Whether your Sunday Dog (or cat) is traveling with you or staying with friends for the holidays, it’s time to make that reservation.
Pet sitter and boarding kennel schedules can fill up fast this time of year, so here are some tips to make sure your pal will have all the comforts of home no matter where the journey leads.
- If you’re considering a boarding kennel, insist on seeing exactly where your pet will be kept and inspect the entire facility before choosing one.
- Dog hotels offer rooms with walls and furniture rather than wire pens or kennels and can be quieter, calmer, and more like a home environment.
- Pet sitters will come to your home each day, stay in your home, or keep your pet in their home. If you use a dog walker, start with him or her.
- There are also a few people in every neighborhood who make a little extra income by taking care of pets. If you ask neighbors for recommendations, you may find a gem in your area.
- Some dog breeders provide boarding services for dogs in their line. In the case of small scale breeders, your pet could have the run of their home except at bedtime.
- If you’re planning to fly with a small dog or cat, you’ll want to reserve a place in the cabin. Airlines limit the number of companion animals on each plane.
- Even informal agreements with family, friends, and other pet lovers for care while you travel should be arranged well in advance to ensure a visitor will fit with their holiday plans.
- If you have a dog or cat with serious health issues who needs careful monitoring of a medical condition or is very frail, consider boarding them at a veterinary hospital with 24-hour medical staff on duty. Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain offers this type of service.
Pull out your to-do list and move holiday planning to the top. Doing that now will feel like you’ve given a special gift to yourself when the time comes to travel.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: iStockphoto.com
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