Plan for your pet, if going on holiday

HOLIDAYS need careful planning, which includes making plans for the care and well-being of your animals.

Reputable, dependable boarding kennels and home pet care services are booked up well ahead of any holiday season so you need to get in early. All pets need to be cared for if you go away for even the shortest time. That includes your fish, birds, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters.

So, what are your options?

• Take your pet(s) to a boarding kennel/cattery.
• Take your pet(s) 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 to boarding facilities.
• Have you been to view the boarding kennels/cattery yourself?
• Have you made sure the food being served by the boarding

Kennel/cattery meets your pet’s dietary requirements?

• Are dogs exercised?
• Does the kennel/cattery appear to be well-maintained?
• How many animals are housed in each kennel/cat pen?
• Have you been able to observe how the staff treat and handle the animals?
• Does the kennel/cattery have a vet visit on a daily basis?
• Are the staff trained to recognise animals that may not be well or to identify unhealthy stools? 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.

The 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. Your pet does not know if it will see you ever again;
• Even though your pet has been vaccinated it could still pick up an illness like kennel cough against which there is no inoculation.

Take your pet on holiday with you:

• Is your pet’s inoculation up to date?
• Does your pet have a temporary new ID disc with your contact details?
• Do you have enough tranquillisers for the journey?
• Do you have a cool place in the vehicle (not the boot) where your pet can lie?
• Do you have enough water for your pet to drink during the journey?
• Is the cat-carrying cage large enough so that the cat won’t lie in its faeces or urine?
• Can the cat cage be locked securely?
• Is the leash readily available so that you can ensure that your dog does not run free when you (and your dog) have restroom stops?

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. Have you thought about how you would get your pet back if it did go missing while it is with you on holiday?

Source: wwwnspca.co.za