AvidPets.com
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Summertime is often vacation time,
but what about your pets?
Many people take time out of their busy lives for a summer vacation.
The kids are out of school, the weather is heating up, sometimes you
just need a break. Whatever your reason might be, if you have pets
or livestock you’ll have to make some plans for how they will spend
their summer while you’re away. If you’re planning here are some
possible considerations:
1. Ask a family member, friend or neighbor to care for your
pet while you’re away. Having someone that your pets already know
and trust caring for them can help to ease any separation anxiety
they might be feeling due to your absence.
2. Hire a professional pet sitter. If your family and friends
are too busy to take on the extra responsibility of caring for your
pets while you’re away, this might be a feasible option. If you open
up the newspaper in just about any city, you’re likely to see ads
from hopeful pet sitters. But BEWARE!, many of these are scams.
ALWAYS research potential pet sitters and ask to see references.
Talk to your friends, family and neighbors to see if they have a
reliable pet sitter that they use. Meet with the potential sitter at
least a week before you leave to make sure that they get along with
your pets, and trust your instincts. If something feels “wrong”
about them, it probably is.
3. Board your pet at a pet boarding kennel or veterinary
clinic. This is often considered a last resort because your pets
will receive less one on one attention at an establishment like this
than they would with a sitter or a family member. Vet clinics are
generally more reliable than boarding kennels. Always do your
research first! That great looking ad for a nearby boarding kennel
may turn out to be nothing more than a rickety wire cage in
someone’s backyard. Visit the location at least a week prior to your
leaving to assure that everything appears to be clean and that the
pets currently boarded there appear healthy and happy.
Ask them what services they include in the fees, and what extra
services might be purchased for an additional fee. Will your pet get
daily exercise? How much, what kind, and for how long? Can they
handle a medical emergency? Are they affiliated with any state or
national pet care organization?
Always check to make sure that the kennel requires current
vaccinations!
If you are looking to board an exotic pet such as a bird, reptile or
other, make sure that they fully understand your pet’s dietary and
medical needs. Sugar gliders, chinchillas and other exotics are
becoming more popular as pets, and kennels need to keep their
employees updated on these new pets. Try to talk to the staff so
that you can get a feel for their knowledge, and find out how long
they have been in the pet care industry or what educational
background they might be coming from.
Before leaving your pet with anyone assure that they have an ample
supply of your pet’s medications and any special food or treats that
you may want your pets to receive. Spend some time with them, talk
to them about your pet’s personality, health issues, good and bad
habits. Tell them the level of obedience training your pet might
have received, as well as how your pet responds to strangers,
children or other animals.
To help your pet adjust to your absence leave something familiar for
your pet, like a favorite toy or a small blanket that carries your
scent. If possible have your pets spend time with the person that
will be caring for them prior to your leaving, give them treats and
loving attention to make the experience a positive one. Try to spend
more than the usual amount of quality time playing and interacting
with your pet in the days leading up to your trip. Being separated
from their owners for long periods is hard on many pets.
Before you leave make a list of your veterinarian’s phone number
along with your travel itinerary, and contact numbers where you can
be reached in an emergency, and make sure that the caretaker
understands how you wish for any emergency situations to be handled.
Do you want them calling you before taking the pet to a
veterinarian? Or do you authorize immediate care regardless of cost?
Taking these steps can help ease the stress for both you and your
pets during your absence from them.
Happy Vacationing!
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Advice for all pet
lovers! |
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