Have Dog, Can't Travel...Seeking Advice

[kuzco-like]

Every time Kevin calls out for help filling out an ABD trip, I think “I’m your guy. Sign me up. I can help fill out that roster of devoted DIS travellers”. However, I have one approximately 20 pound, hairy hindrance: my dog.

Before I get any negative mail, let me clarify. I love my dog. He’s a spoiled 12-year old lap dog with far too many toys and privileges, and I’m totally devoted. However, I’ve never before had to find pet care for him, and there are some barriers:

• He’s 12-years old.
• He’s intact (ie not neutered). All the places I’ve found require that dogs and cats be fixed.
• He has a heart problem which precludes the surgery option and also requires that he takes a pill every day.

The obvious options are not options. My family all have their own pets, and fitting in one more is difficult. My friends live and work in the city (Vancouver) and me and my dog do not. They live in apartments, and cannot take in pets; they cannot commute out to the suburbs.

So I’m turning to you, Dis-ers with dogs, for sage advice and information. I don't know where else to turn for help. And I figure that this is a topic that is at the least tenuously attached to the Disney world.

I have three main questions:

• Besides boarding, what are my options for pet care?
• How do I find these pet-care options?
• How do I vet (pun intended) these options to find the best option for me and my dog?

Please enlighten me with your wisdom and experience. I desperately need a dose of Disney. My last vacation was in 2009, and the elation has long worn off.

 

[DisneyKevin]

We have two dogs with health issues that require pills and injections twice a day.

It's possible to find pet boarding that will administer pills, but finding one that will do injections is very difficult.

Prior to leaving our dogs anywhere, I would want to see the front and back areas of any facility. I would want to know how often my dog would go out, whether someone would be at the facility 24 hours a day and I would want references.

There are now several boarding facilities in the Orlando area that offer "doggy-cams", meaning that you would visit the facility's website and be able to see your dog at any time.

I truly understand your dilemma and have stayed at home rather than leave our dogs somewhere that didn't meet my specifications.

I wish you luck and I think your pooch is lucky to have a friend like you.

 

[NitroStitch]

I don't know if there are any available near your area, but I know some people around here use professional pet sitters. They come in to your home a number of times per day as needed for food, medicine, walks, and companionship, and your dog doesn't have to stay in an unfamiliar place. The ones around here advertise with references, and they're bonded in case anything happens.

If none of the kennels and boarding facilities are able to take your intact doggy in while you travel, I hope you have that option around your area. Sending pixie dust for a solution for you and your beloved dog.

 

[Phoenixblue]

There are two options people I know have used when a pet had special medical needs and they had to travel - one was to work with their vet, some have boarding options for cases like these. Another was to hire a house/pet sitter. Someone who would actually stay in their home for the duration of the trip. That way their pet was able to stay in a familiar place with proper care and their home was also safer as someone was there.

 

[Mickeyflower]

I have a few suggestions:

1) Are you a member of a church? If so, put the word out in the young adult/college age group that you need a pet sitter.

2) Co-workers college age or young adult children? The offer of a place to stay with a fully stocked fridge is pretty appealing to starving college kids.

3) Care.com has a library of pet sitters that have already been background checked etc.

4) You didn't mention your neighbors. Our neighbor looks after our pets ALL THE TIME. Of course, we trust her completely to go freely in and out of our house.

I hope you are able to find a solution! Good luck!

 

[kaligal]

If you search online, you may be able to find a company (or person) who will go to your house and care for your dog.

I think I'd be a little uneasy allowing someone in the house, but it might be the best thing for the pet.

Good luck. I hope you can go.

 

[paulasillars]

We go through a professional pet sitting service - they provide police checked live-in-sitters while we are away. Not only do our pets not get stressed by us going away so much, but the house is lived in so it doesn't look like we are away.

Some have been better than others but our pets have always been well cared for.

For the record, we have 3 dogs - one is 13, deaf, with 3 teeth and not such great eyesight one aged 11 and one aged 5.

We also we have recently taken in two elderly Burmese cats.

Its actually cheaper to have the live-in-sitter than to put this lot into kennels.

 

[disneyholic family]

you mentioned vancouver, so i tried googling "vancouver pet-sitting services" and lots of websites came up - professional pet sitting and boarding services..

try looking into those (assuming you're somewhere near vancouver)...

 

[hellocactus]

some boarding facilities may be able to make an exception for your dog, since there is a valid medical reason for not neutering him. but the best choice for him might be the vet- every vet i've taken my pets to has a boarding option for clients, and they would be well-qualified to take care of his medical needs!

other than that, in-home petsitting is an option, but i don't use it for my dog since we would need them to visit multiple times a day to take him out and that gets pricey. (he goes to a "doggie camp" where he gets to play with other dogs all day and we can watch him on a webcam! our other pets are fine with a once-daily visit from the petsitter.)

definitely call your vet! if they can't board him themselves, they will have suggestions for you, and both you and your dog can have a happy vacation.

