Our pets are like a part of the family so when we go on vacation, we logically want them to come with us. Only this isn’t always a possibility or sometimes the logistics just don’t work out. Some resorts don’t allow pets, or the travel situation is not going to work out with your pet.
Having pets that can’t travel with you certainly add a level of complexity to your travels. Sometimes you just have to leave them at home. How you deal with the situation depends on how long you are going to be gone and what the situation is with your house.
In this article, I will go over several ways that you can have your pets taken care of while you are on vacation.
1 – Have a pet sitter
The best way to go is to have a trusted member of the family or good friend to come and stay at the house while you are gone. That way they don’t feel too stressed being left alone and as a bonus your house is also being taken care of.
If it’s somebody that your pet is already familiar with then this works best. And if you plan to be away for a while then this is really important. A long absence can have an effect on your pet’s psyche and they will be reassured by a familiar face.
The next best situation is for somebody to come by the house every day to feed them and take them out for a walk. You can hire somebody to do this especially if you don’t plan to be gone for long. In which case, it makes sense to have a good security system. Even a professional with good references needs to have an eye kept on them.
The best bet is to get a smart security system that has cameras and smart locks so you know what is happening in the house. Whatever the cost of home security systems, it is worth it for the peace of mind for your home and safety of your pet.
If your trip is long and the family can’t help out, then you can hire a house sitter and give them extra duties like feeding the pets and such. There are sites where you can connect with people that have references to come and take care of the house.
2 – For small pets
If you have little pets like a hamster or rabbit and you don’t plan to be gone long, then you can set them up with automatic feeders and water. These can be set up to provide sustenance for over a week in many cases.
Of course, you’ll always have that nagging feeling like something can go wrong if you’re not home. So, if you have a camera that you can view remotely, at least you can keep an eye out on them from time to time.
Then, if something seems amiss, you can ask somebody to swing by and check on them.
3 – Try a kennel
A kennel can be very stressful for a pet so this is probably a worst case scenario for most people. However, it does depend on the kennel in question as some of them are pretty much hotels for dogs with all the modern comforts they love.
Another option is to look for a kennel near where you are staying on vacation. You may find one in the vicinity so you can still hang out with your pooch and take them out with you and return them when you are heading back to the hotel if it doesn’t accept pets.
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