Here’s what to do with your pets ’tis holiday season

07POLOKWANE – ‘Tis the season where you might not know what to do with your pets when you go on holiday.

The preferable option, according to Polokwane SPCA manager Selma Landman, is to take your pets with you – if your holiday destination allows it.

She says some pets are used to long distance travel as long as the owners stop often and ensure they have enough space and ventilation in the vehicle.

Selma says if your pets are allowed to go with you to your holiday destination, you should ensure there are the needed facilities, such as an enclosed premises, for them.

She explains it is not advisable to take a pet on holiday and leave it locked up in an unknown environment while the family stays on the beach all day.

“It is not a good idea to take a newly adopted animal on a trip, because it is still getting to know the new owners and home, and travel and unknown surroundings will cause a lot of anxiety. When you decide to leave your pet at home, there are a few options such as leaving it at home and getting a trustworthy, animal-loving person, to take care of them. Make sure you get daily updates on how your pet is doing at home.”

Selma advises pet owners to ask more than one person to check up on their pets, and says a neighbour is a good option as they are right next door.

If the holiday period includes New Year’s Eve, Selma says it is important that someone should be at your house with your animals, because they might be petrified as a result of fireworks.

“The person should lock them up inside and play music to soften the noise of the fireworks.”

Selma says the other option is to leave your animals at a boarding kennels, which is offered by a number of people in Polokwane.

Chantelle van Deventer from House Angels says when your pet is not used to going out of its environment, you should consider leaving it home when you go on holiday.

She says the other option available is booking them it into a kennels, which is more practical as they have someone who walks them every day and spends time with them.

“However, if your pet has never left their own house then you can look at having a pet sitter come and look after your pet at home. This will be a better option as they will be in a comfortable environment and adjust better when left at home. Remember that your pet can get stressed when left at home. A typical checklist when leaving your pet behind should look at whether your pet is going to get enough attention, will they be fine when it rains and are they going to get out of the yard when the sitter is looking after them?”

Checklist:

• Check that the pets are microchipped, dewormed and vaccinations are up to date.
• Make sure you have the contact numbers of your neighbours, lost and found, police and the SPCA. Leave your number and pictures of the animals.
• Have a back-up plan such as extra people who can check up on your pets.
• Make sure there is enough food, shelter, comfort, and interaction with people.
• Your local CPF should have your number and be able to check up on your animals.
• Your pet sitter should know who your vet is.
• The feeding of the animal should be the same as when you are at home.
• Animals must feel safe and should be able to either go into an open garage, doggy door or into a pantry.
• Let them sleep on familiar beds and blankets.
• Make sure all holes in the fence or gate is repaired because when animals get frightened, they can escape through the smallest places and hurt themselves.
• Do the same as what you would’ve done if your human child was staying home alone.
• If you have more than one species of pets, plan for all of them.