Guest Post by Rodney
When I look at my cat, I see plenty of personality…I see regality… I see complete and total dominance of our household. What I don’t see is a good option when it comes time to travel. He can’t go with us and he can’t stay home alone. What do you do with a family pet when you travel?
My personal pet hates all options that don’t include me by his side, but most pets are not quite so high maintenance. Here are five great options for your pet when you hit the open road:
Take Them With You
Just because my cat won’t take the trip with me, that doesn’t mean that all family pets are so skittish. There are tons of pet-friendly options on the road. From RV parks to pet-friendly hotels, you will have no trouble finding someplace that will accept your little friend. Do a little advance planning and you will have a great time with your pet in tow.
Hire a Dog Walker or Pet Companion
Some people don’t need a house sitter but would love to have someone hang out and spend time with their pet. Thankfully, there are people out there that do this for a living and will happily walk your dog, hang out with your cat or even sing to your bird. Whatever your situation, there are pet sitters out there to help you out.
Ask Your Neighbor for Help
Many neighbors are close enough to the family that you would trust them with your pets. Whether it is at their house or them coming over occasionally to walk, feed and spend time in yours, asking your neighbor is an option. Make sure your neighbor actually likes your pets first, or else they may feel trapped or forced to do it. Most neighbors will gladly help you out.
Hire a House Sitter
Pets demand attention and they need to be cared for while you are gone. Although a house sitter will provide much more than just pet sitting duties, they can also be there to give the pet a sense of normalcy. Consider hiring a house sitter and get double the benefits while you are gone.
Board Your Pets
This is by far the least popular of the choices on this list and you can understand why. That said, there are some wonderful kennels and places for your pet to go and stay while you are gone. Just be very careful to do your homework and try to go somewhere that comes closely referred by someone you trust.
Making plans for vacation is never complete until you figure out what to do with your pet. Whether they go with you, get regular visits from someone you trust, or go on vacation themselves at a kennel, making sure they are comfortable and safe will help you to relax that much more. They are, after all, family.
What do you do with your pets when you go on vacation?
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