While we’re not doing any travelin’ for the holidays some of my friends go through it each year. I over heard one of my friends complainin’ to their Lady the other day! Does this sound familiar to ya?
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Why are y’all leavin’ me again! I’ll be good this time, I promise! Yer sisters cat was callin’ you all kinds o’ nasty names, I HAD ta chase her ‘cross the livin’ room, I didn’t mean ta knock over tha’ sparkly tree! *whimper* Yer still packin’ yer stuff an’ nothin’ fer me. *whine* OK. Well, at least can ya put me in a nice place this time? The last one was kinda scary n’ dirty.”
Yep, poor gal was havin’ a bad day! If you are gonna be goin’ off to Grandma’s house for the holidays, my Lady has a few holiday pet boarding tips that might make it a bit easier. I’ll let her tell ya ’bout em.
Here’s my Lady to share 5 Holiday Pet Boarding Tips with ya:
The holiday season often involves a lot of travel, which is plenty stressful even if it’s just you and/or the kids. Adding a pet is more than many people are willing to tackle. Flying can be dangerous for pets, on top of the cost and driving distracted by a stressed out pet is a recipe for disaster. Even if you get to your destination, finding a place where you can have a pet is another complication to deal with.
The obvious solutions are either a pet sitter or a boarding house. The trick is finding a place that will care for and love your pet as you would. Here are a few holiday pet boarding tips for making the time away from you as stress free as possible for your pet.
1. Consider a Pet Sitter – For many, this is the best solution. A lot of people are looking for a little extra money over the holidays and kids are on break from school. Find a trusted high school or college student and ask them to pet sit for you. This way your pet doesn’t have to deal with the stress of a new environment and strange people or animals. They still have their bed, their toys and their food. The sitter can feed and exercise your pet and it’s easier for you to enjoy your time away because you can get text or Facebook updates.
2. Read Reviews and Ask for Recommendations – If a sitter isn’t right for you, ask around. Your friends and family are a great source for honest opinions (they aren’t afraid to tell you what they think about everything else in your life, right?). It’s a lot easier to find a great solution when it’s been recommended by someone you know and trust.
3. Visit the Kennel by Yourself First – Take the time to look around, stop by the kennel and talk to the owners. The best way is to just walk in so you know how things are day to day. Are the animals happy? Are they playing? Is the space clean and well maintained? Do the employees look happy and alert?
4. Ask Questions – While you are there, ask questions about feeding time and play time. How do they handle an altercation between animals? Do they have a vet on call? How many people are on staff over the weekends and holidays? If an animal needs quiet time, is there a place they can rest?
5. Trust Your Gut – If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instinct. If you are going to spend the entire time away worrying about your pet, you aren’t going to enjoy yourself very much.
Boarding your pet can be stressful for both of you. Take the time to make sure you have your pet taken care of and you with both have a better time over the holiday.
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