Dog-sitter films explicit OnlyFans content in client homes, raising privacy concerns

When Amanda Joudrey LeBlanc hired someone to care for her dogs, she never imagined that her bathroom floor and swimming pool would end up as the backdrop for explicit videos posted to an adults-only website.

"I am still shocked by it, to be honest," said Joudrey LeBlanc, a resident of Blanford, N.S. "It just feels, for lack of a better term, violating."

Joudrey LeBlanc had hired the dog-sitter on several occasions over the summer when she and her husband were away for the day. She said the dogs seemed happy, and the person was reliable.

However, a few weeks ago, Joudrey LeBlanc came across a video on social media advertising an OnlyFans account, a subscription service primarily for adult content. She immediately recognized the setting as her own home, as her bathroom features distinct patterned tiles. After paying $7.99 for a subscription to the dog-sitter's page, she discovered explicit content filmed in her house, including videos of the dog-sitter engaging in inappropriate behavior in the bathroom and posing in her outdoor pool.

"Everyone can do whatever they want. I don't care. People have to make money," said Joudrey LeBlanc. "I just don't want it done in my home."

The animals were not present in any of the videos.

An employee from OnlyFans responded to inquiries, stating that they would investigate the situation if Joudrey LeBlanc contacted them. However, they did not comment on whether the dog-sitter violated the platform's policies. The dog-sitter did not respond to requests for comment.

Legal expert Wayne MacKay expressed concern about the privacy implications of the situation. MacKay, a professor emeritus at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law, noted that while this is likely not a criminal case, it may involve civil liability under the tort of "intrusion into seclusion."

"Your home is your private space, your ultimate private space — your castle," said MacKay. "If it was done in a public setting, then it's not a privacy issue. But this is clearly a private place and a particularly important private place for people who own the home."

The Nova Scotia RCMP stated that they could not confirm if a crime had been committed, as the incident was not reported to them.

Joudrey LeBlanc does not plan to pursue legal action, as the dog-sitter has since agreed to remove the videos from the website. However, she mentioned that the dog-sitter initially seemed unapologetic and did not understand why the situation was so upsetting.

Joudrey LeBlanc had also recommended the dog-sitter to several other local families, whose homes were also featured in the explicit videos. One man from the South Shore area reported that the dog-sitter had filmed some of the content in his bed.

Lisa Dawn Hamilton, a psychology professor and human sexuality researcher at Mount Allison University, emphasized the importance of consent in these situations. "Creating content for OnlyFans is an income stream that a lot of people are using, and there's nothing wrong with creating adult content. It's in this case, the violation of privacy," said Hamilton.

Hamilton further explained that if a company wanted to film at a particular location, all parties involved would need to consent, often with a contractual agreement.

MacKay noted that this situation, while unusual, highlights a growing concern over privacy breaches as more explicit content shifts online.

"That's another reason why perhaps provinces like Nova Scotia should look at some legislation, because we live in an age where there's less and less privacy all the time, and we need to start thinking about ways to compensate when that privacy is violated," he said.

For Joudrey LeBlanc, the experience has been a lesson.

"I'm just so disappointed that I trusted this person," she said, adding that she will be more cautious in the future about who is allowed into her home to care for her dogs. She hopes others will take similar precautions.