Going away over the festive season? Have a plan for your pets now

Holidays need careful planning. That includes making a plan for the care and well-being of your animals.

Don’t leave it to the last minute. 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, says Kira Sparrow, manager at Kempton Park SPCA.

All pets need to be cared for if you go away, even for the shortest time. That includes fish, birds, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters.

So, what are your options?

• Take your pets to a boarding kennels/cattery.

• Take your pet(s) with you (if the venue you are staying at is pet friendly, but this is not recommended).

• Use a house/pet sitter.

• Use a home pet care service.

Boarding kennels/cattery

• Is your pet’s inoculations up to date? Reputable boarding kennels require proof of this.

• Have you been to view the kennels/cattery?

• Have you made sure that the food being served at the kennels/cattery meets your pet’s dietary requirements?

• Are the dogs exercised?

• Does the kennel/cattery appear to be well maintained?

• How many animals are housed in each kennel/cattery?

• Have you observed how the staff treat/handle the animals?

• Does the facility have access to a vet – if so, when?

• Are the staff trained to recognise animals that may not be well?

Sparrow says the disadvantage of boarding kennels/cattery is that your pet is away from its home environment and may be stressed or depressed because you are no longer around. Your pet does not know if it will ever see you again.

House/pet sitter

• Will the house/pet sitter be living with the pets in your home while you are away?

• If your pet is a dog, will the house/pet sitter be walking him (on a leash)?

• Is your property secured in such a way that no one can simply stroll into your property and leave the gate open?

• Have you left enough food for the duration of your holiday and some extra?

• If the house/pet sitter is a professional service, how long has it been in business for?

• Have you checked on their service – is it known to your vet and are they willing to recommend them?

• What animal knowledge does the house/pet sitter have?

• Have you made arrangements with your vet should your animal become ill while you are away?

• Does your pet have a collar with a name tag and your contact details? Is your pet micro-chipped?

• Does the house/pet sitter know what to do if your pet goes missing? Do they have the numbers for the local SPCA, vets in the area etc?

• Do you have an emergency backup plan in case some unforeseen reason the house/pet sitter is unable to continue performing his duties?

It is advisable that your pet knows the house/pet sitter in advance of your absence, so your pet is more comfortable and you can assess if there are likely to be any bonding problems.

Home pet care service

The check list is similar to the house/pet sitter, but:

• 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.

Fireworks

• Don’t let them face the terror alone.

Many animals are terrified of fireworks, especially bearing in mind that fireworks are five times louder to dogs and cats than to humans.

If you have left your pets at home in the care of a house sitter or home pet care service, or someone else, make arrangements on nights that are known to have fireworks for your animals to be kept inside the house and have someone stay with them.