OT question: Having someone watch your animal while you are away

[kmermaid]

I know this is off topic and the moderators can switch it to where it might best belong. I don't know the best place to ask this question:

I was wondering if anyone has had someone come in and stay at there house to take care of their animal(s) during the day. I'm going to do this and I was wondering what the going rate was.

 

[PamNC]

First - we live on a farm. 4 horses, 2 chickens, 2 dogs, 4 inside cats, 6 outside "barn cats."

I do have someone come stay at my house - she is a friend but I do pay her. I pay her $40 a day, plus enough money for a tank of gas.

I live in NC - cost of living here is cheap - so keep that in mind depending on where you live.

PamNC

 

[dizneykid]

My brother has had his wife's neice stay at their house and take care of his two dogs. She feeds and walks them and stays overnight. He gives her $20.00 a day. I think that is a very good deal.

My DH and I have a petsitter come twice a day to our house to take care of our two dogs. She comes around 6:00 - 6:30 in the morning and then in the evening. She feeds them and walks them and spends some time to play with them. She also gets our mail, paper and waters our plants. She charges $16.00 a visit. So that is $32.00 a day.

When you think about it is isn't so bad, being boarding pets at the vet or a boarding house usually costs anywhere between $15.00 to $30.00 per pet per day.

Having someone come to your house (who you trust with your pet's life), I think is a very good thing. My little kids are very comfortable at home, they are in their surroundings. What more could they want (other than having you home with them). They also love their "petsitter".

 

[JayCT]

We have our kids babysitter comes to the house and stay with our dog while we are away. He is a college student living at home, so he likes to get away. We pay him $20 to $25 per day. That is compariable to what the kennels charge here. SIL pays $25 per day. We will be at WDW in May for 8 nights and will probably give him $200 or so.

 

[sissybells]

We use a place called Pampered Pets. They don't stay all day but they will come and let our dog out, and do whatever else we need as far as like bringing in the paper and the mail. They don't stay with him all day they stay about 45 minutes to take him out, feed him and play and excersise. It is $12.50 a visit. It really is a comfort especially when you have a good business that will come out and meet you and your pet, knowing ours is a certified vet is so great. Make sure whoever you use is certified in your city. They do a little meeting day and get all of your info with who to contact in case of an emergency and everything. Our dog can only be alone for 5 hours tops and that is pushing it. If we go on vacation I give my Mom my dates and she puts in for those dates at her work and she stays here while we are gone. We pay her salary that she would usually get if she were at work. I know we are fortunate to have her be able to take off and stay here, but if you trusted an older family member to that also you could probaly make them happy to give them a job doing that. I hope this helps a little. Our dog is very spoiled. We aren't able to have children so he is our kid. He even has his own room and everything. I could go on and on about him. I hope everything works out.

 

[bballmom56]

We are on a farm, also - 4 horses (2 belong to boarders), 5 cats, 1 dog, 1 bearded dragon (lizard), fish, frogs, and I think that's it!

My two horse boarding families are very close friends of ours and have agreed to take care of the barn. The one family will come to the house twice a day to check on my 84 year old mother who lives with us and make sure the house animals are being taken care of (mom will do that, but just needs some oversight).

I've already told them not to pay board for the month for helping me out. They even tried to argue that I'd need the money for the Disney trip! They are the best! I had to be firm in saying I wouldn't take their money for the month!

 

[cindala]

Our DD's boyfriend has taken care of our dog on two trips, one for three nights and one for two. He came to the house 3 times each day, fed, took out and played with our dog. She likes him, and even though he stayed with her for a little while each visit, she was alone alot.

Now for our trip in July, I am thinking of asking him again. This time it is 8 nights though, and it is summer, and often very warm in our home. We don't have central air, but in the wall ac's. I'm not sure how that is going to work out, as I don't want to leave on an AC 24/7, but I know it will be needed at times. I really don't know what to do. The last time we boarded our dog, she lost 4 pounds, and she is only 16 pounds. She does much better being in her own surroundings.

 

[Ever_After]

Originally posted by cindala
The last time we boarded our dog, she lost 4 pounds, and she is only 16 pounds. She does much better being in her own surroundings.

Oh your poor baby! When we go in June, my parents will watch our 2 cats but in November my whole family will be there so we will have to hire someone. I am already thinking (actually stressing lol) about researching pet sitting companies now.

 

[Harambe]

Unfortunately our cat has diabetis, so we have to board her with the vet, so they can give her the twice-a-day shots. Now our canary is another matter. I brought him next door to our neighbors last time (a little stressful for him) , but this time it is only four days, so I am going to have the neighbors come to my house to feed him. We don't have AC but will keep all the windows on the sunporch open for him.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We trade with our neighbors. When we are out of town, they watch our dos and cat. And when they are aout of town, we watch their dogs. Usually we bring some kind of suvenier from out trip for them, and they do the same for us. It works out great for all involved.

 

[Robinrs]

Since we don't have a pet board, this is not OT!

 

[kmermaid]

Thanks for all your replies, it has really helped me out alot! I love these boards!

 

[Laurabearz]

We dont have any pets, but we have to have a house sitters when we travel... friends who hang out here, watch DirectTV and drink all our booze. In return, if it rains, they make sure the sump is up and running and take care of any water in the basement for us.

We only pay them in PPV movies and beer... some times absolute... and we bring them back a t-shirt.