Summer Vacation: A guide to pet sitting, boarding, & traveling with your pets

Summer vacation is here! Time for festivals, BBQs, and - of course - family trips.
As a pet owner, booking your airline tickets and hotel room are only part of the preparation.  Who will care for your pets while you're gone?

There are a few options:​

• Ask a trusted friend or family member to care for your pet(s)
• Hire a pet sitter
• Book a stay for your pets at a boarding kennel/pet resort
• Take your pet with you!

Everyone's situation is a little different, so let's look at what each has to offer:

Ask a trusted friend or family member to care for your pets.
Staying at home is the least stressful situation for most pets. The familiar sights and scents will give your pet comfort in your absence, and it is relatively easy to avoid disrupting regular routines.

Even if having someone stay overnight while you're gone isn't possible, having a trusted person visit throughout the day for meals, potty breaks, and play time will often suffice - especially for shorter weekend trips.
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If your pet is familiar with your friend/relative's home, he may be comfortable staying there. Make sure that he gets along with other pets in the sitter's household to avoid fights and undue stress.

Tip: Many clients will call us before a trip to let us know who will be caring for their pets. We appreciate this and take note, but still strongly recommend that you leave a letter of authorization with your pet's caretaker in case of emergency.

• Link: Downloadable Pet Care Authorization Form (AAHA)

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Hire a Pet Sitter
​You want your pet to stay at home while you're gone, but perhaps you don't have family nearby and your friends are unable to help. Or maybe your pet has special medical needs that would be best left to someone with training and experience.

Do your research when choosing a pet sitter. Ask for recommendations, read reviews, and make sure your sitter is reliable and responsible. There's not much worse than getting a phone call from your coworker's cousin's daughter that she "just can't handle the poop" and that you'll have to find someone else.

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Boarding Kennel or Pet Resort
​Boarding kennels were created for this very purpose: to provide a safe, secure environment for pets while their owners are away.  That being said, not all kennels are created equal.

• Don't just pick a kennel out of the phone book at random. Ask for recommendations here, too. Visit the company's website, and if possible - visit the facility itself to make sure it's clean, safe, and comfortable.
• Consider your pet's health (daily medications, special diet) and personality (does she become easily stressed in a cage? Is she aggressive with other dogs?) These are challenges, not necessarily barriers. Talk to the staff about your concerns.
• Check the facility's requirements well before you plan to board.
  • ​Your pets will need to be up-to-date on core vaccines:
    • Dogs: Rabies, DHPP or DAPP
    • Cats: Rabies, FVRCP
  • Bordetella, or the "kennel cough" vaccine, should be administered at least 1 to 2 weeks before boarding.
  • Some facilities require a negative stool sample within a certain time frame prior to boarding. Allow time for fecal testing (24 hours) - and let us know where you need the results sent.
  • At least one local boarding kennel requires a current Canine Influenza (H3N8) vaccine. This is not considered a high-risk disease in our area, so it is only administered on an as-needed basis. Dogs receiving this vaccine for the first time will need a booster 2-3 weeks after the initial injection. It is then given once annually.

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Take your pet on vacation with you!
This might not always be practical, but it's a fun option for dogs that are used to being part of the action. Look for pet-friendly hotels and resorts near your destination, and make memories together!

• Link: A how-to guide for traveling with your pets (Huffington Post, 2013).

If you plan on flying, review your airline's policies and fees in advance. Know where in the airplane your pet will be traveling, and if a health certificate from your veterinarian is required before the flight.

• Link: The best airlines for your pets (Trupanion, 2016).

Anytime you plan to be away from home with your pet, make sure you bring an updated copy of her vaccinations. [Note: you can access your pet's vaccine records 24/7 with any smartphone or computer through your Petly.com account.]

• Link: Missed your Petly invitation? Fill out the form on our website here and we'll send you another!

Have an updated photo of your pet in case you get separated, and be sure that his collar ID tags include your cell phone number. Also, if you haven't yet, now is a good time to have your pet microchipped. Collars and tags offer quick ID, but they can fall off or be removed. A microchip is a permanent, positive identification for your pet.

• Link: Microchips: What you need to know (Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital, 2016)

Remember that we're always here to help you, so if you have questions or concerns about your pet travel plans, call us!

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