Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their Pets.....

[katerkat]

I *hate* leaving my boys, even for work. I might be going cross-country for a month after the baby is born and I'm debating ways to take the kitties with us. They'll have so much disruption in their life in the next week or so - I don't want them to think Momma abandoned them, too!

 

[delilah]

We usually have a close friend or neighbor come by and play with our cats and make sure they have food and water. We usually call a few times to be sure our animals are ok. I used to have a very good friend who would stay at our house while we were gone. Unfortunately, she moved to Florida. When she was here, we used to leave the dogs home, too. Now, we board them. We have dealt with our kennel for years. As a matter of fact, the last time, the kennel left a message on our voicemail to let us know our dogs were doing fine. That was nice.

 

[Disney Doll]

We leave Ted with my parents, where he loves to be. As a matter-of-fact, there are times when I think he's sad when we come home!

 

[Tinkim]

Definitely. That is the only drawback to going to WDW for me. My brother lives with us but I know he doesn't really like the dogs all that much so my mom and stepfather usually stay at the house and take care of the dogs. My younger dog has a fear of people she doesn't know so I don't think I could board them. My older dog gets very anxious in unfamiliar places if we aren't with her. On our last trip my DH didn't come and I can't tell you how relieved I was that he was going to be with the dogs. I was sad that he couldn't come but so happy for the dogs to have him there. I think part of the problem is I work at home and spend every day with them and I assume they can't live without me. It sure does make it easier to come home from WDW though. I hate to leave there but I am relieved to go home to "my girls."

 

[swtnikki]

When I went to Aruba for a week, I left my birdie w/my friend who has 4 birds of his own. I missed Spike that week, but I know that he was on his own little "vacation" & that he wasn't the only bird in the house. When I came back & picked Spike up, he started chirping right away, like he was saying, "I missed you."

 

[PneumaticTransit]

Our dog died last year while we were on vacation. Our friend, who was taking care of him at the time, called and told us in the middle of our vacation week. Needless to say, it ruined our getaway. Although our friend could not have prevented our dog's death (freak accident), he doesn't want to watch our pets anymore.
Our next vacation is in July, and some other friends will take our cat & ferret while we are gone - but it is going to tear me up to leave them. I will probably have to call them everyday to make sure they're okay.

 

[debden]

So Sorry about your dog! What a terrible thing to happen while your on vacation! I would just be beside myself.....So,So sad!
We went with my sister and her family last year on a short weekend vacation and she got a phone call that her cat had died. We all felt terrible and packed up and left the next morning.
I could not wait to get home and see my pets...to hold them,hug them,and make sure they were OK.....
I'm sure this trip will go much better for you and your pets.
Debbie

 

[JVL1018]

No.
I go on vacation and leave food on the edge of the counter and a big black dog doesn't come and gobble it up! The kids leave toys on the floor of the villa and they are not chewed. I sit on the couch and don't get walked on by a 65 lb furball.
I enjoy it SO much.

I realize I miss her when we get home and head out to get her at the kennel ASAP. LOL

 

[twojo21]

we do, although we normally leave our pets with my parents to babysit. we feel bad leaving them at first, then we enjoy our trip, come home & our pets are so are happy to see us & we are too to see them. we also always get them a treat or toy too on our trips.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

I do. I totally hate it. My one cat Spencer gets sick when I am not there so I feel bad about that. Plus this time is worse because of his diabetes. We are still trying to get his insulin regulated. My other cat Kirby, he could care less if we ever return.

 

[JVL1018]

No.
I go on vacation and leave food on the edge of the counter and a big black dog doesn't come and gobble it up! The kids leave toys on the floor of the villa and they are not chewed. I sit on the couch and don't get walked on by a 65 lb furball.
I enjoy it SO much.

I realize I miss her when we get home and head out to get her at the kennel ASAP. LOL

 

[luvwinnie]

Yep, so we don't anymore. We bought a camper so we can take our English bulldog, WInnie, with us. The kitties DO NOT like to travel so my dad takes care of them and they have each other for company.

 

[2bemarried]

When we go on vacation we have a great cat sitter that comes by everyday to feed and play with the cats. The three of them love attention from a new person. Plus she feeds them treats that they wouldn't otherwise get if we were home.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Yes But, when we usually go away I board Mickey at the vets cause it's usually time for his checkup anyway. However, everytime I leave him I cry. I even tell the girl that I have to check him in and give them all the info they need before they actually take him away from me because I'll cry

 

[Shugardrawers]

DSis takes care of Petey when I'm out of town unless we go to WDW (and DSis and I ALWAYS go together) then I have to take him to the vet's to board. He loves going to DSis's house as he's known them since the day I brought him home and there are lots of kids and animals to play with. I don't feel too bad sending him there. But the vet's? Oy Vey!!! I cried buckets the last time I left him and felt terribly guilty. Our vet has a nice boarding area, very clean and cheery and wonderful employees who played lots and lots of fetch with him. I dread it every time but I know he's well cared for.

 

[skuttle]

My mom usually watches our two dogs when we go out of town. Even though I know they are getting the best care at their grandma's house, I still cry when we pull out of the driveway! Now, for our trip in December, my mom will be coming with us and I don't trust anyone else to watch our dogs so they'll be going to a kennel. I hate to think about it as it breaks my heart!

 

[mallcat]

I feel so bad when I have to leave my "boy". Twigg is so attached to me, and I am equally attached to him. We haven't been on an actualy vacation for three years, but this year we are going in July. I think DD is old enough now to stay with him when we go - if she will (she's 18). I know I will have tears in my eyes when I pull away from the house.

 

[mtblujeans]

I don't but my DH does. We have cattle and cats and one dog. DH is a crusty-type of guy and he complains about the dog and cats normally (all outdoor pets). But, when we go on vacation....he becomes obsessed with "how are they all doing"! He drives me nuts! We always have a trusted friend come over and feed the cats and cattle and the dog goes to a "babysitter" but he wonders if everyone can get along without us!

 

[Chicago526]

I do feel a little bad. I used to have a friend that would love to come and house/pet sit for me. It was cheap and I knew that my dog Missy was happier at home. But my friend now has too much going on in her life to sit for me. So now Missy goes to a kennel that is run by a vet's office. They're wonderful! Missy gets to run around all day with the other dogs (doggy day care) so she doesn't get lonely. And at the end of the stay she gets groomed (actualy I don't think she enjoys that part much!) so she is all pretty and sweet when I pick her up.

The day I pick her up, she goes nuts seeing me. But the next day, everything is back to normal like I never even left. So while I do feel a tiny bit guilty for leaving her, it really isn't that bad.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Oh my...I am soooo happy to see that I am not the only one. I miss my doggies so much when I leave. I have family that dog sits for us, but I still call every day to ask how they are.
My little Malti-poo is my new baby though and it is really hard to leave him since he is only 8 months old.
We are going out of town for the weekend and I was already sad then I read this post...now I am done for.