the forces...hmm. So I hurled a rock at what I prayed was the right spot and the glass fell away. Hurrah. Jack wasn't bothered but my hands shook all the way home. A very expensive lesson for me:(
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5 comments:
Great advice especially having the keys attached to you, thanx
Hi Friend.. Interesting post.. Nice blog.. Keep up the good work.. Will drop by your site often.. Do find time to visit my blog and post your comments.. Take care mate.. Cheers!!!
good points about keys!
i got locked in a client's bathroom once (toilet). had to call the police to come get me out. it was probably one of the funnier stories of my pet sitting career.
(keys wouldn't have helped me in this instance, there was a defect in the door knob itself). you're post just reminded me of it.
about a month after the police helped me "break out" of that client's house, i locked me & the dog out of another house, in very cold weather, and the police had to help me break into that house!
never a dull moment as a pet sitter!
As a very small child I was taught by teh vilaage AA man how to get in to a car with a coat hanger. I suspect locks have changed and cars are more secure I wonder if it now works as well!!
Thanks for this post, I have so many key stories I wouldnt want to describe them all, including being locked in, being locked out, getting to a house and realising I have no key, giving the wrong keys to my staff, a key not working, a dog nearly eating a key...etc worrying thing is that I've not been in the business for long, but I guess I am still learning. So thanks for your tips....they will definately come in handy :)
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