02/10/2026
As a pet sitter here in The Villages, FL I have had many happy days over the last 8 years. How can you not be happy when you spend your days with furry critters and even a feathered critter or two occasionally?
However, recently, I did have to deal with a sad occurrence in my business. Back in 2020 I started working for a client, a lovely lady who had adopted a shy kitty named Sweetie . . . for the first few years my client would reach out to me a few months before a trip was coming up to ensure I could fit her kitty on my calendar (FYI, it’s never too early to book your pet sitter). However, in the last year and a half the client would reach out to me maybe a week ahead of a trip but more often, only a few days . . . I definitely noticed a difference in this person.
In the last 4 months there would be occasions where family up north was trying to reach her and couldn’t so they’d have the police come and do a wellness check. Over that time, my client went into the hospital 4 times and went to rehab 3 times. Doctors acknowledged early on that there was possible dementia going on but the client dug her heels in and refused to acknowledge it and insisted she was fine and good, bad or indifferent, she returned home. Family suggested that she find someone willing to take Sweetie into their home for a bit until she was on her feet and she gave a resounding, angry, “NO!”
Well, the final time my client was hospitalized the doctors finally made the right decision and she was sent to a memory care facility. Unfortunately, that meant her kitty needed a new home.
Now, I admit, that when all this stuff started happening, I reached out to former clients who hadn’t had a kitty in the last couple of years to see if they’d be interested in giving Sweetie a new home. No takers, I understand, everyone takes time to mourn in their own way and time. Also, if you’ve had bucket list trips on the back burner and now you don’t have the added expense of a pet sitter (or the guilt from leaving your critter for an extended period) it can make life a little easier.
The family up north had power of attorney and gave me permission to take Sweetie to my vet to get her up to date on vaccinations and to ensure that she didn’t have any health issues going on. They also gave me permission to surrender Sweetie to the rescue group she came from. Boy, nothing made me sadder than to put her in my car and drive her up to Lake Panasoffkee. I followed up and checked the website to see her listed as one of the kitties available for adoption and she had such a sad look on her face.
Not long after that she was moved to the PetSmart on Rt 466 in The Villages and I am happy to report that someone walked in and fell in love with her and took her home. Not sure if she’s at a home in The Villages but I sure would love it if I could be her pet sitter again. But if not, I hope Sweetie has many years with this new person who I know will love her to pieces . . .
So what’s my point in all of this, if you have a friend who you suspect may have Dementia starting, say something . . . if you are diagnosed with Dementia and think your pet might help you delay the progress of the disease, it won’t. Do the right thing and do what you can to find your critter a new home while you still have control. In many cases the rescue groups have a note in their contract that the pet needs to go back to them should something happen to their human. Make sure someone in your life knows this. Talk to friends and family, maybe one of them will give your critter a home . . .
