What to do when your pets can’t accompany you on your adventures? Here are some tips that will allow you to leave with peace of mind and give your cat and/or dog a good time.
PET SITTER AT HOME
This is the perfect solution to minimize the stress of your furry companions during your long trips. A member of your family or friend can stay at your house. If you don’t have anyone close to you, know that several companies offer this service. You can even choose the number of times the employee will come to take your pets out, feed them, play and even go on walks with them. In addition, there is an app called “Rover” that offers walking and/or dog and cat-sitting services in your area. Obviously, before entrusting your precious companions to a stranger, we advise you to plan a meeting in person with the chosen walker/sitter and to do a good assessment of their skills. Either way, this option allows your pets to stay in their environment, with their things and without other animals that could disrupt their daily life.
PET DAYCARE
There is a wide variety of daycares for our four-legged friends, but they all have a few things in common. To start off, you need to book early, as they fill up quickly. Also, they all require up-to-date health and vaccination records. In addition, many of them will want to do a behavioural evaluation of your animal beforehand. So, we recommend that you do a stay test before leaving for several days. You will be able to see, after 1 or 2 nights, how your cat or dog feels in its new environment. Some pet daycares look like hotels with televisions in each room while others offer large fenced outdoor parks for group play sessions. Choose a place where your educational values will be respected, and the needs of your animals will be prioritized.
PREVENTION
Before leaving your animals with their sitter or at the daycare, write a letter mentioning how to reach you, the contact details of your veterinarian and the person in charge in case of emergency, as well as the maximum amount that you grant in case of hospitalization.
In addition, did you know about AirTags from Apple or tracker collars such as those from Tractive or Garmin? These technological tools will allow you to keep track of the location of your dog or cat via your mobile devices. Some animals are more runaway than others, some could run away out of anxiety and an accident can quickly happen. Finally, make sure your furry companion wears its identification tag at all times.
When the lives of your precious companions are at stake, you can never take too many precautions. With all this advice, you’ll be able to leave with a lighter mind.
All that will be left for you will be to enjoy your vacation and imagine the joy of reuniting with your pet when you return!
