I have a strange request.

[Phrebert]

Since the Cruise Line has the horrible policy of no pets allowed . We were wondering if the Room Attendant would put a 25 pound felt covered brick at the foot of the bed to make us feel like home Also would tip them if they came in 5 minutes before the alarm and head butt the bed to wake us up like our other dog.
Does anyone have any other strange requests?

 

[Hygiene99]

I dont think this is strange at all.....

 

[inkkognito]

Me either...the only thing we miss from home when we sail is our cats! I would feel much more at home with a big hunk of warm, vibrating fur in my face, and I know my hubby would feel the same to have a big lump of simulated feline on his feet, especially one that begged every few hours for beef or milk.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Phrebert
Since the Cruise Line has the horrible policy of no pets allowed . We were wondering if the Room Attendant would put a 25 pound felt covered brick at the foot of the bed to make us feel like home Also would tip them if they came in 5 minutes before the alarm and head butt the bed to wake us up like our other dog.
Does anyone have any other strange requests?

I have a 2 year old cocker spaniel that I would be glad to leave onboard for anyone that misses there dog....perhaps someone would like this dog better than we do and take him home with them!!

 

[wltdsnyfan]

Ditto! About the only thing I miss when I am on vacation are my animals. My 2 dogs and Ferrets!

 

[inkkognito]

For those of you with cats (or with dogs who like cats too), you might get to see the Castaway Cat. He is not always there, but sometimes you will see him begging for food and petting around Cookies on the island.
I really, really, really want to figure out a way to smuggle my horses on board and go for a gallop on the beach! My old-timer horse, Cochise, loves water. We used to go for swims in a quarry when we were both a lot younger. Now, he might think that the salt water feels good to his old bones.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by wltdsnyfan
Ditto! About the only thing I miss when I am on vacation are my animals.

I know how you feel. I have been agonizing on what to do with my golden retriever when we are on the cruise. He has gotten to the point where he absolutely freaks out when we take him to be boarded. I hate to put him through the stress. We used a dog sitter for a few short trips, but she wants $12 each time she comes into the house to take him out. We need her to come at least 3-4 times a day, and we'll be gone a week (approximately $250 - $340 for the trip). We've even tried taking him to one of those pet resorts, but he ended up with a bad case of kennel cough (yes, he had gotten the shot, but still got sick) and was sick for over a month after we got back. I have 60 more days to figure out what I am going to do with him. My husband keeps reminding me that he is "just a dog," but he isn't just a dog to me!

 

[tvguy]

This was a big issue for me when our 17 year old cat died in 2001. Kids were 10 and 14 at the time. Do we get another cat?
We all took the death very hard, but there was a sense of relief that we would no longer have to feel guilty when going on vacation.
Well, I lost the argument over why we should NOT get another cat. So, I'm attached to another cat, and I'm back to feeling guility again everytime we have to take Mocha to the "Pet Resort"......(she takes issue with the name Pet Resort).
Although she might have been a little frightened by the huge mouse on the Magic!!!

 

[debm]

Holly--what about finding someone to live in your house? I know this can sometimes be hard or be uncomfortable but it really can work. Especially if you live close to an military base you may find a young officer/enlisted man or woman that wants a place to stay to get out of the dorms. We've done this twice with lots of luck. Much cheaper because all we did was buy them a souvenir and a dinner gift certificate when we got home. They were so excited to get to stay in a real house and watch TV that I think they would have payed us. Plus the animals got lots of attention. Just a thought.....

 

[inkkognito]

Have two cats really seems to help. We used to have two (well, three, but one of them is the insane "child" of a feral, so he spends all of his time lurking under the bed, and he hates interacting with other cats). First one, then the other of our sweet old kitties died. When we had the second one put to sleep, we got another cat the very next day. We weren't planning to do it that fast, but we had gone to the shelter to cheer ourselves up by looking at cats and there he was! Unfortunately, he is a very social cat and our feral boy wanted nothing to do with him. A few months later, my truck driver brother rescued a kitten from a truck yard where the workers were going to amuse themselves by running it over with a forklift. The minute Farquaad (the kitten) met Stitch, it was love at first sight. Stitch acted just like a mom to the baby! Now, although I hate leaving them (even tho' we have an excellent pet sitter), I know that they have each other.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.ocm

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by debm
Holly--what about finding someone to live in your house?

