The time of the year has come where families will go on vacations to relax and unwind. As pet owners, you are probably wondering where you’ll keep your pet while you are away.
The Boksburg SPCA has provided a guide to help pet owners plan for their pets during the festive season.
What are your options? • Take your pet to a boarding kennel/cattery • Take your pet with you (not recommended) • Use a house/pet sitter • Use a home pet care service
Boarding kennels/cattery Is your pet’s inoculation up to date? Reputable boarding kennels require proof of this and your pet’s vaccination certificates should be dated at least two weeks before your pets are admitted. A well-run, reputable boarding kennel is normally a safe manner in which to house your animals while you’re away. It also means that your pets are not lonely because of the activity around them. Disadvantages of boarding kennels/catteries Your pet is away from its home environment and may be stressed or depressed because you are also no longer around. Even though your pet has been vaccinated, it could still pick up an illness like kennel cough against which there is no inoculation.
Taking your pet on holiday with you Does your pet have a temporary new ID disk with your contactable details and do you have enough tranquilisers for the journey? Do you have a cool place in the vehicle (not the boot) where your pet can lie? Remember, never leave your pet inside the vehicle on a warm or hot day, even if it is parked in the shade with the windows slightly open. Disadvantages of taking your pet with you Travelling long distances in the car can be stressful for dogs and cats. Finding accommodation that accepts your pet can be hard. In the case of cats, they usually need up to 14 days to acclimatise to a new environment before they can be let out on their own.
Use a house/pet sitter It is advisable that you ensure that your pet knows the house sitter in advance of your absence, so that it is more comfortable and that you can assess if there are likely to be any bonding problems. An emergency backup plan is needed in case for some unforeseen reason, the house/pet sitter is unable to continue performing his or her duties. Advantages Animals are often much happier continuing to live at home with a familiar routine and they have maximum exposure to companionship. They will not be exposed to the risk of infectious diseases from other animals.
Use a home pet care service The checklist is similar to that for the house/pet sitter; however, for this service, your pets must be visited a minimum of once daily because an animal that becomes sick can deteriorate very rapidly and animals do need companionship.
Also Read: Pet Care Corner: Putting an ID disc on your pet’s collar
Also Read: Pet Care Corner: Microchips in domestic animals
