Pets when away

[Aisling]

Do they sleep over? If so, do they let the pets snuggle with them? I may have to look into that!

This is how I think, too! I have never put my dog in a kennel just because I'm a helicopter mom and I'd be worried about him being in a cage, getting along with other dogs (he's timid) or being confused about the whole thing. So far, he's always been able to stay home when we travel, and a family member stays with him. I'd look into a friend being able to take him if I can't get someone to stay in my home with him. There are some really good kennels (doggie hotels) around here, so I wish I could get over my fear of leaving him there.

 

[Magpie]

Our dog would be miserable if she was left alone - heck, I leave her for half an hour and she's miserable! Dogs are pack creatures - they don't do well when they're isolated. It's stressful for them.

So when we travel we either take our dog with us, or we have a friend come and live in our house while we're gone.

My BIL doesn't have a friend who can house sit for him, so he leaves his dog at a kennel. The kennel is very, very nice - big roomy place, a lovely green field to run in, and they group dogs by size and temperament. His dog loves the place and gets excited whenever they drop her off.

I've looked after my neighbour's dog for him when he's travelled - he drops his dog off at my house and she lives with us until he gets back. She's a little sad, but I think she's still a lot happier than she would be sitting at home all alone.

I have another neighbour, however, who will go away for a weekend and just pay my daughter to come over and feed her dog and put the dog outside. Frankly, I don't think this works well, and may have something to do with the fact that she owns one of the most neurotic, messed-up little dogs I've ever met. She complains that the dog leaves "presents" in her bed when she goes away... and I'm thinking, "Gee, I wonder why?"

BTW - our dog travels so well that on occasion we've crossed the border to the US and the agent hasn't even realized she's in the car with us. She flops down on the seat between the kids and looks just like a stuffed animal. (We, of course, always have all the necessary papers - we just don't always get asked for them!)

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

WHat do you guys do when you go away with your pets? I have one yorkie and have been lucky enough yo have had my mil stay while we went away and now she has moved.My friend and neighbor says she will let him out and check the house but I am still worried about him being ok all night. Am I overeacting?

I take my 4 dogs to a kennel and pay a small fortune. My cats have multiple boxes, multiple water and food bowls, and a warm cozy bed so they take care of themselves. I wish I had someone to come over and let the dogs out. My dogs are kenneled at night as well as the day in their giant kennel which is the size for a rottie, but only houses a chihuahua and shih tzu so they have room to sleep, play, eat, and potty. My pugs have the entire laundry room themselves, but at the age 14 and 16 all they do is a lot of laying around and sleeping. I'd have no problems letting someone come over letting them play for a while, letting them out and then leaving. It isn't forever..just a few days.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We board our dogs.

One is a border collie and without people she would go bananas.

As far as the other dog we cannot trust him with strangers. He has bonded at the kennel so best solution for him.

 

[dawz1026]

Im starting to make myself sick already and my trip is not till October

 

[mrsstats]

If you are in Suffolk county Cozy Noses in Bohemia is very good.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We paid more to board our two dogs and three cats for two weeks than we put on our credit card charging to our room. And we did a bunch of signature dining.

 

[clh2]

WHat do you guys do when you go away with your pets? I have one yorkie and have been lucky enough yo have had my mil stay while we went away and now she has moved.My friend and neighbor says she will let him out and check the house but I am still worried about him being ok all night. Am I overeacting?

No you are not overreacting. My furbaby (12 YO white shepard/yellow lab mix) gets spoiled rotten at a place called the Woofdorf. The "play all day" and are only in their "suites" from about 10 at night until 6 am. They also eat in their suites. This particular place is staffed 24-7, and that is HUGE for me.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Im starting to make myself sick already and my trip is not till October

If you are in Suffolk county Cozy Noses in Bohemia is very good.

Hawkins Ave Hosp for Animals in Ronkonkoma also fantastic for boarding! Great Staff!

 

[PatsGirl]

I really, really wanted another dog but I had to make the choice between a dog or continue travelling like we do. So, we got a cat No, jk, he's been a good kitty so far, especially since we are new to this and are winging it as we go, lol. My problem is that I still can't see leaving him alone for more than a few hours which is why we compromised dog v. cat (boy, I hope he's not reading this and know he is second choice) If I'm going to be gone more than 8-10 hours he has to go to a sitter

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our former dog didn't like being around other dogs so we hired a dogsitter to visit her at home 3 times/day. This worked out well for her. The sitter would spend quality time with her for each visit.

Our current dog gets boarded at the kennel. They have a/c and an indoor and outdoor run--no cages. We pay extra so she can enjoy a "fun and games" session with one of the staff members playing with her. She gets a bath and haircut while there, too.

