So our old pet sitter is profiting from PC's pics!

[BeachBullyPC]

A little over a year ago, we hired a pet sitter through a company.  The company does background and home checks to ensure that it's a good home for the dogs.  The only reason we picked them was because each pet sitter couldn't have more than 6 dogs at a time, per company policy. Well, ours was greedy and had 14 the day PC got really hurt and started limping.  We reported her to the company, but clearly they didn't care as she is still in business.  We paid $70/day for both dogs, so it's not like it was a cheap sitter.

Last night, I wanted to see just what comes up when I put the term Porkchop the English Bulldog into an image search.  I found a ton of his photos on random sites, but the one that got me was the one I will link.  His pet sitter sent this to us as a Christmas card (not sure why, we fired her in July).  So, she's been taking pictures of the dog, without our permission, and profits from it!  According to the site statistics, PC is one of the most popular sellers.  I called the company this morning and reported this and have flagged his photo on the site.  Had we been told that PC would be photographed for profit, we would have never chose this sitter.  The other dogs she has are also ones she sits, the pug/beagle mixes belong to our friend, who is also not happy about it.  I'm hoping action is taken because this is ridiculous!  Random people now have prints of my dog in their house. 

http://www.redbubble.com/people/chrisgraph/art/4091951-4-whoa-i-feel-good-english-bulldog-puppy

[Superhero Mom]

Is there any legal action you can take against her?  I would sue her pants off! For using your dog, she owes you some sort of reimbursement....

[BeachBullyPC]

Actually, there is something we can do in this instance.  This is how it works (my lawyer/photographer friend explained it to me).  If you take your dog to a dog park, anyone that wants to can take their pics without permission, it is a public place.  She was hired as a pet sitter, we had a written contract that she was his pet sitter, not photographer.  We are entitled to all the residuals from the profits she made from these photos.  I contacted both the pet sitting company and this site.  All the dogs she photographed are ones she was supposed to watch, they are not hers. I'm sure those owners would love to see it!

PC is kinda pissed because she said he's 50 lbs. and growing...um, he's 47 lbs and definitely not growing!! 

[Susan & the bullies]

oh i'd be extremely ticked off!!! i'm so sorry this happened. 

[brumzoo]

Unreal!  Let us know hwat happens!

[BeachBullyPC]

Unreal!  Let us know hwat happens!

I will! Lucky for us, 2 of our friends are contract lawyers and deal with stuff like this on a daily basis. They already drafted up a cease and desist letter that will be mailed to her, as well as the company with whom we signed a contract.  The company doesn't take things seriously until you take legal action, it seems.  She basically told me they'll look into it when they have some time. I'm willing to bet they'll find time when the letter comes!  All we want is for his picture to be taken down and not sold!

[brumzoo]

Are you going to ask for the profits that have already been made on PC's picture? I would! It would help pay that vet bill! Is the petsitting company still using her? If so, I would let everyone know how she is spending her time and making money off of other people's animals! Disgusting! I would be livid! Kisses to your precious boys!  

[Fenway]

PC is kinda pissed because she said he's 50 lbs. and growing...um, he's 47 lbs and definitely not growing!! 

defamation!! j/k.

but seriously though - glad you have friends that can help. that's absolutely disgusting and would love to see them pay.

[MattyGit]

Bravo...

[kavrno]

I tried to go to the link you listed and its no up any more.  Maybe they took you seriously?

[BeachBullyPC]

We contacted the company through which she was hired to file a complaint. They spoke to her and called us back to say that she said she never profited, the pictures are just up on her site.  She had removed the price next to his photo, as well as the 2011 calendar with him in it and denied ever selling.  However, the internet never forgets. I had cached pages of both the photos for sale and the calendar, with him as Mr. April. We emailed those to the company, and then the photos were taken down by her.  She was caught in a lie and hopefully is fired by them.  I just cannot believe that when we complained about her having 14 dogs in the past when we dropped ours off, they didn't care and continued to employ her.  The max we were told is 6, and that was pushing it. 

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

Well the one pic I saw wasn't a good one, she had over sharpened it..  so I don't know what the rest of the pics looked like, hopefully she didn't make to much of a profit.  Pathetic witch!

[brumzoo]

I cannot believe they did not fire her when she had 14 dogs she was caring for at her house! 

[ksdstny]

I would have never dropped mine off!

[BeachBullyPC]

I would have never dropped mine off!

Yes, because it's so easy to find a new sitter, 2 hours before your flight leaves.    It's not like we chose someone who had that many dogs on purpose, we researched the company and spoke to them and they assured us 6 is the max.  She was taking dogs without the company's knowledge and we haven't used her or the company since.