031623_Picture My Pet _DIGITAL EDITION

6 x March 16 — April 5, 2023 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com
Leaving your pets behind when you
are away from home can be extremely
stressful — for you and for them.
For many owners, pets are additional
family members. We worry about
their eating and bathroom habits,
stress levels, medical concerns and
general happiness when we can’t be
there to care for them. Whether it’s a
vacation, business trip or other situation
that keeps you from home, it’s
important to have a plan of care for
all your animals.
There are three general ways to
have your pets looked after. You can
ask a family member or friend to
watch them, hire a professional pet
sitter, or use a pet-boarding facility.
There are pros and cons to each of
these options, and choosing the best
one depends on the personal preference
or comfort of each family.
Having a family member or friend
watch your animals while you are
away can be a great choice for
those with family who live close by or
trustworthy friends. If you are asking
people to come to your residence,
possibly even staying overnight,
family members or friends will be those
you are most comfortable having
in your home unsupervised. You are
more likely to trust them not to go
through your personal things or take
anything from the house. There is also
a chance your pet already knows and
is comfortable with them — making
the separation from you easier. While
you will want to compensate them in
some way, asking a friend or family
member to watch your pet is likely the
least expensive option.
One challenge with asking family
members or friends is that they may
not be knowledgeable about emergency
or medical situations. If your
pet takes any medications, they may
not be comfortable administering it.
You also cannot expect them to be
HOW TO ...
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Always have a plan of care for your pet
while you are away from home.
available to watch your pet anytime
you are out of town. They are likely to
have their own plans for holidays or
family vacations, or they simply may
not be up for the job at that time, so
you will need to be considerate of
their schedules.
Another route to take would be to
hire a professional pet sitter. There are
a few trusted sites to search online for
pet sitters in your area, such as rover.
com, petsitter.com and care.com.
Sitters for hire should be well-versed in
caring for a variety of animals. They
should clearly state which breeds and
types of pets they can care for and
their experience levels. Many professional
pet sitters are competent with
administering medications and will be
knowledgeable about medical and
emergency situations. Your expectations
on the level of care needed
are very clear with hiring a pet sitter.
They can often watch your pet in your
home or their own, and many offer
drop-in services or overnight stays.
Depending on your pets and the level
of care they need, you can request
the service that best fits your needs.
On these sites, you’ll be able to see
reviews of past clients and can ask for
a list of references to contact.
The downside of hiring professional
pet sitters is that you often won’t
know them personally. Most should
offer a consultation meeting, so you
can meet them and introduce them
to your pets, but it won’t be someone
you know on a deeper level. It can
be uncomfortable for some people for
a stranger to have full access to their
home when they are away. You can
avoid this by having the sitter watch
your pet in his or her own residence if
you have pets that would be comfortable
being away from home for a bit.
Pricing for a professional pet sitter varies
greatly depending on the level of
care needed, experience level of the
sitter, and area you live in. It is likely to
be more than what you would offer a
family member or friend but less than
what you would pay for boarding.
Boarding your pet with a facility
or vet clinic is the third option for
pet owners. Boarding can offer even
greater peace of mind, knowing that
a vet or professional is on hand who
is capable of handling any situation
that may occur with your pet while
you are away.
Boarding is likely to be the most
expensive option and may cause additional
anxiety in your pet due to being
in a new environment without you.
Your pet should also be comfortable
being crated or otherwise secured
for longer periods of time. Though
their exercise needs should be met in
boarding, the pets will probably not
have full run of the facility like they
would in a home and will likely be
secured or crated for nights. Some
boarding facilities may offer a more
relaxed stay. For instance, a dog day
care may allow boarded dogs to
play with other dogs during the day,
given that your pet is socialized to interact
with other dogs. Many will also
offer grooming services and other
amenities.
Regardless of which avenue you
choose, your pets' basic needs should
always be met while you are away.
They should have a consistent food
schedule, get exercise as needed, be
at home or in a safe environment, and
be given any needed medications as
prescribed. Caretakers should be left
with emergency numbers, vet information
and any medications needed
for your pets. There is no better or
worse choice overall, as every family
and pet situation is different. Select
the option that best fits your family’s
needs so that your pets are comfortable
and safe while you are away
from home. ª