Very often when we go on vacation it is not possible to bring FiFi or Fluffy along with us. Do you think it’s better to board your pets or use a pet sitter when you are gone? Both of these options will care for your pet when you are gone – the best choice will be what will be better for your pet and which is the most economical and safe way to take care of your pet’s needs.
Ideally, it would be great to have a pet sitter who stays at your house while you're gone and some pet sitting services offer overnight visits. For very young dogs this option is great because they can be taken outside more often than just a few times a day. Most pet sitters offer one to three daily visits averaging thirty minutes each. Fees vary but the range seems to be $15.00 - $20.00 per half hour visit.
A pet sitter that can provide up to three visits a day would be a great option. Pet sitters can drop in at specified times to make sure your pet has come break in the “alone time,” be fed, be exercised, be played with and have their toileting needs taken care of. Young puppies may need more frequent visits while older pets who are trustworthy could get by on two to three visits a day.
Depending on the area of the country that you live in, you may expect to pay a pet sitter $15 to $20 per every half hour visit. That can really add up after a few days. Compare that to boarding and you may find that boarding your pet at $15 to $20 a day makes for some big savings. Of course if you have two, three or more pets, the boarding side gets very expensive and the pet sitter option becomes more feasible. If you have teenagers in the area who might want to earn some extra money, and you know they will show up when they need to, you might find that is the way to go
When boarding your pet, they will typically walk your dog for toileting, but you will have to pay extra for special playtime sessions. You could also add on grooming and other extras to make the boarding experience a little more exciting and enjoyable.
Cats typically do better if left at home in a familiar environment – they are easier to care for and may only need one pet sitter visit a day for feeding and watering and cleaning of the litter box. Cats do much better with a pet sitter than at a boarding kennel.
Boarding kennels offer supervision and safety. Medical help is usually quickly provided if anything happens to your pet. With pet sitters your pets may get into trouble, or make a huge mess in between the pet sitter visits. You will need to decide which is the best, safest and easiest way to afford pet care while you are on vacation.
Start your planning early as very often boarding spots as well as pet sitter times book up fast. Scheduling your pet’s time at the same time you schedule your own vacation plans is a good idea. Reserving a time for pet care even six months in advance is the best way to assure you will have the space and time for your pet taken care of. Waiting til the last minute may mean scrambling for a spot, and maybe not being able to find any care.
Get references, ask questions, interview your pet sitter. Take a trial run with both a boarder and pet sitter to see how it goes for your pet. Do your research and make your plans early so you can enjoy your vacation with no worries!
^..^ Wuf ^..^ Meow
Thanks for reading!
cc 7/2/11 Judy at Shady Grove
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