Leaving Pets Home Alone: How Long is Okay?

I recently read an article in an online newspaper where two Chihuahuas were allegedly hurt and tortured during a home break in. According to the report, the people that broke in spent an entire night in the house with the dogs while the family was out of town. I am such a fanatic about leaving my pets alone for any length of time, that people think I spoil them to excess.

I have declined staying overnight with friends and family because I refuse to leave two little dogs home alone for the entire night. When I go out, I make sure I am not gone very long so I can get home to tend to their needs. I know people leave their pets home alone for several days with no one to look in on them, but I find this unacceptable.

I turned to other pet owners to see if I was too extreme about my pet's care and the length of time I frowned on leaving them home alone. Here is what they had to say about leaving their pets home alone:

"Somebody stop me! As an animal lover, I am incensed by the idea of people leaving their pets home alone for more than a few hours at a time. Dogs must be walked. Fish tanks and bird or small-animal cages must be cleaned. Even the most aloof of cats require a certain amount of daily attention. Pet sitters and pet boarding options are available for those who cannot take their animals along." Linda Ann - Madison, WI

"A weekend is too long to leave animals alone. Someone needs to come check on them several times in a weekend. Dogs need to be let out throughout the day to use the bathroom and exercise. It is also not safe to leave too much food and water in front of them at once. They may consume it all in one day and get sick or there may be some other terrible scenario surrounding it. Also, both need to be fresh and that can't happen if it is sitting there for days. Other animals have various needs that need to be addressed daily and sometimes throughout the day. For those reasons and more, it is inhumane to leave animals alone for more than a certain number of hours (not days)." Lyn, Denver, Colorado

"Even when I leave on a Friday night and return on a Saturday afternoon I hire someone to come in and let my dog out, feed, pet and spend a few minutes with him. Some may say it's a short period of time, but it's not when your pet is used to being part of the family." Lisa, Houston, TX

"I get a pet sitter to come let my dogs out if I'm going to be away from the house for more than 9 hours. (For some reason that's what we have chosen as our maximum.) I don't have cats, but I know a few people who leave their cats two or three days at a time. And I have reptiles and amphibians that can go three days." Cherri; El Cajon, CA

"I would never leave my dogs alone for a weekend. I'm riddled with guilt for being gone for a work day!" Patricia, Arlington Texas

"It is expensive to board out two large dogs. We hire a friend to look after them. It is affordable for us, and he is a college student in need of money. If you can't afford a pet sitter, don't leave for that long or find a better home for your pets." Tara, Lindenwold NJ

Sometimes it is necessary to leave pets home alone for a few hours, but there are many consequences to leaving them overnight, or several days. I worry that mine may get sick or injured while I am gone. My pets are my family and my responsibility.

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