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Vacation Care

8/17/2013

17 Comments

 
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I just returned from a 6-day trip and had to leave my dog and two cats at home. Every time those of us with dogs and cats (and rabbits and lizards, and turtles, and...) go away, there is always the question of who will care for our beloved pets. Before my dog of 15 years died, she spent the last 6 years of her life blind and, later on, frequently ill. This made it especially difficult to leave her. I hardly felt that it was fair to leave my blind dog in a kennel or with someone who didn't really know dogs and how to care for them.

I want my dog and cats to be as happy as possible while I’m away. So what are the options? My top two choices are either to take my dog to a friend’s house to stay (preferably one with a dog she likes to play with) or to have someone stay in my home and care for everyone in their normal surroundings. With a young, healthy dog with few behavioral challenges, finding someone to do this can be fairly easy. Consult your pet-loving friends to find out who know and trust. One of my favorite options has been to hire a vet tech. These people usually know their stuff, so if something happens to your dog or cat, they will know what to do. Going to your vet’s office and asking if any of the techs do pet sitting has yielded some terrific results for me. I always spend time with the person and watch him/her interact with my pets before hiring them, just to be sure I get a good feeling about how they treat my dog and cats and their trustworthiness.

It is also possible to find a good pet sitter through the many pet sitting businesses that have sprung up in recent years. They tend to be pricey, but when you start looking at kennel fees (especially for multiple pets), the difference is often negligible. The other good thing about taking this path is that you can find businesses that are insured and bonded, so you have nothing to worry about if something were to be stolen or your home were to be damaged in some way. No matter who you choose, be sure to leave detailed instructions. The more of your pets' regular schedule that can be maintained, the more comfortable they will be in your absence.

I prefer to use one of these options because it allows me to leave my pets in a familiar surrounding, whether at home or with a friend. Keep in mind that most cats are fine with just one or two visits a day, but most dogs need someone to stay with them overnight. They are much more reliant on human interaction, especially if they are feeling stressed in your absence.

Kennels and pet resorts are the other option. The range of facilities is enormous.  You can use a traditional kennel but you can also take your dog to a boarding facility where someone will sleep in a bed in the room where your pet is staying! I have found that the boarding facilities that are reliable tend to be expensive, but sometimes worth that extra expense. If you have a dog with special needs, you may find that this is the way to go. If you use a boarding facility of any kind, make sure you get an extensive tour of the facilities. Good places do not have a bad odor and are filled with plenty of caretakers who are well trained, attentive, and knowledgeable. Keep in mind that price does not always guarantee quality. Trust your instincts. If the place and the people seem suspect in any way, take your business elsewhere.

And don’t assume that leaving a dog at a veterinarian’s facilities ensures good care. Many years ago I was forced to kennel one of my dogs (something I have rarely done), so I assumed the vet’s office was the way to go. When I returned, it immediately became apparent that she had been left in a cage for long periods of time without any exercise. When I picked her up, she had trouble walking! I was horrified and guilt-ridden. If you leave your dog at a vet’s office, make sure you get a good tour and know how much exercise and attention your dog will receive. If you aren’t allowed to see the facilities, run (don’t walk) out the door. Any boarding facility should be happy to show you everything.  They should have nothing to hide.

There’s nothing wrong with checking in with your caretaker, whoever it is, to find out how your buddies are doing while you are away. I do this every time I travel.  If you are made to feel badly about that, find yourself a new caretaker!   With some research and a little luck, you will find someone or someplace that you can turn to regularly and planning future vacations will be easier. I find that if I have left my pets with someone that I really trust, vacation is so much more relaxing.


17 Comments
Sarah Smith link
8/29/2018 04:44:54 pm

My husband and I are leaving the country for our anniversary but we have a Bernese Mountain Dog and she wouldn't be able to come with us. We couldn't find anyone to watch her either, as we have recently moved to this area and don't have family close by. I really appreciate your advice to ask around the area about pet boarding services so that my dog can be well taken care of while we're away.

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Laughing Dog Academy
8/30/2018 05:32:37 am

Hey Sarah, send me an email and I'll see if I can help you identify some good options for your dog.

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Gillian Babcock link
2/28/2019 05:03:10 pm

My sister is planning to go on a long vacation and she can't bring her dog with her. It was suggested here that it will be best to consult a veterinarian and see the best option of where to leave a pet. Furthermore, it's highly recommended to go to a trusted dog boarding facility for quality services.

