When you go on holiday what do you do with your pets?
By saundyl
@saundyl (9783)
Canada
August 11, 2008 2:07pm CST
In thinking that I'm going on holiday in a couple days...I got wondering what do others do with their pets? Do you take them with you? Have them stay with a family member? Leave them home and have someone check on them? A kennel? or do they stay with a friend?
Normally when I go on holidays the one dog stays at home (hes my outside "guard" dog) and my neighbour goes over to the farm everyday to check his food and water. He doesn't travel well and is so old getting in and out of the car is hard on him. The last time he went to stay with my moms he tried to go home and almost got hit by a car.
My little dog - not an outside dog - usually goes to stay with my mom and dad while I'm gone. This time however I'm taking her to my friend as I'm going with my parents for a week on a houseboat (and theres no pets allowed)
My mom has arranged for someone to go over and feed her male dog (he got into skunk spray) and her female my grandma will take home with her and bring her back a week after we get home.
7 people like this
39 responses
@sarthakmittal (83)
• India
12 Aug 08
I have a cute little Dog. His name is rambo. I love him very much. Ussaully i take him with me because i feel very lonely without him but if he is not feeling well or my friends are with me on vacation i prefer to stay him to my family members as it is more convenient for him and me too.
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
12 Aug 08
I am living with my parents and sister. When I go on a holiday my family will take care of my cats. We have an unspoken rule of not travelling together. We didnt want to board the cats as we are worried that they might catch something. We also don't want them to be traumatized by a strange environment without us. Having someone over is an option but we still have not found someone we trust to take good care of my cats. So we just don't travel together so that there is always someone at home for them. Cheers ;p
3 people like this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
12 Aug 08
When I need to be away from home I have someone come in to
feed my cats and change their litter box. They are easier
to take care of if they are home in the house. They are
familiar with their surroundings and are not as scared to
be alone. I either have my next door neighbor come in or
now I have my boyfriend living with me so he takes care of
them for me. I had to stay in the hospital for a week and
he looked out for them. They missed me, but at least they
were home where they were used to being.
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
12 Aug 08
my mom's now taking care of my dog in the philippines. she takes care of my dog well and i am happy about that.
now that i am living here in sweden, i learned that most of those who travel leave their pets in some kind of hotel for pets. okey, not really a hotel. but somewhere pets can stay, taken cared of, and be fed. it's quite expensive but by the time we're going to the philippines for a vacation next year, that's gonna be our first option.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
11 Aug 08
Usually I leave plenty of the preferred food and lots of water. I also have been known to board them all, although that is expensive. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth it, though.
3 people like this
@littleone3 (2063)
•
11 Aug 08
When we go away my dad usually looks after my cats for me.(We only had cats at the time).
But this year he is on holiday at the same time as us, so as my sixteen year old son has decided that he is staying home this time he will be looking after them.
We are leaving him in charge of the pets so he has two cats, a dog and two hamsters to look afer.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
11 Aug 08
When we go on a holiday or vacation, we usually get one of our friends to come and check on the dogs for us, he will usually feed and water them. He's always been good to do that for us. Sometimes my husband goes on vacation and I get to stay here and watch the dogs...lol.
3 people like this
@samijo719 (1052)
• United States
11 Aug 08
We have actually never really left our dog for more than 2-3 days. And each time a family member watched him. We have to family 'babysitters' who loev taking him so we have never really had a problem with worrying about where he will go if we need to go somwhere for a long period.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I have cats, and the last time we went away for 5 days we left them home. I used really large bowls for their food and water. We left the TV on for their entertainment, and they were fine. When we got back they were rather aloof, well one of them was happy to see us.
They really did not eat much food either. The fish just seemed to survive
They really did not eat much food either. The fish just seemed to survive
@tlljones (36)
• United States
11 Aug 08
One year we found a hotel that allowed dogs. However, we really felt guilty leaving him alone in a new environment, so we haven't done that again. Luckily, my brother and my oldest daughter do not live that far from us. They have been elected as the dogsitters. If my brother is taking care of the dog; he will just stop by throughout the day to make sure he is fed and walked. If my daughter is taking care of the dog; she stays here to house sit and dog sit. So all works out well for us.
@cinnamonwoods (33)
• United States
12 Aug 08
We travel constantly, and in fact are full-time RV'ers. So our pet goes with us most of the time. Occasionally we will fly somewhere to visit family or something. In that case we leave our dog at the kennel. It is nice to know that you don't have to worry about their care. And boy are they happy when you get back.
2 people like this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
12 Aug 08
We don't really go away for anything more than a day trip. So our dog usually stays at home. But she gets really excited when when come back. My uncle has a key to the house. If we go away I am sure he would care for her. A kennel can get expensive, from what I heard.
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
12 Aug 08
For me, it depends where I'm going and how long I'm going to be gone. We recently left on a ten day trip, so we boarded our one of our dogs with our vet. He has stayed there many times and is used to it. My vet will even take him home on the weekends so he's not locked up all day. I just got a puppy though, and didn't want to leave her with other dogs yet, so my mother was nice enough to take care of her for the duration of our absence. If we are going somewhere "pet friendly" then we well take them with us.
2 people like this
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
12 Aug 08
it is not easy. i dont travel much when i have pets. just try to find someone you trust that is close to you and that you know likes animals.
there are Pet Hotels but they are usually expensive.
2 people like this
@MichaelJay (1100)
•
12 Aug 08
Our dog is 7 years old and ever since she was about a year old he has gone to a kennel, more properly called a pet hotel while we are on vacation.
Most of the places we go to are far away and she wouldn't enjoy the long car journey or be able to stay in some of the accomodation we book.
She is such a swetie, she is really popular at the kennel and she seems to enjoy her stay.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
12 Aug 08
When our dog was still alive we would always try to find someone to watch her. Usually my sister in law would take her. We would return the favor by watching her dog when she was out of town. So it worked out for both of us. On the rare occasion she could not watch our dog, we had a friend house sit for us and watch her. It worked out good for him too, because he was living with a roommate at the time who drove him nuts so it was nice for him to have our whole house to himself for a week. He was more than happy to do it.
2 people like this
