A couple were left horrified after they caught their pet sitter abusing their beloved dogs.
Duncan and Natalie Horlor say they’ve been riddled with “guilt” and “heartbreak” after home security cameras exposed the shocking truth.
The pair, from Solihull, West Midlands, had hired Fur & Filly PetCare Services, run by Paige Williams, to care for their three dogs, two cats and two birds of prey.
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The 26-year-old had glowing reviews from friends and locals, and the family trusted her to look after their pets on several occasions between 2023 and 2024.
Williams was later asked to move into the home while Duncan, Natalie and their two teenage children went on a four-week holiday to Thailand.
She moved in with partner Bradley Archer, also 26, in the summer of 2024, as reported by Need To Know.
The couple had planned to pay Williams £1,400 for the job until they uncovered the grim reality.
After returning home, a concerned neighbour stopped them and raised fears about how the animals had been treated.
Duncan, 49, immediately checked the home security footage and was met with dozens of clips allegedly showing Williams and Archer abusing the pets.
The family’s two dogs, Freida, three, and 13-month-old Ayrton, were seen being roughly handled, hit, kicked and screamed at.
“Emotionally, we were devastated,” Duncan said.
“The knowledge that our dogs suffered in our absence filled us with guilt and heartbreak.
“That trip, which should have been filled with joyful memories, was overshadowed by what happened back at home.
“It’s a feeling we continue to live with.
“Our dogs, Frieda and Ayrton, were not themselves when we returned from our holiday.
“They were subdued, anxious and visibly distressed.
“They now become extremely unsettled if we leave them, even for a short period, and have shown lasting behavioural changes, including fear of strangers and loud noises.”
The family immediately contacted the RSPCA, which launched an investigation.
Williams and Archer later appeared in court in April, where they were handed a seven-year ban on keeping animals.
The pair were also given 12-month community orders after pleading guilty to one offence each under the Animal Welfare Act.
Now the family are calling for tighter rules in the pet-sitting industry following their ordeal.
Headteacher Natalie, 43, said: “Since this happened we haven’t felt comfortable going away and leaving the animals with another petsitter.
“We’ve cancelled holidays and juggled plans so that one of us is always at home with them, or so that a family member can stay with them.”
Lauren Bennett, an animal welfare expert and vet nurse, said: “Petsitting services appeal to some as it avoids pets having to stay somewhere unfamiliar, such as kennels.
“But petsitters need to be reputable and trustworthy, just as any other kennels or boarding establishment is, however they currently don’t need any sort of licence to come into your home and operate.
“A licensing scheme would require petsitters to provide relevant background checks to protect animal welfare, and offer peace of mind to many owners trusting them with their beloved animals.”
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