 

[Kath2003]

We put ours in the cattery - they took amazing care of them and both our cats were extremely happy. We also got stuck in the USA a few months back because of the volcanic ash fiasco and it was very reassuring to know the cats were safe in the cattery - who happily kept them whilst we tried to get back home (an extra 10 days ).

 

[JessicaR]

I know how you feel. I have 2 giant breed dogs that I could never board. They would be miserable. I am also on Long Island. I have used the same person for 8 years now. She is wonderful. If you are interested I will give you her number. Suffolk County.

As a mention to the cozy noses reply, I have two neighbors that are customers and rave about them for years.

Let me know what you end up doing and try not to get so upset. I'm the same way. hate leaving my babies.

 

[Gigi22]

We've tried a number of solutions over the years. DH's younger DSis sat our cats at our house; friends cat sat at our house; another friend came over and visited our cats, taking care of feeding, playing and so on; we have boarded the cats at our vet's cat kennel; and we have left them on their own with ample food and water, and extra litter boxes if we have only been away for a couple of days. I prefer to have someone I know come in and cat sit at my house, other than that I like sending the cats to the vet's kennel. (They're not that keen on it, because it involves a car trip in their cat carriers). The vet's kennel is equipped to monitor the cats health and administer medications if required--so I like that the cats are familiar with the environment there.

 

[kinggoofy]

WHat do you guys do when you go away with your pets? I have one yorkie and have been lucky enough yo have had my mil stay while we went away and now she has moved.My friend and neighbor says she will let him out and check the house but I am still worried about him being ok all night. Am I overeacting?

I have not read all the post....maybe this has been mentioned.

God forbid, if something were to happen to your house if you left your dog alone at night.

We have always had a family friend stay with our dog (s), two dogs over 17 years, stay at our house. While we are gone..our house is his house. All we ask is he take care of our dog.

During the day while he is at work, BIL comes over and lets him out and stays with him for about 1/2 hour. The most our dog is EVER home alone by himself is 6 hours.

BUT...this year, MIL is going to be on vacation while we are gone. So, this year, our dog gets to stay my his "gramma's" house for 1 1/2 weeks he wont be alone at all. Its something different so we figured we would give it a shot.

No sense in letting our dog stay home by himself all day when he can be at MIL's house...keeping her company.

 

[maxiesmom]

I only leave my dogs overnight if I have someone I trust to stay over while I am gone. There is no way I would leave them alone at night, I'm afraid they would freak out and wreck the place. My dogs are used to someone being home with them almost constantly, so I think they would be very upset at being left alone that long.

If I can't get a dog sitter, I don't go away overnight. Simple as that.

 

[dawz1026]

I have called my vet and asked about the boarding.He recommends not putting the animal ina cage if he is not in one at home and the animals are left alone all night there as well from 11-7 hhmm. I have read reviews on alot of places near my home and so many say that their pets have gotten fleas and kennel coughs. I had a neighbor when I was small go away and leave their pet in a kennel and he actually died because he was given medication not meant for him. It freaks me out. I do have a friend on by block who will come by 2-3 times a day and spend quality time at night with him. She told me no worries lol. The things we do for our pets and they have no idea lol

oh I am in Nassau County and have looked into Petsmat Pet Hotel and Paw Seasons in Plainview..eh

 

[Rora]

DH, myself and my parents are going on a Disney cruise this summer. We'll be gone for 19 days. My parents have 2 cats and no one to take care of them. They hired a bonded pet sitter to come in during the day, spend time with them, feed/water, etc.

We met with the ladies who will be visiting the cats and they said they have all types of clients- some just want someone to check in on the animals and some want the pet sitter to stay all day and overnight.

They're using the nation wide company called Fetch. www.fetchpetcare.com

Maybe this is an option for you?

 

[pigletgirl]

Do they sleep over? If so, do they let the pets snuggle with them? I may have to look into that!

Yes! Absolutely! He is a total different dog when he gets to stay home versus boarding him. He gets to be outdoors (swimming) and sleep in a familiar environment. We've never had a problem. Just find someone you trust! We typically hire friends of mine.

This is how I think, too! I have never put my dog in a kennel just because I'm a helicopter mom and I'd be worried about him being in a cage, getting along with other dogs (he's timid) or being confused about the whole thing. So far, he's always been able to stay home when we travel, and a family member stays with him. I'd look into a friend being able to take him if I can't get someone to stay in my home with him. There are some really good kennels (doggie hotels) around here, so I wish I could get over my fear of leaving him there.

Yeah, leaving them home with a sitter feels safer. The dog is alot of calm and an added bonus is that you don't have to haul them around. I think that is a huge plus.

 

[PamNC]

I have so many pets I hire a pet sitter to stay in my house. It's expensive though...but she was a vet tech previously so at least she knows what she's doing. I've got my dog, bf's dog, inside cats, horses, outside cats...so I have to do something drastic.

PamNC