When vacation time is here, it is time to think about who will take care of your pets while you are away. There are many options for your pets. You can have family or friends care for them, hire a sitter to either come two or three times a day to feed, water and walk, or to stay overnight, or your pets can be boarded at a kennel. Below are pros and cons for all those options that should be taken into consideration. Only you can make the decision that is right for you and your pet family.

Pros and Cons

Friends and Family

• PROS
• The pet knows them and they know your pet
• Inexpensive or free
• They know your wishes on how your pet should be taken care of
• CONS
• The pet may be unable to stay at your home
• If they visit your friend/family, your pet may be exposed to other animals with parasites or disease

Pet Sitter 2-3 Times a Day

• PROS
• Your pet can stay in his own familiar environment
• It may be less expensive than a full-time house sitter
• Your pet will get a lot of attention
• CONS
• You are giving a stranger access to your house

Pet Sitter/House Sitter

• PROS
• Added security of someone staying in your home
• Pets can stay in their own environment
• They will monitor your pet more closely, especially at night
• Pets will get a lot of individual attention
• This is often the best option if you are going to be away for an extended period of time
• CONS
• You are giving a stranger access to your house

Kennel

• PROS
• They will have other pets to play with
• It is a mini-vacation for them
• There is someone present to monitor them all day and pick up signs of illness
• CONS
• They are away from familiar surroundings
• There is a chance of them catching disease and parasites. Always make sure the kennel requires full, up to date vaccinations and a bordatella vaccination.

Once you decide on the route you want to take, make sure you get referrals from people you trust- your veterinarian, groomer, friends, family. Ask for referrals you can contact from the sitter or kennel.

Be aware of the rates that are being charged in your area. Remember, the further you live from you sitter, the more you may have to pay. Make sure you begin looking far enough ahead of time. Many kennels and sitters will be booked months in advance especially over prime vacation time.

Prior to boarding, dogs should be given a bordatella vaccination. This should be done at least two weeks prior to kenneling. This will prevent your dog from coming down with the most prevalent strains of kennel cough. Check if the kennel will use your veterinarian or the one closest to their facility should your pet need veterinary care.

No matter what you choose to do with your pets while you are away, you should always let your veterinarian know you will be away and who will be taking care of your pet. Though very rarely does anything happen, it's good to let us have a heads up if someone else is watching your pet. (Also, you should make arrangements for payments ahead of time, especially if you have a pet with continuing medical problems.)

• Leave a phone number where you, or someone you trust to make decisions about your pet, can be reached.
• Leave your veterinarian's name and number.
• Leave written instructions about walking, feeding and medications. Tell whoever is watching your pets about their bathroom habits-everyone is a little different.
• Have enough food and medication to get through the time you will be gone. If you will be gone for an extended period, leave exact instructions about what food and medications you get and where.
• If your pet is ill while you are gone, please let the kennel or sitter call the veterinarian. They are seeing the symptoms and can answer questions, giving the doctor a better picture of what is happening.
• Let the sitter and your pet get acquainted before you go.
• If your dog goes off leash to go out, you should get it used to a leash. Dogs that come home when their owners call may not come to a stranger.
• Make sure your sitter is comfortable giving any medications. You may want to have them come over and watch while you do it and walk them through the process.