What Should You Do with Your Pets when You're Away from Home?

This is a very common dilemma most owners will face at some point. Whether you are leaving due to an emergency, or it is a vacation that has been planned months in advance, you still need to have a place to take your pet where he can feel safe.

The first place that comes to mind is a kennel. A kennel can be a great place for your pet. He can get attention from people throughout the day, given play time, have a good place to sleep and he will have food and water on hand. The price range you will find among kennels can be borderline outrageous. There are some kennels that will provide your pet with a television, heated bed, and many other seemingly outlandish requirements.

If a kennel is where you plan on taking your pet while you are away, you need to be cautious when making your choice. Following are some guidelines when choosing a kennel to house your precious pet while you are away:

1. Do plenty of research on the owners of the kennel: How long have they been in business? Are there any complaints against them through the BBB?
   
2. Visit each facility you are considering: Is the office clean? Where are the animals housed? How many employees do they have? (This makes a difference - a kennel with a small staff and large amount of animals will not have time to give your dog individual attention) Do any of the animals look ill?
3. Pop in for a "surprise" visit: Check what the animals are doing when you arrive. Check the area the animals are kept - is it dirty? does it stink? are the sleeping areas clean?
   
4. Take your time when deciding, use your gut instinct. If something just doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
5. Check with your veterinarian, humane society or shelter, and other pet owners. They should all be able to give you the name of at least one kennel they recommend. But don't forget to visit it in person, meet with the owners and/or staff and make surethey care as much about animals as you do!!

Another option you have if you are leaving your pet at home for a period of time is a pet sitter. These people will come to your house, take care of your animal, and then leave (returning every few hours). This is a great thing for your pet! He gets to stay in an environment he is comfortable in and someone comes to your house to take care of him. There are obvious downfalls to this though:

• If you hire a popular pet sitter, they may be completely booked throughout the day. This means they will not be able to give your pet the attention and affection you are paying for.
• If you hire a neighbor or neighbor's child to do these duties, chances are your pet will be forgotten about (unless the person you pick is incredibly reliable and trustworthy).
• Also, if you do not do your research on the pet sitter, you could end up being the victim of a robbery. Extra caution needs to be taken when you are letting a stranger into your home. Dobackground checks on the person as well as the business, don't just open your home to anyone.

The last option I am going to talk about is leaving your animal with a friend. If you know someone who has animals and already knows your pet, there is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving him with them. You know your animal will be well-cared for, given plenty of affection, and he will also have a buddy to play with throughout the day. Just make sure your pet gets along with your friend's animal. If you know they get along perfectly fine, this is the best option for you as a pet owner. Not only will your pet be getting a loving environment, you will be saving money (it just might require you to return the favor to your friend sometime in the future).