Overreacting?

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Kylie80

Kylie80

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So last night I came out of my room after having a shower to find the cleaner had come to pick up some money and bought her two children with her. The kids were over at the guinea pig cage with the cage doors open with their hands in the hidey's and screaming with excitement and one of them yelling out "I've caught one, i've caught one". Naturally I went into over protective pet owner mode but not wanting to be rude and told them to please take their hands out of the cage as one of the piggies bites which is actually true Coco will bite when she's scared. The mother just looked at me and said "it's alright, they have had guinea pigs before" (they apparently left the cage door open and the guinea pig escaped). To me this is NOT alright, when I go into someones home I respect their home and their belongings which includes pets. I was bought up that you don't touch when you're in someone elses home unless told otherwise. I had two stressed out guinea pigs all night who wouldn't even come out for their night time veggies. Thankfully they are fine this morning. Maybe I am overreacting as I don't have children.
 
Kylie80 said:
So last night I came out of my room after having a shower to find the cleaner had come to pick up some money and bought her two children with her. The kids were over at the guinea pig cage with the cage doors open with their hands in the hidey's and screaming with excitement and one of them yelling out "I've caught one, i've caught one". Naturally I went into over protective pet owner mode but not wanting to be rude and told them to please take their hands out of the cage as one of the piggies bites which is actually true Coco will bite when she's scared. The mother just looked at me and said "it's alright, they have had guinea pigs before" (they apparently left the cage door open and the guinea pig escaped). To me this is NOT alright, when I go into someones home I respect their home and their belongings which includes pets. I was bought up that you don't touch when you're in someone elses home unless told otherwise. I had two stressed out guinea pigs all night who wouldn't even come out for their night time veggies. Thankfully they are fine this morning. Maybe I am overreacting as I don't have children.
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I don't think you were overreacting. You were very polite, and they had no reason to be doing anything with your piggies without your permission. Poor babies! Glad to hear they have gotten over their stress. :no:
 
You ARE NOT overreacting! It is completely inappropriate for someone to bring uninvited piggie terrorists into your home! I adore kids, but damn... I'm sorry, I'm on the side of the piggies! I would request of your cleaner that they no longer bring their children to the house. You don't even have to give a reason. It's your house.
 
You're definitely not overreacting. I would be exactly the same.

My boyfriend's sister wants us to go to stay with them during family celebrations and to take the pig's with us. But they have two very inquisitive children. I can imagine either a fall out with happen when I tell them off, or they'll get bitten. Podrick has bitten my boyfriend before, in self defence.
 
Kylie80 said:
So last night I came out of my room after having a shower to find the cleaner had come to pick up some money and bought her two children with her. The kids were over at the guinea pig cage with the cage doors open with their hands in the hidey's and screaming with excitement and one of them yelling out "I've caught one, i've caught one". Naturally I went into over protective pet owner mode but not wanting to be rude and told them to please take their hands out of the cage as one of the piggies bites which is actually true Coco will bite when she's scared. The mother just looked at me and said "it's alright, they have had guinea pigs before" (they apparently left the cage door open and the guinea pig escaped). To me this is NOT alright, when I go into someones home I respect their home and their belongings which includes pets. I was bought up that you don't touch when you're in someone elses home unless told otherwise. I had two stressed out guinea pigs all night who wouldn't even come out for their night time veggies. Thankfully they are fine this morning. Maybe I am overreacting as I don't have children.
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I don't think you are overreacting AT ALL! My youngster who is a mere 3 does not EVER touch other people's pets and is only allowed to stand at the cages and "look", even in our house, early attempts to open cages or grab animals were thwarted around age 1-2.
If there is a desire to hold a pet then I have to be asked and if it's mine I carefully retrieve one and we "hold it together" to make sure no accidents (this is usually me holding and them petting, or me holding their hands holding the animal). If it's not our pet then the owner has to be asked and it's up to them to catch it and hold it if they say yes.

If I had a child who had the disrespect not only to the animals but to a stranger who owns them....wait I wouldn't have that problem. :tu:

I also find it appalling your cleaners kids lost their pets to leaving the cage open. An adult should ALWAYS be supervising kids around pets. As adults we teach kids not to play with ovens, scissors, knives etc...why should animal cages be any different?
 
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WOW...that was totally unacceptable! You were not over reacting at all. I was taught the same as you to respect other people's things, I have brought my daughter up the same way too. They should have asked to see them, not acted as if your home was theirs or that the guinea pigs were theirs. You even asked them to take their hands out but the cleaner ignored your request, thought she knew better, and allowed them to continue! That was doubly disrespectful. I think some boundaries need to be reasserted.
 
The fact that the mother disagreed with you and let her children carry on terrorizing YOUR pets when you kindly asked the children to remove their hands from the cage....I'd have fired her right there lol.
 
