What to do With Your Pet When You go on Holidays

Options For The Care Of Your Dog or Cat While You Are Away From Home

Apr 6, 2009

It's not always possible to take your pet with you when you go away. Here are some alternatives for your pet when you are going on holidays.

It can be great fun to take your dog on holidays with you. Some caravan parks and camping areas allow dogs on the premises, but it is always best to ring first to check. Sometimes, dogs are only allowed during off peak times, so Christmas, Easter and school holidays may be more difficult.

Taking your pet with you is not always an option, particularly with cats, birds or fish. There are, however, a variety of alternatives for the holiday care of your pet.

Boarding Kennels and Catteries

Boarding kennels and catteries can be booked up well in advance, particularly around peak times like Easter and Christmas. Make sure you book well in advance of your planned trip, perhaps even several months before.

Get recommendations from friends or your vet, and ask to tour the facility so you can determine if it is suitable to yours and your pets needs. If your pet is on medications, ensure that the staff are able to continue medicating your pet during its stay. Find out about feeding, playtime, walks and procedures for what were to happen should your pet get sick. Your pet will need to be up to date with is vaccinations.

House-Sitters

There are businesses that provide house-sitting services as well as pet-sitting. This means a person will stay in your house while you’re away, to feed, walk and play with your pet, as well as collect mail; water plants and put the rubbish out for collection.

Again ask a friend or your vet for a recommendation if possible. A good option if you can find a reputable organization as your pet will feel most comfortable in its own home, and will have company for most of the time you are away. Alternatively, you may be able to coax a friend or someone you know to house and pet sit for you.

Home Visits

Other organizations offer home visit services where a staff member will come to your house for an hour or two each day to feed, walk and play with your pet. Check for reputable companies or get your vet's or a friend’s recommendation. They will also usually collect mail; water plants and put rubbish out for collection. Ask what services they provide when you are booking. You may also be able to ask a friend or relative to do home visits if they have time.

Sleep Over

Another alternative is to ask a friend or relative to pet sit your pet in his or her own home. This is good if they don’t have pets of their own, or they have well socialized pets that aren’t likely to cause fights. Take your dog over to your friend’s house a few times before your holiday, so he or she can become comfortable with the people and the place. Also check that fences are secure to prevent escape.

Things to Check Before the Holiday

If you leave your pet with a friend or have a friend doing home visits, it’s polite to offer some compensation for their trouble. If your pet is staying at a kennel or you use a house sitting or home visit service, make sure you are comfortable with the company and you’ll be able to enjoy your trip, and your pet will probably enjoy theirs too!

The copyright of the article What to do With Your Pet When You go on Holidays in Pet Products is owned by Roberta Goli. Permission to republish What to do With Your Pet When You go on Holidays in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.