Vacation Plans and the Family Pet

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. But if you have a pet, worries about how she will get along can put a damper on your vacation plans. What to do with your pet while you’re off seeing the world? This article offers some suggestions.

Bring Your Pet Along

A lot of people travel with their pets. If you’d like to give it a try, plan your vacation to include only pet-friendly hotels and camp sites. If you’re going to be driving long distances, it’s also a good idea to take a couple of trial spins in the car with your pet to make sure your four-legged friend will tolerate being on the road. My plans to take my cat on one of my vacations didn’t work out because during the trial runs I learned that she howled loudly from the moment the car started until the moment it stopped. I didn’t think I could handle five hours of that, so kitty stayed home.

A couple of final thoughts: Make sure your pet wears a collar with identifying information and bring along proof of vaccinations. If your pet has been micro-chipped for identification purposes, so much the better.

If your travels will take you out of the country, your pet may be better off staying behind. Many countries have strict quarantine regulations.

Find a Kennel

Kennels vary as widely as hotels in quality. Some of them are merely adequate while others could give the fanciest spa resorts in Vegas a run for their money.  

Visit several places to get an idea of pricing, atmosphere, and services available. Do the animals seem comfortable and entertained or do they simply sit in cages all day? Does the staff interact with the animals? If your pet has special needs, make sure the kennel is able to handle them.

When you drop your pet off, bring along a favorite toy and a towel or article of clothing with your scent on it. If possible, board your pet for a short trip first. Then, if she does all right, you can plan longer vacations.

Hire a Pet Sitter

A pet sitter is someone who comes into your home to feed, water, and interact with your pet while you are away. A pet sitter can be a professional from an agency or your next door neighbor’s (responsible!) twelve year old. Pet sitting is a good option for animals who don’t do well in kennel situations such as exotic pets.

When hiring a professional pet sitter, look for someone who is licensed and bonded and ask for references. You can find professional pet sitters through word of mouth or by looking in the yellow pages of your local phone book.  

Before leaving on your vacation, meet with the pet sitter to familiarize her with your pet and your home. Make your expectations clear. “I want Rover walked for at least fifteen minutes every day,” or “Don’t try to touch Fluffy because she tends to nip at strangers. Just leave plenty of food and water for her.”

Owning pets doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a wonderful or even a prolonged vacation. Just make sure you’ve made arrangements for your animal companion to receive loving care whether from you on the road, from a caring staff of professionals in a kennel, or from a pet sitter in the home.