Leaving Your Pet

The first thing to decide when going on a trip is if your pets are going with you or not. If you decide to take your pets, you will find that there are more and more places that allow pets. A great resource, Pet Friendly Hotels, is a directory of hotels where your pets are welcome.

If you do decide to either take your pets to a professional or have a professional come to your home, do your homework. Call your local animal shelter and ask who they recommend. If you decide on a friend, make sure it's a reliable friend.

Write down important information like where you will be and the number for them to get in touch with you. Make sure they have a written permission form, signed by you, allowing them to seek medical assistance if anything should happen. Make sure they know which veterinarian you use. Write down all medication instructions, when to give them, how much, and any other special notes.

If you decide to leave your pets at home, you have options.

1. Hire a pet sitting service.

With this option your pet gets to stay home. The pet sitter will usually sit down with you prior to your departure and go over any special needs your pet may have. You can usually decide how many times a day they will come and spend time with your pet. Most can also offer exercising with their fee. Anyone you use should be bonded since they will be in your home while you are not there.

2. Take your pets to a boarding kennel.

Taking your pets to a boarding kennel or pet hotel is another option. Your pets will have supervision. Most boarding kennels will give medication, special foods, and can also provide dog and cat grooming before they come home. Some kennels are associated with veterinarian clinics which can provide added security for pets with special needs.

If you take your pets with you and board them at your destination, or if you board them in your hometown, a great resource for locating boarding kennels is the boarding kennel directory. They also have listings for pet hotels.

Some pet hotels have rooms with TVs, crystal food bowls, beds, and other amenities. They usually offer daycare, playtime, and other activities. Some pets really enjoy this option because they can interact with other pets and still have the comforts of home.

3. Let them stay at a friend's home.

Having a friend take care of them at their home is a good solution. If your pets are familiar with your friends, they will usually feel at home. Most pets will be a little stressed because you are gone and they are someplace other than their own home, but they will receive attention and supervision from someone they know.

If this becomes a routine with the same friend each time, they will soon learn that they will visit and then you will come home. This worked best for my dog Thor, who stayed at a friend’s home during his elderly years when I couldn’t take him with me.

It should be noted that things happen. If something should happen to your pet while you are gone, how might it affect your relationship? Do you want to take the chance of losing a friendship?

4. Have a friend take care of them at your home.

If you don't have a friend who can take them in but is willing to come to your home, that can work too. This may create the least amount of stress for your pets. The downside is that they will not get as much attention or supervision.

Many years ago a friend came to my house and took care of my three dogs. When he arrived in the morning, everything was fine. He took them out, let them run around, checked their water and food, gave them attention, and then left.

As soon as he left, the theme song for “Mission Impossible” must have come on the radio. When he returned that night, all three dogs were missing. They had chewed through a solid wooden door and were running amok somewhere. When he finally found them, he took them to his home where he could keep a closer eye on them. So there is a downside to consider with this option.