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Daphne Gilpin link
4/15/2019 11:21:26 am

I like how you said that even though reliable dog boarding facilities can be more expensive, they're usually worth the extra expense. My husband and I will be going on vacation next month and need to figure out the details for the care of our two dogs. I'm glad I read your article and you reminded me that price shouldn't be the only factor when it comes to choosing pet boarding.

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roman
7/7/2020 05:44:52 am


I 100% agree with your information. I also bought a <a href="https://ebarkshop.com/"> Pet Supplies</a> with the help of the Barkbox Promo Code and this is the best way to buy a pet with a discount. Low prices are normally a real benefit of the e-commerce pet stores which carry pet supplies. Many times the prices are lower and even the quality is better from the online pet supplies shop. Local stores buy from different suppliers who offer discounts for larger orders. Small local stores cannot compete with the purchasing power of the larger nationwide chains. The pricing reflects this problem.

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Amy Winters link
5/14/2019 03:31:20 pm

My husband and I own three dogs and have been unable to go on vacations because there is no family around to help take care of them. As I was reading your article, you state that kennels and pet resorts are an option to take your pets to when you leave on vacation. I never knew there were such things as pet resorts.

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Dean Phillips link
5/29/2019 06:17:27 am

I like how you said to leave detailed instructions when you leave your pet at a boarding facility. My wife and I are going out of town in a couple of weeks. We will be sure to find a boarding facility for our dog with detailed instructions while we are away.

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Gillian Babcock link
6/5/2019 02:48:47 am

My dad will be away for a time and he needs someone to watch over his pets while he's not around. It was explained here that when looking for dog sitting services, he needs to check if they are bonded and insured. Moreover, it's recommended to hire professionals for quality dog sitting services.

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Shayla Cademis link
6/26/2019 10:49:24 am

Thanks for the suggestion to take a tour of a boarding facility to make sure everything is well-kept and that there are plenty of well-trained caretakers. My husband and I are going on a two-week vacation next month, and I've been worried about finding a caretaker for our dog. She's never been left behind, so I want to be sure to find a great facility who will give her the love she deserves. I'll have to keep your suggestion in mind as we search for a boarding center in our area!

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Angela Waterford link
6/27/2019 01:24:23 am

I'm going on a trip next month. I suppose I should take my cat to a boarding facility because she'll have access to a good place. As you've mentioned, I should tour the facility first before I take her there so that she'll get good care.

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Angela Waterford link
7/11/2019 11:08:08 am

I have to leave out my dog for my vacation. If I were to choose, I think I'll find a pet boarding service since it's an option that's near my house. Thanks for mentioning that I can find businesses that are insured and bonded, so I hope that I can find a good one.

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Elisabeth Southgate link
7/26/2019 11:33:23 am

I like that you mentioned getting an extensive tour of the facility that you might board your pet with. My sister needs to find a place to board her pets for her upcoming vacation. She will be interested to know that you can tour the facilities before you decide to board.

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Kate Welling link
7/30/2019 08:24:11 am

You said kennels are another option. I think that this would be nice for them so that they have company the whole time. I'll remember this for the next time I go on vacation.

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Ron Booker link
10/3/2019 07:07:49 am

I like that you said that some business has insurance for your pet in case of any emergencies. My wife and I are thinking about leaving our dog with a pet sitter or a boarding school. We are going to look online for a good place that can help us keep our pets happy.

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Derek McDoogle link
1/13/2020 10:58:27 am

My sister will travel to Europe soon but she is concerned because she does not know where to leave her dog. I like how you said that wherever place she finds, to leave detailed instructions about her dog's needs. I will suggest to her to look for local pet sitting services so that she does not have to worry about that while she is traveling.

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pet supplies link
7/7/2020 05:45:38 am

Great Knowledge as well as great work on your page. I also bought a Pet Supplies with the help of the Barkbox Promo Code and this is the best way to buy a pet with a discount. To buy pet products and accessories, one should have good knowledge of the products available in the market. It is good to make a comprehensive research about the specific types of products available in the market nowadays to grab the best products. Even though most of the related sites nowadays provide great help for their pet sale processes, being specific about the requirements helps the customers to avoid wastage of time and any inappropriate shopping experience.

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Chris Pederson link
9/28/2020 11:50:50 am

I had no idea that people will actually sleep in a bed that your dog is in at a boarding facility. My dog literally can't sleep if there isn't a person in the same room as him. We can't take him on vacation with us so I'll look for a place that will accommodate his sleeping habits.

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    Sarah Stoycos

    A positive dog trainer who loves stories about dogs who teach us something about ourselves.

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