The last long weekend of 2019 and the decade starts today, with Labour Weekend this weekend.
Many people will already have plans to go away this weekend, but what happens when your pet cant come with you?
While there is a growing number of pet friendly holiday options, it may not always be possible to bring your furry friend with you.
The SPCA says if your pets cant come with you, its important to weigh up the pros and cons when deciding where they will stay, or with who.
Whether you choose a pet sitter, kennel, cattery, or dog day care, you will need to assess each option before you hit the road.
The SPCA has compiled some top tips for preparing for your pets holiday: what you should look for and what questions you should ask.
Pet Sitter
Pet sitters are ideal for people who want to keep their pet at home while they are away and for species that are easily stressed by a change in environment, such as cats, and for animals who dont have many options for external boarding, such as birds, rabbits, fish, or guinea pigs. If your pet cant come with you when you go on holiday, a pet sitter is a good choice because your pet will be in their own environment and be cared for individually. Pet sitters also provide customised care for them, which reduces separation anxiety and stress for all.
For cat owners, a pet sitter is a good option because the cats can stay in their own home environment and stress from change of routine and environment is minimised.
To find a good pet-sitter, start by asking your friends and family to see if they have any recommendations. Your vet may also know some reliable sitters, or you can find a professional pet sitter from a company these can be easily found online. Ask for and check multiple references before booking. Having a police background check is standard practice for many professional pet sitters.
When you find the perfect sitter for your pet, have them come to your house so you can introduce your pet to them, and show them around your home, explaining where things are and how your pets routine works.
Before you go on holiday, be sure to provide your pet sitter with the following:
Your phone number.
Accommodation details.
Your vets contact number.
Notes on your pets routine, health, medication, food, and any behaviour details (e.g. if they have separation anxiety).
Family or friends contact details in case you cant be reached.
Details about what to do in case on an emergency related to the house (e.g. a plumber/electrician)
Kennel
If you choose to keep your dog at a kennel while youre away, it is imperative that your dog is safe, well cared for, and is going to enjoy themselves. You should always check to see that any kennel you visit is licensed by the local authority or council to operate, as this will ensure a high level of standard has been met for accommodating animals. A good kennel owner or manager will be more than happy to give you a tour of the facilities if you pop in and ask to be taken around. Be conscious that some kennels have mat times or quiet times, so go outside these times but ideally show up for an unannounced visit. If they wont show you the facility dont leave your dog there.
Ask and check the following:
If dogs have a behaviour assessment before they join the facility. It is not enough to simply assess a dog for aggression, a good facility will assess dogs for other things such as separation anxiety, confidence levels, and toy possessiveness.
View the accommodation available for your dog/s at the kennels and make sure that you are happy that it will provide for their needs.
Check out the exercise areas at the kennel facility, and see that they are safe and appropriate for your dog. A kennel where you see dogs that are relaxed, rather than pacing, barking, or looking anxious, is a good indication of how the kennel operates. Ask whether you can bring your dogs own toys and bedding/blankets, as this can be comforting to them in your absence.
How the staff would address a scuffle breaking out between dogs. They should do this in a safe manner, distracting dogs and redirecting the dogs or, if the dogs are engaged in a physical fight, using the wheelbarrow technique to safely separate the dogs and then give the dogs some quiet time to cool off. The staff should observe what led to the undesirable behaviour and redirect the dogs to something more appropriate, or change the environment to help the dogs feel more comfortable.
Ask about how they match dogs for group exercise and the level of staff supervision (ideally there should be 2 staff members per play group).
Dogs with particular health needs will need extra attention, so ask if staff can administer medication, and if this carries an extra cost.
What protocol do they have in case your pet has a medical emergency? The facility should have an agreement with a nearby veterinary facility, and the ability to take your pet there if something happens. Discuss what protocol should be set up in case your pet is not eating normally or just seems off.
A reputable kennel will let you know if they think a kennel is not the best option for your dog based on their behaviour. It is important to disclose if your dog does not get along well with all other dogs. Some kennels offer private play areas and most kennels will try to match your dog to a with a friend theyll feel comfortable with. Ensure that the facility is set up to be able to care for your dogs health needs appropriately.
Remember that your dog will need to be up to date with vaccinations before going to a kennel, see below for a list of these.
Cattery
Good catteries book up quickly, so give yourself plenty of time before your holiday to look into an appropriate cattery if you want to book your feline friend in while youre away. Youll be wanting to book a secure, self-contained space for your cat, ensuring that your cat would not have direct contact with other cats. Ideally, your cat would also be able to go outside in a safe contained area. A good cattery will ask lots of questions about your pet, and will insist that all cats coming into their centre have up to date vaccinations. See below for a list of these.
