Wanted: Reliable animal lover to feed cats, change cat litter once a day during one-week vacation.

What a simple request. Too bad I hired a stranger to do it.

A few years ago when I lived in West Virginia, I didn't want to impose on a friend to cat-sit, so I hired a professional. I saw a flier at my vet's office for "Karen's Pet Pampering" and called for an interview. Karen came by in her SUV emblazoned with curly-cue writing: "Karen's Pet Pampering." I thought, "Whoa - she's really a pro!"

Slash and Ollie befriended Karen right away. For $5 a day, she said she would come by, fill the food and water dishes, clean the cat litter and play with my boys for a few minutes.

It seemed too good to be true. And it was.

My husband and I planned to stay a week at a rustic cabin, but as so often happens, the weather didn't cooperate, and we decided to come home a day early.

We walked in the door, and Slash and Ollie were wildly excited to see us. It was as if they had been alone the whole week.

There was no food or water in their dishes, and they had abandoned the too-full litter box and "littered" all over the laundry room floor.

We put our car in the garage, closed the door, and made the house look as empty as possible. Late that afternoon, in walked Karen with the key we gave her. She was deer-in-the-headlights surprised to see us. We didn't even listen to her excuses, took our key back and escorted her out.

I won't be fooled again by a slick flier and a snazzy logo. At the very least, I'll ask for references. And my money back.