Pet Vacations

When we go on vacation, after booking our tickets, I start to think about what the pets are going to do while we are away.  This is a thought process that takes me through worry, guilt at leaving them, concern about the added costs, and finally relief when I find an appropriate pet-sitting situation.  

Cats are relatively simple.  There are a couple of people in town who will come in to the house to feed the cat, clean her litter, and give her some loving attention.  If you ask at your vets office, they will likely know of some people who provide this service.  Quite honestly, our cat is probably happy with this arrangement as a) she sleeps most of the day, and b) she is happy any time the dog is away.  

Dogs are a little more challenging.  Our dog, Sherlock, is a rescue and is very bonded to me.  When I go away for 10 minutes he greets me at the door with squeals and jumps and great excitement.  So how to make sure he is well-cared for on extended vacations?  

🐾House sitter - private: A preferred option would be to have someone stay in your home and care for both pets.  This has the added advantage of ensuring your house is not left empty for the time you are away.  If you live in a university town, there may be students who are interested in getting a break from communal living for a short time.  (Although, my sister who works at a university, says it is not so easy to find students who want to do this anymore!)  Maybe you have friends who have older children still living at home who would be responsible enough to take on this job.  

🐾 House sitter companies: I recently stumbled across a Facebook page for Trustedhousesitters.com.  They advertise themselves as being the largest house and petsitting network in the world.  The idea is that you can travel and have free accommodation by house/pet sitting for someone, and conversely can leave your home and pets in the care of other travellers.  There are lots of these kinds of networks.  A quick search online reveals other services such as minmyhouse.com and housesitterscanada.com.

🐾Kennels:  Or as we like to tell Sherlock, the spa!  There are many kennels where you can board your dog for extended stays, or even for doggie daycare.  There are varying levels of care and cleanliness, so you are best to visit the kennel and ask for a tour before committing to leaving your precious family member there.    Online reviews will also tell you if others have been satisfied with the service.  We are fortunate to live near tailswaginn.ca.   know Sherlock likes it because he gets excited and can’t wait to get in when we arrive.  

Here he is at one of his visits to Tails Wag Inn!

🐾Friends:  We are also lucky enough to have friends who will take Sherlock to their home while we are away.  This is a great option as we know Sherlock will be well cared for and will be living in the comfort he has become accustomed to!  

🐾Travel with your pet:  If you are lucky enough to have a tiny dog, you can actually travel with him on most airlines, and at most times of the year.  You need to do lots of checking beforehand though:  air travel is not easy, and the rules change airline to airline, and throughout the year.  Unfortunately, living in Canada it is not easy to take a dog on a train.  There are all kinds of restrictions regarding dog size, time of year, and which station you board/disembark at.  Of course, if you are travelling by car, you can take your pet with you.  There are hotels and motels that advertise they are pet-friendly, so this can be a relatively worry-free option.

We love our pets and finding a good option for them when you go on vacation is key to peace of mind.  You want to enjoy your vacation, and will be happy if you know your pet is in good hands while you are away.