One of the most common problems that pet owners face is the question of what to do with the pet when going on a vacation. You leave your pet unattended in the house for a short time and when you return, the house is just a mess. Torn stuff, food  lying here and there, even poop sometimes. It is very difficult to plan a family vacation especially, when you have a pet. Somebody has to be left behind to take care of the pet. You can’t even just burden a neighbour to look after your pet because you are used to it and they aren’t and it will be very hard for them to fit lots of extra activities into their schedules. Plus, pets also get very moody in the absence of their actual owners. So here is a guide on how to manage travel assignments and a fine boarding experience for your pets while you are away.

Boarding homes;

Find out about pet boarding homes around your area. With pets becoming popular, pet homes have also been on the rise. The best way to look for them would be to look up the internet or ask friends who have personal experience of boarding their pets at a pet home. Once you have a list of boarding homes in your hand, don’t just call them and throw your pet at their doors. You need to walk in and evaluate if a particular boarding home will be a good idea for your pet.

Evaluating the boarding home;

Call the boarding homes well before your planned vacation dates because if you are going at a peek holiday season then there is a probability that you might hit a dead end because the homes may already be full. Once they confirm vacancies, save a date to go visit the place. Observe and take in the surrounding carefully and ask as many questions as you can. A proper boarding home must be cleaned regularly. Most of the homes may not allow visitors inside beside the other resident pets may not react positively to that and also there are lot of disinfection procedures to be followed, but anyhow make sure you can have at least a glimpse of the place where your pet will be staying in your absence. Look for the spaces provided; your pet needs enough space for regular exercising.

Security;

Initially the dog may be very reluctant of letting you go and would want to escape and come back home to you. So when you visit the boarding home, check if the fencings are sturdy and there are proper gates and no spots that you suspect, may help your dog escape. If there is additional information like, your dog could dig and get out, you cat is an exceptional leaper and so on, inform the caretaker beforehand so that all the necessary precautions are taken

Safety;

Safety is as important as the security. Now with fencings, gates, and covers, there are possibilities of sharp edges. Your pet may try to escape and injure itself in the process because of all the unattended parts. The flooring must not be very rough or prickly, sleeping area must be soft enough and fire fighting equipment must be ready always in case there is a fire and all the pets are locked in, there will not be enough time to unlock them.

Supervision;

Make sure there are cameras and the care taker is active and alert the entire time. Some pets, including my dog, stop eating in the absence of their owners. Sometimes it is normal to not and be inactive, but if the pet is unusually lethargic, the care taker must be able to make a note of it and call a vet for a check up. In a proper quality boarding home, the trainers and care takers are well trained to notice unusual behaviour in pets, just in case the animals may be suffering from some kind of illness.

Sanitation;

Proper cleaning is of the utmost importance because in a new place, the animals may poop, puke or urinate anywhere. If left unattended, the dirt may cause infections and sicknesses to not just your pet but also the other resident animals. Therefore there must be proper disinfecting chemicals used with a regular schedule of sanitation.

Health care;

Inquire about the kind of food and water that will be offered to your pet at the boarding home. See if they have required medication stock and veterinary services readily available. Sometimes your pets may require immunization. Personally make sure of all the facilities provided at the pet home

Comfort provisions;

Find out about proper lightings, beddings, temperature controls, ventilation, all time water provision, exercise areas and sleeping areas.

After you have found the best boarding home for your pet, it’s time to make your pet familiar with the concept and prepare it for the boarding period. So take your pet regularly for short overnight stays at the boarding home before your actual vacation trip so that your pets gradually gets to absorb and get used to the place and the care taker so that when you are actually away for a long time, it won’t bother your pet so much and it will eat, sleep and exercise as usual. Once after the vacation, pick up your pet, but only at normal timings of the boarding home and if you find any unusual behaviour in your pet, do not hesitate to call the boarding home and inquire about it.

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