Pet sitter locks herself out of the house in the middle of the night, helpful neighbor climbs a ladder to help her back in: ‘The embarrassment is too much.’

Author image for Giuliana Tiscioni
Giuliana Tiscioni • Writer
Jun 30, 2026 11:15 AM EDT

You know how old houses can be a handful? 

Old houses can be beautiful, that's for sure. Still, they usually come with problems that we're not used to solving, since modern construction has already taken care of that for us. We don't need fireplaces in every room. We have security cameras. And we no longer need to use those ancient-looking keys that make you feel like you're going inside a Victorian castle. Those locks can turn into a pain in the neck really fast. 

Unlucky redditor u/Dollyboopboop, came across a temperamental lock while pet-sitting for her mom's friend. She was taking the dog out at night for her last bathroom break of the day. However, it turns out, she forgot the key and couldn't get back in. One of those old doors you can't open from the outside. The neighbour with a key wasn't answering the doorbell, and, oh surprise, the Redditor had also left her phone inside. So much for calling the locksmith. Thankfully, another neighbor, a married couple, saw her and the dog and were nice enough to get a ladder, climb through a window, and let her back inside. 

This got me thinking about the pros and cons of old houses and having pet sitters. For one, it definitely makes it safer. If no one can get in without the key, it takes your mind off possible break-ins, that's for sure. But if it's so tricky to get in, that can also be inconvenient. The pet sitter, on the other hand, honey, please just pay a teeny tiny bit more attention. Seriously, it'll solve problems before you know there are any. I'm sure she learned from this, though. And if she forgets her keys again, she will surely remember her embarrassment instead. Poor girl… I can't keep making fun of her, she expresses that she's quite mortified as it is. I'm sure she remembers this moment every few weeks, while she's walking in the street, or doing the laundry, or making dinner. The memory pops into her head out of the blue and makes her cringe. Who doesn't have one or two of those memories at hand to keep us humble? 

Last week, I got locked out of the house myself, if it's any help. Some time ago we changed our locks, and we never made any copies of the new keys. The only ones who have them are my parents, so, yeah… They went out, I went out, and the house was locked. I had to climb a window to get inside. Lesson learned; I'll make copies, I swear. 

But for now, read her side of the story here; just, pretty please, be nice to her. She's had a tough week.


 

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    via Kateryna Hliznitsova for Unsplash+

     Blonde actor walking the dog in the park

  • TIFU by locking myself out of the house I’m pet sitting with the dog

    it is exactly what it sounds like. It happened maybe 30 minutes ago. Currently fighting for my life mentally due to embarrassment. I'm watching a dog and two cats for a week. I also am scheduled to watch them at the end of July.
    via Dollyboopboop
  • This is the first time I've watched them. The owner of the animals happens to be friends with my mom. Well today I took the dog out 3 times. Her last time outside she doesn't go on
    via Dollyboopboop
  • a walk she just pees. So I get off the phone with my dad and realize it's that time. This girl is ready for her last pee! I take her out there, she does her thing. I walk up to the front door
    via Dollyboopboop
  • prepared to start boiling a pot of water for some late night Kraft. Door is not opening. I remember the house is 110 years old and essentially needs a key to open from the outside regardless if it's locked or not. I'm
    via Dollyboopboop
  • officially locked out. Can't panic because I have her dog with me and I'm in public. I go to her neighbors house who I know has an extra key and I ring the ring doorbell. No answer. I reach to grab my phone to call her....no phone. I
    via Dollyboopboop
  • walk back to the house. I'm like I am SOL, screwed essentially. I start walking back to the neighbors house and I hear a lady say the dogs name. I whip around and ask if she knows the dog. She knows the dog and the owner. She
    via Dollyboopboop
  • also knows the neighbor. I tell her the issue, and her husband is like well we don't want to bother the lady I'm persisting for while she's ok vacay. The husband and wife get a ladder, and
    via Dollyboopboop
  • Cheezburger Image 10643170816
    via Cam Ballard for Unsplash+

    Ladders resting on the side of a house. Stock Image

  • before you know it this 60 year old man is crawling through the window and unlocking the door for me. I thanked them 100 times and am now laying in my bed. I am no longer
    via Dollyboopboop
  • having Mac n cheese tho because the embarrassment is too much. I will be texting the owner tomorrow what happened! I am supposed to be watching this dog 2x more and don't want her to think I'm dishonest or anything. Wish me luck!
    via Dollyboopboop
  • Cheezburger Image 10643170304
    via Polina Kuzovkova for Unsplash+

    Old brown door with golden Victorian lock. Stock Image.

  • fruity_oaty_bars This happened to me when I was watching my bestie's parent's dogs and I accidentally broke the basement window trying to get back inside. Her mom put a broken branch by the window and told her dad the wind did it lol.
    via fruity_oaty_bars
  • Effective-Pie1028 the 110 year old door that locks you out whether its locked or not is genuinely haunted house behavior. that house wanted you outside.
    via Effective-Pie1028
  • outloud230 I did that and ended up cutting off a screen on the door to get in. I keep keys on me at all times, now!
    via outloud230

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dogs pets pet sitter old house doors neighbors locks windows ladders night
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