by Pete Alexander

Going on a trip? Who will be caring for your pet while you are snorkeling off Lanai? You get to choose from a menu of providers but that does not necessarily make it an easy decision. Should you ask your neighbor to stop in several times a day? How about a house sitter; maybe that would be best? Well, you certainly could drop her off at that swell kennel across town. Then again, you might prefer to have a pet sitter visit every day. How do you choose the one that is right for your pet? Well, FETCH is here to give you some ideas and some tips.

The nature of the beast

The first thing to consider, of course, is what pets you have and what they are like. If you only have snakes or fish, kenneling is most likely not an option. If you have cats and/or dogs, you will find yourself considering their personalities and what they can tolerate. Will my Cavalier King Charles, who just turned seven months old, be all right in a kennel? Will she feel abandoned, or will she look forward to playing with all those other dogs? Do your cats freak out when anything in their routine changes? Would you use the word “sensitive” when describing your dogs or cats?

If your Beagle loves other dogs and cannot wait to get out of the house and off leash to play, play, play, chances are she will be just dandy in a kennel situation. But if your Papillon cringes at the sight of other dogs, a kennel might be just a tad traumatic. You know your own pet, so go with the flow.

While the cats are away the dogs will play

Kennels offer lots of amenities including play time, petting, a safe place to be, constant supervision, and reliable feeding schedules and medication administration. Some provide a separate room for your pet and all the luxuries of the world. If your dog is ready for a vacation away from home, and can handle it, kennels may not only be the best choice but possibly the least expensive.

Kennels are set up primarily for dogs, but some take cats, too. You might check with your favorite veterinary hospital to see what they charge for boarding.

Why a sitter, house or pet?

If your pet is hyper-sensitive to other dogs or has a personality not conducive to kennel life, and you don’t want to rely or impose upon a neighbor or friend, you will be engaging either a pet sitter or house sitter. The difference? House sitters stay at your house overnight, pet sitters do not. Pet sitters visit your home the number of times you want; house sitters stay at your home, thus potentially providing more pet care hours. Both will make sure your pets are fed and watered, exercised, loved, and will handle other household duties, like collecting the mail and taking trash out to the curb. Some sitters are trained to administer sophisticated medications as well. Pet sitters charge by the visit; house sitters charge by the day.

Make sure your pet or house sitter has a legitimate business. Pick one that is licensed, bonded and insured, and if you don’t know the company, be sure to get at least five references, preferably those who have pets like yours. You are letting a stranger into your home; be sure you can trust them.

Good neighbor policy?

Your neighbor may be your best option if he is reliable. Neighbors and friends often trade services with each other, like “I will pet sit for your dog this week if you will baby sit for my child next week.” Some people hire a neighbor’s kids to help out. If cost containment is the goal, having a neighbor take on the job is a way to achieve that. I have heard people say, however, that “You just can’t trust Bob’s daughter to always show up,” or “I just hate to impose on my neighbor,” and “By hiring a pet sitter I don’t have to take time out on my trip to get a nice gift for my neighbor.” Trust in reliability, cost containment, imposition issues are the operative criteria here. If you are comfortable with each of those, don’t hesitate to call Bob.

Did I do good?

Your pet will give you a report card when you return, and you will also have a chance to sense how good your choice was when you either pick up your pet or get your key back from the sitter. You will notice if your pet is relaxed when you return. If your pet sitter did a great job, your pet may be disappointed that it is just you coming in the door. We know a pet sitter who was rated lower on his client questionnaire because her sitter reported that the pet cat lay on his lap to be petted. Apparently, the owner was jealous because his cat was never that affectionate with him!

When you pick your dog up from the kennel, notice the interaction with the staff. Is she happy, relaxed, or is she clawing at the door to get out? Is your dog or cat delighted to see the pet sitter when she returns the key to you? By noticing little cues like these, you can see how well you did in your decision, change if your choice was the wrong one, or lock in that business for all your vacations down the road.