Drop in and check out the facilities and ask if you can have a tour and see how the cats are housed during the day. The living areas, play rooms, and sleeping areas should all be a comfortable temperature (neither hot nor cold), secure, clean, and dry, with plenty of fresh clean water available. Individual cat enclosures should have toys, a scratching post, something for the cat to hide in or under, a high area such as a shelf where the cat can rest, and a litter tray. If you will be boarding more than one cat, and the cats get on and would like to stay together, ensure the cattery will allow them to be housed together. Check below for vaccination recommendations for your cat.
Cats need their own space to sleep and rest, and like to have an area from which they can survey their environment while feeling secure. Therefore, they need a secure place to hide (for example, a comfortable box, tent or igloo) and a high perching area. It is also important that the cats enclosure/cage is not open (i.e. at least three walls are solid) and that enclosures/cages do not face each other, as this can be very unnerving for shy cats.
Dog day care
Many pet-owners work long hours and they choose to book their pooch in to a dog day care facility. These facilities look after dogs of all shapes and sizes, and should have a daily schedule of activities that will include activities such as playtime, rest time, learning, training, and socialising for your dog.
When looking after groups of dogs, a dog day care needs to have a high level of organisation. When deciding what dog day care youd like to take your dog to, be sure to take a tour of the facilities with the owner or manager.
A dog day care should provide a clean, sanitary environment, with good ventilation (this could be achieved through open doors or a fresh-air exchange system). Fresh, clean water should be available in play areas and individual kennels at all times.
All good dog day cares will require a behaviour assessment prior to accepting your dog to determine if the dog day care environment is suitable for your dog. They should have an area which allows them to gradually introduce your dog to other dogs.
Take a look at how they are containing dogs - dog day cares that are caring for many dogs will typically split dogs into different playrooms based on factors such as size, temperament, or play style. It's not ideal to have high energy large dogs in the same area with low energy tiny dogs. Facilities should also have proper fencing that is strong enough to hold the weight of a dog and high enough to ensure sprightly dogs cant leap over them. Gating should be secure, and some might have a double gating system which provides space for them to get used to the play area before joining other dogs outside.
Staff members should ideally hold an animal management certificate or a similar qualification. This means staff will be educated on dog behaviour, dog body language, canine first aid, health, play style, and behaviour management. Ideally the facility will have a qualified dog behaviourist onsite overseeing the dogs and staff. Also, be sure to ask the manager about the dog-to-human ratio, international standards advise the ratio should be no more than 15:1. Play groups should be supervised by at least 2 staff members, as this is the minimum required to safely break up a dog fight. When taking the dogs out of the facility, (for example, to a park) extra staff should be on hand.
A dog day care that has activities and training will keep your dog stimulated and interested. Some will provide activities and services such as swimming, field trips, overnights, bathing, walks, and classes.
Alongside this, staff at the dog day care may reward your dog with treats. Be sure to ask about their policy around this, if your dog can display aggressive behaviours around food or is on a special diet.
Most of the considerations discussed under Kennels also apply to dog day cares so have a read of that section too and check those things too.
Advice when dropping off and picking up your pet
Dropping them off:
When you arrive with your pet, remind the staff about any medical or behavior problems your pet has, such as a history of epilepsy or fear of thunder. After the check-in process, hand your pet to a staff member, say good-bye, and leave. Avoid long, emotional partings, which may upset your pet. Finally, have a good trip, knowing that your pet is in safe hands and will be happy to see you when you return.
When picking them up:
Picking up your pet can be an emotional reunion. Before heading home, ask the staff how things went.
Once you get home, spend some time relaxing with your pet before getting back into your routine. Hold off on feeding your pet for a few hours after arriving home since they may be overexcited to see you. When this happens, they tend to gulp food and water, which could trigger vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Remember before putting your pet in a cattery / kennel they will need to be up to date with the following recommended vaccinations. You can use this as a checklist with your vet beforehand.
Cats:
Feline panleucopaenia
Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FHV)
Feline calicivirus (FCV)
Your vet may also advise vaccination against Chlamydophila felis, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), and/or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
Dogs:
Distemper
Hepatitis
Parvovirus
Parainfluenza
Bordetella bronchiseptica (which causes kennel cough)
Canine leptospirosis (if recommended by your vet)
See the article here:
What to do when your pet can't come too - The Bay's News First - SunLive
