Trustworthy? Hidden cameras show pet sitter problems

For many of us, pets are part of the family, but when you leave your pets in the hands of a sitter, you trust that your animals are being properly cared for.

A recent investigation at our Scripps station in Baltimore found an upsetting problem for pet lovers -- some sitters are skipping out early, leaving dogs and cats alone at home.

After installing hidden cameras and setting up appointments with several companies, the investigation was underway, to find out if in-home sitters really watch your pets for as long as they claim.

"All I wanted was for her to give them a half-hour of TLC," said dog owner Mary Alexander.

When the sitter arrived on the first day at Alexander's home, the hidden cameras show she took the dogs out for a walk. But after just four minutes, she came back in, filled out a comment card, and took off. 

The total time she spent at the house was just 10 minutes. The next day, she was in and out in just eight minutes.

"If someone told me they were going to give me a half-hour massage and they stopped at 15 minutes, I'd be a little angry," Alexander said.

Video footage of several other companies showed a similar pattern of behavior despite promises on the companies' websites.

The Better Business Bureau says anyone using a pet sitter should get in writing exactly what you expect your sitter to do, and you should ask for references before you hire someone.

See the full investigation.