My pets keep me from buying more points.

[photobob]

We have two Maine Coon cats and fortunately have MIL and FIL who live in the area and they feed them and clean out the litter box. It is much easier for cat owners. The cats don't speak to us for a few days after we get back but they get over it.

 

[bwvBound]

You know when I read that I was thinking that they might open a PET RESORT kennel type place for long term boarding not what they have now at Disney. I didn't read that post correctly. I guess because my kennel is called Happy Tails Pet Resort. I would also not want to stay in a DVC resort that allowed pets. Let me just clarify this right now. I love my dog but not enough to bring her on vacation to a dvc resort. If I lived to where I could drive to Disney and bring her and board her at a cool Disney long term boarding facility ..I might try that. Maybe??

I've been asking my Avian vet for years to consider going "timeshare" for their boarding services. I'd gladly pay a lump-sum today and yearly MF if it would lower my boarding costs in the future. I've often written checks for boarding that exceed our mortgage. I've had the parrots for 23 years and expect to be paying boarding for at least another 50 years into the future ...

 

[ACDSNY]

Try having 2 sows, 2 pigmy goats, 4 cats, 2 dogs and 1 bird...usually our son or daughter will take care of them. When all of us go one of our neighbors will stop in for the twice a day feedings.

I think our sows know when we're gone...they start getting rough on the water pipes and fences.

 

[DoOverDreams]

my sweet little furbaby, Happy, a 5 yo Tibetan Spaniel

Wow! Another Tibbie! I don't know anyone else who has one. Our Sandy is about 5 too, and the sweetest little girl you ever met.

We are very lucky. We've got 4 dogs out here in the country. All foundlings. Big fenced in yard and doggy door so they go in and out all day. And a wonderful critter sitter, their Aunt Nancy, who adores them and they adore.

But, speaking of doggie day care centers, I just read on msnbc this interesting story:

"Currently on Walt Disney World's drawing board is a unique luxury pet “resort” to be built next year. This one-of-a-kind facility will cater to park and resort guests, as well as Walt Disney World employees, providing a full range of pet hospitality services, including dog and cat boarding, day care and grooming services, and doggy day camp.

Pet guests will be able to enjoy such amenities as luxury suites with television and raised bedding, activities such as nature walks and playgroups, and pampering services ranging from ice cream treats to bedtime stories.

“This will be premier vacation destination for pets,” said Dennis Dolan, President and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care. “This facility will be designed to fit into the Walt Disney World vacation experience and will be unlike anything else in the industry.”"

Full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24355317/

 

[bwvBound]

Full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24355317/

Good find!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have 10 dogs, so the only way we do it is to have a dog sitter in who takes care of the kennel and the house all at once. Of course, now that DS and his wife have moved back in the area, I can always rely on them to come and do it too. I'd much rather pay family than anyone else!

 

[aclov]

I have two big dogs, a lab mix and a pit bull mix. My best friend is a petsitter so I pay her to come to my house. Or DH stays home while I go to WDW with my friends!

 

[beccasmom]

This is an issue for us as well. We have an elderly (16 years old) but healthy cat whom we all adore. No dogs right now, but probably sometime in the next few years. I am lucky in that I have a good friend who adores my cat and moves in for the duration to take care of him. He is not on any meds, so taking care of him is pretty basic, thank heavens. But I think he gets lonely when left alone, so I am very grateful that she is willing to indulge him while we're away.

We don't need more points, so that is not an issue. But it is a heartache worrying about pets left behind. I worry even though I know my cat is in very safe hands. And when they are older, it just gets that much more worrisome.

 

[HGLightlyj]

This is an issue for us as well. We have an elderly (16 years old) but healthy cat whom we all adore. No dogs right now, but probably sometime in the next few years. I am lucky in that I have a good friend who adores my cat and moves in for the duration to take care of him. He is not on any meds, so taking care of him is pretty basic, thank heavens. But I think he gets lonely when left alone, so I am very grateful that she is willing to indulge him while we're away.

We don't need more points, so that is not an issue. But it is a heartache worrying about pets left behind. I worry even though I know my cat is in very safe hands. And when they are older, it just gets that much more worrisome.

My wonderful cat passed away last year after being with me for 22 years. I limited my trips to 3/4 days while he was with me. During the last two years of his life I had a pet sitter come in twice a day as he became a very picky eater. My pet sitter was wonderful and he did fine with her, but I still worried about him. I can take longer trips now but I miss him!!

 

[javamom]

Wehave fish, so we leave enough feeder discs a/o automatic feeders to cover the time that we are gone.

For our cat, we leave her enough food and water and a litter box - which she will use when we are gone. She doesn't use one when we are home because she prefers to go outside altogether.

Our dog lives in a dog house anyway, so we make sure that she has enough food and water to last her as well.

If we have weather worries, I have relatives in town that can swing by and check on them.

 

[Donna]

When my Mom was alive - she and my Dad stayed with our dog Bonnie. Since she died, my Dad travels with us. I hate to admit this but I have more people I would leave my DS 11 with than my dog!!!! LOL

So since then - Bonnie has travelled with us to Disney World and stayed in kennels a couple of times - because there was nothing worse than calling her at a kennel near our home and hearing "she hasn't eaten anything in 2 days". We loved walking her at midnight at Animal Kingdom. We also used a kennel outside of Disney and would visit every other day.

Bonnie is going to be 17 years old in May. She is deaf, but gets around great. We found a kennel about 30 minutes from our house, we will have to pay over $30/day for it - but she stayed there last year and seemed to enjoy it. It's in the woods, and she loves that.

We are grateful for every day with her. Every phase of her life has been a joy.

Janis

Wow, how great that Bonnie is going to be 17! My cocker spaniel, chelsea, lived to be 17 yrs and one month. I just love hearing about dogs living long lives. My second cocker spaniel, ashlea (see avatar), lived to be 14. I have a special place in my heart for the elderly pups!
My suggestion is get an RV! We take our golden, molly, with us to Disney World now! We can walk behind our loop and watch the electrical water pageant and fireworks. She loves Disney! They just added a dog park near the 300 loop - Waggin Trails! I know molly will enjoy it in August!

 

[springandmac]

I run agility with a friend who owns a kennel. She gives her agility friends a discount price of $2 a day per dog. I have 3 labs so it ends up costing me $6 a day to board them and I know that there are well cared for.

What I don't spend at the kennel, I definately spend on agility.