One of the hardest decisions you can make for your holiday is what to do with your pets while you are away.
It’s all very well to picture yourself on a beach with a martini in hand, but less enjoyable if you are worried about the pooch.
It can be wrenching being away from your animals, but a good kennel or sitter can make all the difference.
My brother once went to pick up his dog from a boarding kennel after a holiday. The dear dog, let’s call him Ted, because that’s his name, took one look at him and ran the other way. His feelings were hurt – my brother, not the animal – but he knew his dog was in good hands and still uses that kennel to this day.
Here’s a guide to choosing the right option for your pet holiday care.
Where to start
Firstly, you need to decide what sort of care will suit your pet. At your home, at a pet sitter’s home, in a kennel or cattery.
You know your pet best, so that’s a personal decision.
However, if you are thinking about pet sitting, a trial run can be a good idea. If your potential sitter can ‘audition’ and meet your pet, and they get along, that can go a long way to reassuring you about coming home to a happy pet.
My daughter does some pet sitting. One dog is more than happy to stay at our house and even looks longingly at our gate every time he passes (the owners live around the corner). On the flip side, another one of her ‘clients’ is a nervous nelly who has to be fed at precise times, doesn’t like to leave home and will only go on one route for his walks. And that’s just the pet. Boom-tish.
While the former was a dream to sit, the latter took some bonding time to warm up to her, and it would have been a nightmare if she had to sit this dog without some strong guidelines about his routine.
Be realistic
So be realistic about what care your pet needs. While you may be happy to cater to its every need, a pet sitter may be uncomfortable with many things you find routine such as administering medications or cleaning up monster-sized poo.
It’s also important to leave clear guidelines about what to do when something goes wrong including your contact details, your vet’s details and an emergency contact number for a willing friend or family member who can help out.
Choosing a kennel or cattery
The first three rules for choosing to send your pet off to a kennel or cattery are recommendations, recommendations and recommendations.
Ask your friends and family, and your vet, and you will undoubtedly find some useful advice. Many vet nurses will also take on pet sitting.
As well as personal recommendations, also check for online reviews. These are less reliable but are still a valuable source of information.
Make sure you visit before you hand your pet over. The owners should be happy to show you around and ask plenty of questions about your pet.
Things to look for include:
- large play areas
- cleanliness
- exercise schedule
- spacious sleeping areas
- creature comfort; is it heated or cooled for extreme temperatures?
- friendly staff who are comfortable interacting with your pet.
Check the facility is registered and what the procedures are if anything goes wrong and vet care is required. If your pet needs a special diet, check if that’s okay with their policies.
Make sure they are comfortable with any special requirements your pet needs, such as medication, or if you would prefer your animal not to interact with others at the location.
If you feel like throwing money around it may also be a good idea to have a trial run overnight or for a weekend.
What next
So you have chosen a kennel or cattery, now it’s time to get together a pack for the drop-off.
A good kennel or cattery will probably provide information about what to drop off with your pet, but it should probably include:
- a favourite blanket
- some toys
- your contact details for when you are travelling
- your vet’s details
- an emergency contact’s details
- any special food.
Have you had your pet looked after by a professional? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: How to look after your pet in a will
