If you have a dog....

[Jockaroo]

My mother watches our two Scotties. And she is a saint for doing this. We end up driving 4+ hours in the opposite direction and into a different state so that she can watch them. She spoils them rotten and they always gain weight! She lives next door to a vet's office--just in case.

I've never boarded my 10 year old, but he'd probably be OK. Our rescue though would have problems. She was kenneled for 6 months when her owner became ill, passed away, and the estate was settled.

 

[spoon full of sugar]

I don't want to give anyone an anxiety attack,but,my sister works with a boxer rescue. She told me that there is a new form of kennel cough going around that is sometimes fatal to dogs within a very short time ( can't remember how long 36 hrs maybe). They think it came out of Miami, her boxer rescue had picked up an abandonded boxer in Miami and brought it back to Davie I think. Anyway, this boxer had the new strain of kennel cough, the dog in the cage next to it, that was someones pet that was being boarded while they were on vacation, caught this kennel cough and died in just a couple days. This dog was healthy and young. This wasn't the only case most of the dogs being boarded at this vet came down with it, and the poor vet that does alot of work for the boxer rescue gratis, is having to pay restitution for the dogs that died and nursing the living dogs for free. Just thought you should know, it's probably safe to put your dog in a "pet hotel" kennel, but I wouldn't leave my dogs (2 Pembroke Welsh Corgis! were are the corgi people?) at a vet kennel around dogs that have been brought in for illness.

 

[pixiedust23]

I currently live with the parents so my westie just stays at home and gets spoiled by grandma and grandpa. I dont think I could ever put him in a kennel unless it was absolutely neccessary. There is always someone who wouldl be willing to watch him b/c hes such an angel!

 

[milmore104]

We have 2 dogs a Shar Pei ( Piglet ) 8yo and a German Sheppard ( Jasmine ) 2 yo. We always get a house sitter to take care of them while we are away. I feel better know ing they are at home in "their" enviroment. We also have a cat (Turk ) 3 yo. I won't mention the turtle (Peter Pan) and the fish Lilo, Stich, Belle, Gaston, Tinkerbelle, Capt. Hook, Hercules, Aladdin, and Bambi. I think we have created a mini Disneyholic LOL!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Ginger (15) and Tucker (2.5) have never been kennelled. We hire a dog or house sitter to live in the house or come by about 3-4 times a day to have the run and play.

If the sitter is out for the day or for a stretch of time, they are left in their crates. Since the dogs are large, they have very large crates (about 5' x 4') each. This is their sleeping place, so they are comfortable in there. aw:

 

[TN Traveler]

I have really enjoyed reading all the posts about everyone's "babies". I understand 100% the anxiety of leaving your pets to go on vacation. We are the same way. We have a black Lab that will be 10 tomorrow....he's HUGE. Actually he's a black Lab/Golden Retriever mix but he looks full blooded Lab. He's "just a tad" overweight at 135 lbs!! He's a very big dog, has huge hips and LONG legs....the perfect block head and absolutely the sweetest dog you could ever hope to meet. Many people are very intimidated by him b/c of his size but those who know him, knows he wouldn't hurt a soul! We also have 3 kitties that are our babies. They are indoor/outdoor cats...come in to eat and lay around, outside to catch whatever suits their fancy at the time and to potty. No litter box here!! In addition to our dog and cats we also have 30 head of cattle and 40 goats including 3 babies that we were bottle feeding. We have cut back to just 2 bottles a day per goat b/c they're almost 6 mths old but when we went to the beach in July, they were getting 3 bottles a day of Kid Formula. Two of them are full blooded brother and sister--Daisy & Donald. The other one, Crazy, is 1/2 brother (same daddy). We also have another pet goat that was born in April. His mother didn't have enough milk to feed him and his sister so we started supplementing his milk w/other nannies (had to catch them and force them to let him nurse). His name is Mickey. We have a WONDERFUL next door neighbor that would come over and feed Daisy, Donald and Crazy and catch Mickey's momma so he could nurse. He'd also feed Max (dog) for us. We left plenty of food out for the kitties so they were fine. Our neighbor is so great. He knows that Max is scared to death of thunder and loud noises so when we had a couple storms during the week, Max would go over to his house, "knock" on the door and Ray would let him in!!! I called one morning to check on things and he said "Oh, Max is fine, just laying here on the kitchen floor!!"
Years ago my MIL would come over and check on the cows and goats but she has had some health issues and couldn't do it this year. My parents and brother also help. We had 2 calves born while we were gone and my Dad and brother came over to make sue they were up and ok.
I am so blessed to have such wonderful freinds and family!!!

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[GF Girl]

I have a Golden Ret. (Sam), who is very spoiled.
I can't even think to put him in a kennel. He gets so frantic when he goes for vet visits and groomings. He even gets a little stressed when I bring him to other people's homes. He isn't calm until we get him home.
So to make sure that I have total peace of mind, I always ask my mother or father to stay at my home with him and babysit him.
It always works out great! He is happy and I don't have to worry

 

[Fredd's Girl]

I have to say my fiance was concerned when he saw me reading this thread. We will be leaving our Maximus for the first time when we go to Disney in December. He will be 1 year old then, and we've pretty much decided that he will stay at the kennel at our vet. They keep their kennel separate from the dogs there for medical reasons. I have been a wreck! I get upset everytime we talk about leaving him...even for Disney! How do you guys do dropping them off at the kennel? I cried when we dropped him off to get neutered. I know I'm crazy! He was fine! He loves everyone there so he just bounced away.

You guys have really helped me to feel alot better about leaving him at the kennel. Thanks!