Why is senior assistance asking me to care for my (hospitalized) elderly neighbors dogs?

Do you need a vacation? It would be tempting. I would tell social services that there was a pet sitter that they had decided not to pay and the viciousness of the dogs. AND that you cannot help with this!

Senior assistance is probably doing their best -- probably going beyond the scope of their jobs -- to solve a problem for a client.

You have no moral or other obligation to take care of the dogs. Explain that the owners can afford a pet sitter, and that the owners don't seem to want that. Then just say No. And repeat as many times as it takes.

You asked why are they calling you? Did you ask them? I don't understand why they would contact you either unless your neighbor referred you.

And when you say social services, do you the mean the county social services, or senior assistance as in the title of your post? I ask because I'm wondering what jurisdiction this agency or group has over your neighbor and you.

I think you're right that no one will be hired as long as you're willing to care for the dogs for free.

I also don't understand why the husband can't care for them if he's home.

I think this is a situation that I'd nip in the bud before becoming too tied down and having your own plans dictated by the need to care for someone else's dogs. Maybe a vacation for a few weeks would be nice, but the issue may still be waiting for you when you return.

Time to say no, firmly and unequivocally.

There are rescue groups that find homes for dogs, sometimes temporarily until someone takes them. From the sound of the dogs, they wouldn't be too welcome, but it's an option. If the husband has money, there's always the option of a boarding kennel.

Or he can hire a pet sitter/walker. But it sounds as though the accusations made by the wife would make that an undesirable option for anyone else who's subject to her false claims.

But really, they're not your dogs and not your responsibility. It's not you who's allowing the dogs to suffer; it's the owners, specifically the husband if he's home and has the funds to hire care for them.

Repeat what a friend told me to say "Oh, I couldn't possibly do that!" Say it as many times as necessary.

Thank you for your sound advice. I found out that the pet sitter gave my name to senior assistance as a possible dog sitting resource. Also, the pet sitter was a church member in my neighbors' church. My neighbor hired her, I just supplied him with her phone number. Hiring her was his idea, not mine. I am more involved then I'd like to be at this point and plan on meeting with the Senior assistance lady Monday to let her know I don't want to care for their dogs. Doing so would require a house key and I don't want access to their house for legal reasons. Pardon the pun, but having access to their home could literally "bite me in the fanny"! I'm not a licensed dog sitter, nor am I bonded or insured. I'm quite sure an attorney would tell me "no good deed goes unpunished."

Yes, no good deed goes unpunished. I have neighbors who I liked but knew they were, well "very important people" in their minds; liked them anyway. They took a long trip overseas and asked me if I would "mind" coming over and walking their dog several times a day and feeding her, etc. I did this and it was a long time to be tied down. But they were my neighbors. Recently their daughter got married and I sent a very expensive gift to her wedding shower. But little did it know I was expected to give a large check at the wedding as well. So I got a strange phone call asking where my "wedding" gift was. This was expected on top of the shower gift. I was stunned, then angry.

I probably saved these guys hundreds of dollars in dog boarding fees, several times. My point is when someone shows you who they are believe them the first time because they will eventually bite you in the butt.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you hired the pet sitter, she could take you to small claims court to collect her fee if the dogs' owner refuses to pay. Your kind heart got you into this mess, and now it's best to stay out of it. Don't go into the neighbors' house; he seems like the type who would accuse you of stealing something.

PS, the elderly husband is home right now and caring for the dogs. He has the early stages of dementia and will soon have his drivers license yanked by his doctors. He's had two minor strokes recently and a triple by-pass three years ago. He's been driving six hours round trip to visit his wife in the hospital about three time a week. Sometimes he stays overnight near the hospital where his wife is, but complains bitterly about the high cost of lodging in the city. He stays overnight about once a week, on the days when his wife is scheduled for more surgery. On those days, he needs a pet sitter. His wife's organs are failing (kidneys and pancreas) and she is on pain killers. When I spoke with her on the phone, she was like a spitting cobra! She's a very intelligent, manipulative, complaining woman in a lot of pain. No wonder her adult children are avoiding her! She is the scorpion who begged the turtle to give her a ride across the creek, promising not to injure the turtle, then stung the turtle when she reached the other side. When asked "why did you sting me?" by the turtle, she said, "because I'm a scorpion I can't help my nature".

SoftTouch, you're wise not to accept a house key as well as any potential liability or accusations that might arise from this couple.

And I like your scorpion analogy! I've never heard that, but it's true for so many situations.

Just tell the agency that the dogs have bitten you on past occasions, and since they don;t seem to like you, you could not possibly take care of them knowing you may have to come after the owners for future medical claims for dog bites. That ought to get you off the hook pretty fast!