As much as you want to bring with you wherever you go, there are instances that they can’t go to where you are going. Whether you are going on a week long vacation or on a business trip, leaving your pet alone can be very difficult for you and for your pet.
Regardless of how long you are going to be away, there are places where you can leave your pet. Depending on your preference and how much you are willing to spend, here are your best options when leaving your pet:
Pet Day Care and Boarding Camps
One of the most popular choices and probably your best option is pet boarding camps. These places are an alternative to the traditional boarding kennels. While boarding kennels keep pets in their own cages for most of the times during their boarding, boarding camps allows your pet to socialize with other pets both in indoor and outdoor under the supervision of trained personnel.
Leaving your pets alone for a period of time can be very stressful for them. That is why pet boarding camp facilities like Camp Bow Wow are designed to make your pet’s stay enjoyable and fun. Aside from you won’t have to worry about your pet’s safety, pet day care and boarding camps can be also helpful to your pet’s social skills and overall well-being.
Most pet boarding camps feature park-like facilities where your pet can enjoy playing, running and hanging out with other pets. These places are designed to imitate the animal’s natural habitat, so you can expect a lot of greens and other features of nature. Indoor facilities are mostly climate-controlled rooms where your pets can chill and play with other pets. While most of these places have individual sleeping areas for each pet, others offer room sharing, providing your pet a fun pet sleepover experience.
Now, who will take care of your “kid”? Well, most boarding facilities are manned with experienced and well-trained staff. They will take care of everything your pet might need during the stay. This includes feeding, grooming, walking, etc. These caring people are very knowledgeable when it comes to animal behavior, habits, and so on. Most of them are equipped with medical stuff, just in case your pet needs immediate medical attention.
PROS:
- Less stressful experience for your pet
- Socialization with other pets
- Human and animal interaction
- Pet’s needs are well taken care of
CONS:
- Distance from home
- Possible issues with other pets
- More expensive than other options
Boarding Kennels
The most common place where owners leave their pet for a period of time is boarding kennels. These places are less expensive compared to boarding camps. Like boarding camps, kennels are also manned with experienced staff who will take care of your pet while you are away. However, the major drawback of leaving your pet in boarding kennels is that your pet will be kept inside a cage more than you would want to.
Still, there are few boarding kennels that offer individual playtime with your pet in order to get him or her out of the contained environment for some time. Also, a lot of these places are offering pet grooming services, just in case you want to pamper your pet while you are away. Moreover, you can also enroll your pet in pet trainings offered on facilities like this.
PROS:
- Convenient
- You can be sure that you pet is taken care of by trained staff
CONS:
- Can be stressful for your pet
- Susceptibility to viral infection and other disease
Hire a Professional Pet Sitter
Pet sitters are trained professionals you can hire to take care of your “little one” for a period of time. The main advantage of having a pet sitter take care of your pet is that because they will take care of your pet in your own home, your pet won’t have any issues adjusting to unfamiliar environment. Pet sitting services includes feeding, cleaning after your pet’s mess, walking, playing and the like.
In addition to the convenience of having a pet sitter come over, you can also be sure that your pet is getting the best care possible. Unlike in boarding facilities where staff have to look after several pets, a pet sitter have all his or her eyes on your pet. Also, some pet sitting services are not limited to taking care of your pet. Some of them are required to look after your home’s safety and security, too.
PROS:
- Familiar setting for your pet
- Convenient, you can just leave your keys and go
- More personal attention for you pet
CONS:
- You have to find a reliable and trustworthy pet sitter
- Stressful for you as you are leaving your hom
- to someone you don’t know
- Can be expensive since the rate is per hour
It was really helpful to read that there are a lot of options for specific pets whenever they need to be taken care of while away on a trip. My cat is my only source of company since I live in an apartment, and I wanted to figure out the best way to keep it safe while I’m heading out with my friends. Since cats are very particular about grooming, I’ll definitely look for any pet boarding services that can focus on that aspect so they won’t be treated aggressively by my cat.