 

[kbelle8995]

My cat who is elderly and has issues (thyroid) often stays at the Vet when I go on a long vacation. I have a good relationship with my vet office and like the way that they are with the animals under their care. The extra plus is that if anything goes wrong they are right there.

If they don't offer boarding services, then I would ask if they can recommend a place that boards pets. Then you can check them out like Kevin suggested. If any of your friends have pets see where they board them.

Good Luck.

 

[lttlmc3]

You may also want to call the local pet shelters. Not to take care of your dog (!) but for suggestions. Usually shelter workers are in communication with several different types of pet care agencies and they may be able to make a suggestion.

 

[dixiegirl]

I used to have a cat that had some special medical needs - ie meds, etc and we used to board her at our vet. That was the one place I knew I could leave her and know that she was in good hands. I'm a fairly neurotic momma when it comes to my furbabies.

Nowadays I have 3 cats and all 3 are on meds (just pills) - thankfully I have a wonderful next door neighbor who treats my little ones as good as I do when we travel.

 

[dgthree]

Every time Kevin calls out for help filling out an ABD trip, I think “I’m your guy. Sign me up. I can help fill out that roster of devoted DIS travellers”. However, I have one approximately 20 pound, hairy hindrance: my dog.
<snip>
Please enlighten me with your wisdom and experience. I desperately need a dose of Disney. My last vacation was in 2009, and the elation has long worn off.

I had a 14 year old dog with diabetes, who needed shots twice daily. The one & only time I had to go away & couldn't get a family member to watch him, I had a wonderful pet sitter come in and take care of him. She would visit three times a day, give him a walk and a meal, and spend some time with him. It was a great (albeit pricey) option, and one I would wholeheartedly suggest.

 

[babyrich]

Do you have any friends with grown children that you would trust in your home?

My niece (21) is a regular, in her mom's and aunt's circle of friends, house/pet sitter. She sleeps there, gets up and goes to work (if she is working that day)

 

[kuzco-like]

Thank you, everyone, for the good advice.

I'll talk to my vet, and I'll also contact local shelters to see if they have any ideas. (Great idea, lttmc3). I'm skeptical about what can be found on the internet (present company excluded), but I'll check out Care.com (thanks Mickeyflower). Also, I'll look into professional pet sitters. Wish me luck, because I'm kind of rural, and therefore might have a tough time finding someone.

And in general, thanks everyone for responding and talking about their pet care situations. It's awfully difficult to think about leaving a pet in the care of someone else. Just knowing that others do it and that it's a good experience for the parents and the pets puts my mind a little at ease.

PS: I'm teen-girl giddy that Kevin was the first to respond.

 

[sshaw10060]

If you're comfortable having someone stay at your house I would ask your vet if they have any employees that pet sit. Many vet techs make extra money this way. This is the best of both worlds since your dog gets to stay at home and someone with the skills needed to take care of your pets special needs is there while you're gone.

 

[EDuke98080]

We have 2 cats and 2 dogs and have a house/pet sitter stay at the house with them. One of our cats has asthma and needs an inhaler every day and one of the vet techs at our vet comes and administers that for her when we travel. I would check with your vet, there may be someone there familiar with your pets that may be willing to care for your pet in your home or recommend someone they trust. Either way, it is always hard to leave them!

 

[ToddyLu]

DH's cousin is a 22 yr old college educated girl who kept our Jack Russell and my parents standard poodle. She had full access to the house, computer, cable and fridge while we were away for the week. Then the next month my MIL used her. It was great and she made a little money. She will be back from a 6 month mission trip to China next month and in plenty of time for our Oct trip. The other times DH and I go places alone Trinity stays with her Grandparents and her friend Rosko the poodle. I can certainly understand your issues and you wil be surprised who might step up to the task.

 

[dgthree]

Wish me luck, because I'm kind of rural, and therefore might have a tough time finding someone.

I live in northwest NJ, in a community that's a mix of rural & suburban with golf courses thrown in for good measure, and I got lucky enough to find a good pet sitter. I'll hope you have the same kind of fortune.

 

[kuzco-like]

Thank you, sshaw10060 and EDuke98080 for the same idea to check with the vet to see if anyone there might be interested. It's a brilliant idea. As you said, they know my dog and have some medical training. I'll ask there with fingers crossed.

I have some follow up questions:

• What should I expect to pay for in-home pet sitting, either my home or theirs?
• If they come to my home, should I provide food etc?

Again, I'm grateful for all the advice. You all have been very helpful.