My husband and I like to get away for a week-end road trip on occasion. It has become pretty pricey to leave our dog at the doggie motel (vet's boarding), so we worked out a trade with our neighbors.
When we go away, they take care of our dog and when they go away, we do the same for them and take care of their dog. It saves us time and money, plus our dog is much happier staying with people she knows and still being able to go for walks in her own neighborhood. We don't worry about her when we are gone.
By Bobbie G. from Rockwall, TX
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We do the same thing, having such wonderful neighbours. Plus we know our dogs are being well looked after and are happy in a familiar environment. We return the favour when necessary.
To put your loved one in a kennel is like jail. They don't know what they did wrong to be punished. Always a better decision to have them in familiar surroundings with trusted responsible people.
Let me give a short synopsie of 2 separate things that happened to my pets.
1. I had to go away for a 4 day weekend to a wedding so I didn't think I"d be able to spend as much time with my 2 small dogs and 1 cat. These 3 animals are extremely close and get highly upset if one of the 3 is separated from them. I had tried to locate a pet sitter to come in but couldn't find anyone I trusted. So I took them to my vet. My dogs' stomachs are highly sensitive to change in diet so I took a 20 lb bag, plus a 4 lb bag of cat food for the cat. I had arranged it with the vet that the dogs and the cat would all 3 be put into one large cage in the cat area. They even took me back and showed me when I brought them in.
2. Had to away again for another 4 day. I searched online and in the phone book and finally found a pet sitter to come to my home 4 times a day. I checked her out on Angie's List and Craig's List (I know now that Craig's can't be trusted) and also with references. She seemed to be a good find.
Now let me clarify one thing. These neighbors who came and told me this were the same neighbors who had always told me in the past that if something like this ever came up to let them know and they'd take care of the dogs for me. This came from 6 different houses on my cul-de-sac. But when the time actually came, even tho I asked 6 weeks in advance, suddenly not a single one of them would be available. And this type thing is typical for my neighbors. So my only choices on these two occasions was to hire from the phone book or online, or take them with me which I didn't believe would be feasible at the time.
Since then, If I can't take my pets with me, I don't go. They aren't any trouble since they've traveled with me ever since they were pups/kitten. I always try to stay at a Motel 6 because they are always clean and convenient to a restaurant, and there is no deposit required for pets.
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