That would be a wonderful idea. I'm not sure how I would go about finding someone that does that though. We aren't very close to a military base or even a college.

I'm seriously considering asking my next door neighbor. He is really good with pets (we sort of share a cat between us) and he is home all day long. He could probably stop in several times a day and since he is right next door, he would probably be cheaper than my normal dog sitter.

 

[Tera]

That's too funny Phrebert!!! We'll miss our dogs pacing in the morning, with their tags jiggling, to wake us up to take them out.

 

[april riddle]

I am very lucky - we used to take our boxer to grandma and grandpa's - we lost her to cancer in the fall of last year - since then we adopted a really neat lab/retreiver mix that makes their dog (crazy min-pin) too nervous. So our neighbour's daughter who is 30 something and still lives with dad comes in to take care of both animals. (cat and dog). I actually think it is better since they are together and don't suffer as much separation anxiety. (plus Jenn doesn't have to put up with that crazy min-pin). We call Catleigh - KC King of the castle since he spends all of his time inside so therefore is home more than anyone else. We camp alot and the dog is able to come with us - somehow I don't see the cat going along. Sometimes I think he actually likes us leaving for awhile.

 

[NancyDVC]

My almost (in 5 days) 8 year old rottweiler absolutely loves being boarded at the vet's. A suggestion from a friend many years ago helped. Once Achilles (that's his name) and his litter sisterhad all their permanent shots they were boarded overnight, one night. This helps to relieve their anxiety because they were only there one night. Also we use our vet's office and they have had some very positive experiences there. As a matter of fact they usually get an enormous greeting when they arrive for anything.
I also leave a complete set of instructions including the commands that they respond to such as 'Kennel up', which means get in the crate (or at the vet's get in the cage/run). The consistency helps.

I named Achilles after seeing 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'.
When Phoebus took his horse after the Festival of Fools he said "Achilles, Heel!" That cracked me up! I am past President and current Vice President of a local dog obedience club and a physical therapist. So at the time I had just lost my 9 year old rottweiler and vowed if I ever got another male rottie who needed an "A" name it would be Achilles so that I could say "Achilles, Heel!" when training! Sure enough 2 months later I had the opportunity to use the name!
Yes I am crazy but nicely so! After all aren't we all a bit crazy here?

 

[ducklite]

Holly,

We use a tech from a local vets office. She's incredibly respondible and had excellent references.

Anne

 

[Katdb]

I'm a first year university student living in residence, who has always grown up with animals (currently, we are owned by a dog and a cat).

The only animals we are allowed in res are non-dangerous fish (something tells me someone tried to bring in a pirana....). I had to start making a hot water bottle at night at putting it at my feet (as if it was my cat)!!! And any person walking a dog within twenty feet had me there in seconds petting their animal (with permission of course)

I'm definitely the animal nut in my group (which is a good thing as I'm hoping to become a vet). Just keep loving your animals!

Katdb

 

[Otimon]

I weigh more than 25 pounds but would be glad to sleep down the end of your bed on the cruise and wake you up five minutes before the alarm.

Seriously, have a wonderful time

 

[disneybride96]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
I have a 2 year old cocker spaniel that I would be glad to leave onboard for anyone that misses there dog....perhaps someone would like this dog better than we do and take him home with them!!

Aww...how sad! Both my cockers are rescue dogs. Please don't every take him to an animal shelter. There are tons of great Cocker spaniel Rescue organizations out there!

 

[disneybride96]

Originally posted by inkkognito
For those of you with cats (or with dogs who like cats too), you might get to see the Castaway Cat. He is not always there, but sometimes you will see him begging for food and petting around Cookies on the island.
I [/url]

We saw the Castaway Cat while we were eating lunch I just wonder how he got on the island!?!?

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by ducklite
Holly,

We use a tech from a local vets office. She's incredibly respondible and had excellent references.

Anne

That is a wonderful idea! I never thought about that. For years, we boarded our dog at the vet's office because he is our neighbor (and vet, of course) and we figured he was safer there in case he got sick. But now, the dog is smart enough to know that he is going to be locked up for a few days instead of having the run of the house, like he does at home. I think I'll call the vet tomorrow and see if there is one of his techs that he can recommend.

Thanks for the suggestion, Anne!