You can tell the cleaner not to bring her children but short of putting a camera pointing to the guineas you won't know if she brings them or not. If she brings them, she is being disrespectful & sack her.
 
Wow that is definitely not OK. Children should be taught to a) respect other people's houses and contents and ask permission before touching things, and b) to respect animals and not to grab at them, for their own safety as well as the pets. They should also be told that grabbing at an animal can frighten it and that is a wrong and unkind. Also that being noisy around them can frighten them too. It's just wrong on all levels.
I used to work at a pre-school and sometimes pets were brought in. Children had to be seated and in small groups, and touching was either not allowed or in a very controlled way.
Your cleaner has not taught those children to respect animals or other peoples homes, and to defend their behaviour is to just encourage them to continue, and they probably don't even realise how scary their actions are to small animals.
I would definitely lay down some rules with your cleaner and if she doesn't respect them look around for another.
 
Gross I wouldn't have been as nice as you lol. I don't really like kids and they bring diseases and such... I would have thrown them out in my disgust. My piggies are more important than any kid that comes near them.

Kids like that are disrespectful and will in future neglect and hurt animals they see is their property. It may not even be on purpose. I'm sorry but if you don't teach your kids to respect living creatures then they'll be horrible monsters when they grow up. I've seen it happen.
 
Not overreacting at all! I would have hit the roof. I wouldn't dream of doing that at someone else's house. She needs to teach her children some manners.
 
Sounds like you were much more polite than I would have managed! Definitely not an over reaction at all.
 
I agree with all over the above - totally unacceptable behaviour from the children and their mother! I'd be looking for a new cleaner
 
You would think since they have had a guinea pig themselves they would know how nervous they can be.
 
Kylie80 said:
You would think since they have had a guinea pig themselves they would know how nervous they can be.
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I have found that some people just don't GET animals. Not that they're bad people or purposefully cruel, but just don't see that they have their own feelings and personalities.
My sister's terrible with my cat- she just doesn't know how to read his cues- and she's 21!
When you get the "aww look it's happy- it's not trying to get away!" when the guinea pig is clearly terrified and has gone into freeze mode.:hb:
 
I get animals better than I get people. I'm not really a people person at all but could fill my house with animals if I was allowed lol.
 
Your cleaner didn't respect your request for the children to stop...does she ignore other instructions you give her too?
 
I agree with everyone else, I'd be so pissed off about it I'd never talk to her again lol. I'd be so concerned about her bringing her kids again and my furbabies getting hurt.
 
JenniferG said:
Your cleaner didn't respect your request for the children to stop...does she ignore other instructions you give her too?
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No not yet, she's new. I might tell her to leave the room they are in for me to clean. I think they will be more comfortable with me doing it anyway as i'm their main care giver so they are used to me harassing them with something lol.
 
Not over reacting at all.
As others have said I think you were very restrained.
It's a shame that poor Coco was probably too scared to give one of their fingers a sharp nip, and illustrate clearly that even guinea pigs need respect and personal space!

Sadly I think a lot of parents fail to educate their children on how to behave around animals in general.
I am constantly shocked at the number of children who feel it is perfectly acceptable to come running up to a leashed dog while we are out walking, and start 'patting' it. I am sure if it turned around and bit them their parents would be the first to kick off, despite the fact that it was their out of control children who approached a totally under control dog.
As a parent I have always explained to my kids that we need to request permission from the owner before directly approaching or touching ANY animal.
 
Yes for sure if Coco had of bit her it would of been my fault for not training her not to bite or something not the mother's fault for not telling them to keep their hands out of a Guinea Pigs cage that they don't know their temperments. I actually think it was Patchy they were harassing as when they left I got them both out and checked them over in case they got hurt and gave them a cuddle (any excuse for a cuddle really lol) and poor Patchy's little heart was racing. I don't know maybe their hearts race naturally?
 
You are not being unreasonable at all and the cleaner and her children should have more respect.

When my 9 year old niece comes to stay, she is all over the guinea pigs. But we have an agreement where she can put her hands in and stroke them but she must not chase them around the cage and / or try and pick them up and that includes when they're having floor time. If she wants to hold them, she sits on the settee with a cushion and is supervised.

I have also had to explain to her that Emma has cataracts so she can not be startled.

I think her mum and grandparents (my husbands sister and parents) think I am over reacting BUT it's my house, my animals and my rules!
 
Not over reacting at all. I dislike parents who allow their children behave like this in any situation and not just with animals - whatever the kids want they can do/have. We all know what kind of adults they grow into. My piggies live with two boring quiet people and are not used to excitable children, I would hate to think how frightened they would be in this situation. I think you should have a talk with your cleaner and lay down some rules, if she is not receptive then find another cleaner.
 
