To Board or Not to Board – That is the Question
// January 24th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Pets
Your bags are packed and you’re ready to go. The airline tickets are in your dresser and the hotel is booked. You even bought a slinky bikini for lounging near the pool, and a smokin’ hot evening dress for going out at night. There’s nothing standing in the way between you and the vacation you’ve been planning for months.
Except Fido.
What to do with your pet when you’re going away? The options are endless, but with a little research and some helpful hints, we’ll have you (and Fido) squared away long before you have to get to the airport.
Pet boarding can be a daunting experience for both you and your dog. And the stress level only increases if this is the first time you’ve been separated from each other. Fortunately, in a country where dogs are considered members of the family, boarding facilities abound and can range from simple doggy day care places to full on deluxe pet hotels. And prices are as varied as the stablishments themselves. A good rule of thumb when looking for boarding is to ask your veterinarian, friends and other family members where they recommend you take your pet.
It’s hard to judge a place based only on what you read in the phone book or by taking a tour. However, when asking around, people are generally more than happy to recommend good boarding facilities and they’ll likely steer you away from ones with which they’ve had bad experiences.
Regardless of who suggests what place, a tour is always a good idea. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down over the phone, request a tour from each of your final selections. Make sure that the facility is organized and clean, ask how often the kennels are scrubbed out and how many times a day the dogs are taken for a walk. Feel free to ask if you can observe staff interacting with some of the animals on site. Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable should be considered a red flag. Only board your pet in a facility in which you have absolute confidence. Keep in mind that if you’re worried about your pet the whole time, your well-planned vacation will probably not be what you’d hoped.
When boarding your dog at an away-from-home facility, make sure to ask what you should bring with you when you check your pet in. Most places suggest bringing along toys from home, blankets or pillows that your pet is used to sleeping on, and any food or treats that you want your pet to have. But just as you would with human children, you should also make sure the facility has emergency phone numbers for you, as well as alternate caregivers, your pet’s vaccination records and any other hints or tips for helping your pet have a positive experience. If your dog is afraid of bigger dogs for example, make sure to tell the boarding facility that so they’ll keep it with the smaller dogs in play groups (if that sort of thing is offered at the facility).
If you decide that Fido (or yourself) would be more comfortable at home, other options are available. You can have friends/family members come in a couple times a day to let Fido out, to feed/water him and to spend a little time playing. However, a word of warning…a practice run with the caregiver and your pet before you actually leave is a really good idea. Sometimes even the most social, friendly and marshmallowy of dogs can become aggressive and protective when it’s in the house alone. I personally know of at least a dozen people who went to care for the pets of family members, only to be bitten upon arrival. A trial run before hand will save any nasty surprises for your pet sitter once you’re on vacation.
If you can’t find someone you know to watch your pets, there are also commercial pet sitting businesses available. However, these can be a bit concerning to the pet owner who isn’t comfortable with the idea of having a complete stranger caring for home and pets while the house is otherwise empty.
Of course, these are just a few of the care options available for your vacation time, and not every solution will work for every pet owner. In order for you to have the best vacation possible, you need to find the solution that works for both you and your pet. That way, when you’re sipping mai-tais under a palm tree, you won’t have to worry for one second about Fido, and you’ll come home to a happy reunion with your pal. – Lisa Lepak
