A dog-sitting job took a surprising and controversial turn for Amanda Joudrey LeBlanc of Blandford, Nova Scotia, when she discovered her dog-sitter was filming explicit content at her home without her consent. LeBlanc has expressed feelings of shock and violation upon learning about the situation, as she initially hired the sitter multiple times over the summer, trusting her to look after her pets.
According to LeBlanc, the troubling discovery came when she stumbled upon promotional content for the dog-sitter’s OnlyFans account on social media. Recognizing her distinctively tiled bathroom and pool as the backdrop, she decided to pay the $7.99 subscription fee to access the explicit videos. What she found was astonishing: footage of the dog-sitter, whom she had trusted, filmed engaging in explicit acts within her own home.
“I am still shocked by it, to be honest with you,” Joudrey LeBlanc told news outlets. “It just feels, for lack of a term, violating.” Although her pets weren’t present during the filming, she expressed deep discomfort with the idea of adult content being made in her private space. “Everyone can do whatever they want. I don’t care. People have to make money,” she added. “I just don’t want it done in my home.”
The incident brings to light important discussions around privacy rights and consent, particularly when it involves one’s home. Legal experts have commented on the case, noting the potential for civil liability under the tort of “intrusion upon seclusion.” Wayne MacKay, Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law, highlighted the severity of the situation, saying, “Your home is your private space, your ultimate private space — your castle.”
Despite the privacy breach, LeBlanc has opted not to pursue legal action against the dog-sitter, who has agreed to remove the explicit content filmed at her house. Initially, the dog-sitter appeared unapologetic, which frustrated LeBlanc, especially since she had recommended the sitter to other families whose homes also ended up on the adult site.
Speaking about the broader aspect of consent, Lisa Dawn Hamilton, Professor of Psychology and Human Sexuality at Mount Allison University, noted, “Creating content for OnlyFans is common, and there's nothing inherently wrong with it. It becomes problematic when consent is not obtained from all parties involved, especially when it occurs within the private space of someone else's home.”
The case has prompted discussions on the need for stricter regulations, particularly concerning privacy rights as more people turn to online platforms for income. Everyone should be cautious about who enters their homes, MacKay emphasized, stressing the importance of knowing who to trust when inviting someone to care for personal property.
Looking to the future, Joudrey LeBlanc plans on being much more cautious when hiring anyone to come to her home. She expressed disappointment at trusting the dog-sitter, hoping her experience serves as a warning to others about the intrinsic risks involved with inviting strangers to watch pets or perform duties within one’s private space.