Swissgreys said:
Sadly I think a lot of parents fail to educate their children on how to behave around animals in general.
I am constantly shocked at the number of children who feel it is perfectly acceptable to come running up to a leashed dog while we are out walking, and start 'patting' it. I am sure if it turned around and bit them their parents would be the first to kick off, despite the fact that it was their out of control children who approached a totally under control dog.
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A bit of a topic derailment but this makes me so mad. It's not just kids either. People just let their unleashed dogs run over to your leashed dog.

My last dog loved playing with other dogs but as she was getting older she started to get a bit snappy with dogs. She was going blind so her reaction was to snap if she didn't see a dog coming.

I didn't want to muzzle her so I was always very careful to keep an eye on our surroundings when we were out. She was always on her lead as she didn't walk very fast or far.

The number of times I'd have to shout at an owner whose dog was dashing towards us and hear "he/she just wants to play". And then to get a snotty look or comment when Jess snapped at them after it almost wiped her out at top speed.

When Jess was younger she always came back when called if she was ever off her lead.

Control your animals people, whether it be a dog or a child!

Sorry! Bit of a rant there.
 
Jaycey said:
A bit of a topic derailment but this makes me so mad. It's not just kids either. People just let their unleashed dogs run over to your leashed dog.

My last dog loved playing with other dogs but as she was getting older she started to get a bit snappy with dogs. She was going blind so her reaction was to snap if she didn't see a dog coming.

I didn't want to muzzle her so I was always very careful to keep an eye on our surroundings when we were out. She was always on her lead as she didn't walk very fast or far.

The number of times I'd have to shout at an owner whose dog was dashing towards us and hear "he/she just wants to play". And then to get a snotty look or comment when Jess snapped at them after it almost wiped her out at top speed.

When Jess was younger she always came back when called if she was ever off her lead.

Control your animals people, whether it be a dog or a child!

Sorry! Bit of a rant there.
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My mum will put Belle on a lead if they come across another dog on a lead. If the other dog isn't on a lead then Belle gets to stay off the lead as well. Her reasoning is that if the other dog is on a lead, there's probably a very good reason for not letting Belle near them,whether it's that the dog doesn't like other dogs, gets overexcited, gets startled easy etc. But if they're not on a lead, there's not likely to be a problem there.

@Kylie80 you definitely didn't overreact. I wouldn't let anyone near the boys in my home without keeping an eye, whether that seems harsh or not. Comet may not mind being handled but I can only imagine the carnage if someone who didn't know what they were doing tried to handle Blitzen. It's just not worth scaring, antagonising, or upsetting the pigs. They definitely deserve better than that. Also, as a kid, I walked past a dog, a yellow Labrador iirc, and stroked it without thinking. You can bet my mother made sure I never did it again. I was lucky the Lab didn't mind, and the owner didn't get upset. I also got bitten by a spaniel once because someone else accidentally thumped his tail and he jumped forward and bit me - but I knew that was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong moment. Treat animals with respect, not toys ffs.
 
I have to agree with everyone else, I would have sacked her on the spot. No one gets to shove their filthy kid hands into things in my house without permission, let alone messing with my animals?! How rude can you get, it's not a petting zoo, it's her place of employment!

As for the dog thing, personally, if another dog on a lead has a go at mine after she goes bounding up to them, oh well, she learnt a lesson. I would in no way hold the leashed dog's owner accountable, it's perfectly fine in my eyes. I should add, my dog will come to heel when called, but sometimes she'll be over exuberent when walking past others and I have zero issue with other dogs putting her in her place.
 
Fweeper said:
As for the dog thing, personally, if another dog on a lead has a go at mine after she goes bounding up to them, oh well, she learnt a lesson. I would in no way hold the leashed dog's owner accountable, it's perfectly fine in my eyes. I should add, my dog will come to heel when called, but sometimes she'll be over exuberent when walking past others and I have zero issue with other dogs putting her in her place.
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In my mind that's exactly the right way to be. I'd call out to say that my dog bites then it's up to the other dogs owner to choose what happens next.

There was one guy that would kinda use Jess as a training aid for his unruly dog. When he was training him to come back and not be insanely bouncing all over he'd let Jess do her thing. It did kind of help as his dog did quieten down and was much more respectful around her. Eventually he could stay off his lead and he never ran over but would just have a sniff if they got close enough to each other. He was one of the few dogs she'd tolerate and have a bit of a play with
 
That would make me very angry. When i lived in my old flat and the washing machine broke the landlady came round with her kids who were immediately fussing over the pigs and leaning in the cage (they were in a large c&c). As soon as I saw them I just said "excuse me you need to get out of the cage, you can look at them but no shouting as you will scare them". My landlady looked uncomfortable but then it was my home and she shouldn't have borough her little brats with her to assess that yes I was right, the washing machine wasn't working and she would need to get someone out to see if they could fix it. It seems these days that the fashion is to not discipline children which means many have no manners or respect for others. I saw on Facebook someone had shared a "can mindfulness replace discipline" article
 
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