Your Vacation Is More Relaxing When You Know Your Pets At Home Are Happy!

 Travel With Pets  No Responses »
Mar 292012
 

Being left behind in a strange place while your loved ones go off for weeks can be a lonely experience for anyone and your pets are no different. Pets, even more than humans, are creatures of habit. They love familiar surroundings, are comfortable with routine and, above all, long for the company of those they love. Any change, even if it’s only a car ride to the park, can be stressful for your pet if not handled properly.

Along with buying plane tickets, reserving the resort cabin and booking the tours, you’ll also need to deal with how to care for your pet while you’re away. You have several options to choose from to make sure that your pet is, at least, sheltered and fed while you’re on vacation. One of these is to leave your pet in the care of a relative or neighbor. Unfortunately, in this day and age when everyone is busy at school or at work, this isn’t always possible. If you do find one, you have to make sure that he or she is capable of taking care of your pet and is genuinely willing to do so.

An alternative is to place your pet in a kennel or cattery. Depending upon where you live, there are many good kennels or catteries to choose from, but they can be expensive. Kennels can cost as much as $110 a day for a “dog hotel” with a whole range of amenities for the pet. Additional services like group play can set you back $5. Cat boarding services can cost even more with rates starting at $21 a night plus additional charges for other services like grooming.

No matter how luxurious a kennel or cattery might be, though, it’s still a strange place for your pet. While a good pet care facility will look after the physical needs of your pet, it cannot provide the familiar surroundings that will make your pet feel at home.

An increasingly popular, solution is to engage the services of a house sitter while you are away. A house sitter will live in your house and take care of your pet in the environment it’s familiar with. This helps to keep things as normal as possible for the pet even in your absence. The sitter will feed and exercise your pet according to your instructions and give it one-on-one attention. The personal care your pet gets from a house sitter will help compensate for any stress it might feel because of your absence and you can enjoy a relaxing trip away knowing your pets are happy.

Many people who are pet lovers will provide you with house sitting services at no charge, in exchange for free lodging and the chance to visit other parts of the country. In addition to taking care of your pet, they will look after your home, clean it and make sure it is secure. They can keep in regular touch with you and assure you that all’s well with your pet (and home) while you’re enjoying your vacation.

Looking at things from your pet’s eyes, engaging the services of a house sitter is an option you should definitely consider next time you travel.

Billy Bridge, the author of this article, loves to travel and these days saves on accommodation whenever he can by house sitting.

 Posted by at 8:50 pm  Tagged with: ,

Dog Luxury

 Travel With Pets  No Responses »
Sep 262011
 

Sometimes a family vacation needs to include everyone – no tails or furry friends left behind. Taking the four-legged members of your family might seem like a hassle, but hotels across the country are recognizing the importance of treating your dog just as well as they treat you.

Here is a list of some of the more interesting options available to you:

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park – wrought-iron pet beds, 22-karart gold plated ID tags, home-baked treats, and pet Burberry raincoats

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Los Cabos – portable pet cabana and a Canine Delights menu

Loews Hotels, Nashville, Coronado – dog lessons in singing or surfing as part of the Pets Learning Camp

The Peninsula Hotels, Beverly Hills, New York Chicago – monogrammed paw-printed towels and scented poop bags; a menu devoted to preferred brand foods of pets

One and Only Palmilla, Los Cabos – “Dog Passport” written in “Paw-lish” and a photo of your pooch; a gourmet menu of organic roasted chicken, beef tenderloin, or Pacific salmon

Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Resorts, Rome – four-course pet meals of fish, game, or vegetables in Gucci dog bowls; La Domus Aventina (spa for dogs)

Hotel Indigo Atlanta-Midtown, Atlanta – every Thursday night the hotel serves chicken, steak or vegan options to pets

Mandarin Oriental, Miami – pets receive a plush bed, golden collar tag, and bottled water; menu of grilled beef tenderloin, organic chicken, and gourmet desserts; Doggie Boot Camp; doggie bathrobes

If your budget constraints don’t allow you to spend triple digits on your dog’s hotel, there are still solutions for you! Pets Welcome can help you to find dog boarding in a hotel at your destination.  And finally, if doggie hotels just sound too outrageous for your needs, remember that you can always look for a fantastic dog sitter or Seattle dog boarding facility to find the perfect solution for your pup when you have to leave town.  While a hotel surely sound exotic, certain pooches may simply be happier in their own environment!

 Posted by at 7:43 pm

Travel Tips for Pet Travel

 Travel With Pets  No Responses »
Jul 232009
 

Putting a pet on a plane for travel can be a stressful time for owners and their pet. Before you travel with your pet, it is important to make sure you have implemented the following tips to ensure your pets safety as well as its health and well-being.

Pet Risk Destination Assessment: Check health risks in the destination area such as Lyme disease, Rabies, Heartworm, and other parasites and viruses. Treat your pet to prevent affliction. As well, check for breed restrictions at the destination before traveling. Some types of breeds and animal species are banned.

Assess Your Pets Health: Travel can be a stressful time for any pet. Make sure that your pet is healthy. Sick, injured, too young or too old, and pregnant pets should not fly. Make sure all of the vaccinations are up-to-date. Vaccinations must be administered at least 30 days before departure. Rabies certificates should be obtained and signed no more than 10 days before departure. Make sure that your pet’s nails have been clipped to protect against them hooking on the carrier’s door, holes, and other small spaces. Do not feed your pet for four to six hours prior to air travel. Vomiting in the carrier is messy.

Pet Identification: Provide your pet with two identification tags. Make sure the tag contains your name, all of your contact numbers, home address, and phone number and address of your destination location. A microchip is a permanent way to identify your pet. Another option is to acquire a pet passport. A pet passport can be purchased at most local pet stores or on the internet. The passport will keep all of your pets health information and emergency contacts readily available. Attach a photograph of your pet to the top of the carrier. This will help with identification if it gets out of the carrier. You should keep a picture in your purse or wallet. You should also place the words, “Live Animal” on the top and the sides of the carrier.

Appropriate Pet Carrier: Make sure you have a durable carrier with handles and proper locking. It should also have good ventilation and the pet should be able stand up, turn around and lie down. Write your home and destination contact information on the carrier. On the inside, lay comfortable bedding such as linen. As well, place ice cubes in the pets dish in the carrier. It will melt during the trip and provide the pet with water without making a mess.

Know Your Airlines Pet Policies: Pet policies differ among the various airlines. Some airlines have such restrictions as cabin weight limitations, a certain breed prohibited, no pets when there is bad weather, and certain pet carrier guidelines. Make sure you call ahead of time to obtain the essential information on flights and flying with your pet.

Traveling with a pet requires much planning and preparation. When you pack for your pet, make sure to include leashes, collar, food, medication and its favorite toy. Following the above tips will help ensure a safe and less stressful trip on the airplane making your trip much more relaxing and enjoyable.

 Posted by at 3:18 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,
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