There are many choices put to us for Pet Minding these days not like many years ago . There is a
BUT and that
BUT is that you have to be careful where you leave your Pet and who minds your Pet . It is not good enough just to 'leave' your Pet in a place or with a person because they call themselves a 'Pet Minder' or a 'Kennels' ---
YOU the Owner have a responsibility to check these places and people out and make sure that you are totally happy with the set up and that your Pet is going to be happy and well looked after in your absence .
Because of all the choices put to us I am going to try and explain the differences and the things to look out for under the different headings of 'Pet Minding'.
PET SITTER OR ONE-TO-ONE MINDER
This type of Minder can be for any type of Pet . As well as offering to mind your Pet in their own home sometimes they will if you prefer mind the Pet in your home and in some cases will include house minding as well . Turning on and off of lights, putting out bins, taking in post etc.
Recommended Standards to Watch Out For
- Proof of experience is available
- A clear written contract is provided stating EXACTLY what is included and the price
- References are provided
- Check out their insurance--accidents can happen
- Make sure that they show an interest in your Pet
- If the Minder falls ill do they have a backup
- Is there a Vet on call in case of emergency
- Do they seem confident dealing with animals
- Have they a caring nature
- Are you comfortable in their company
We would recommend that if your are going to get a Pet Minder to look after your Home and Pet that you use a Professional Pet Minding Company. These companies will have checked out the Minders and have full insurance cover and back-up service in case of illness or accidents. The last thing you want is your Pet to be left in your house with nobody calling.
There are some very good one-to-one minders who will mind your Pet in their home just always make sure you check them out no matter how nice they may seem.
The cost for this service varies depending on how much minding you need and for what type of pet.
BOARDING KENNELS
There are many Boarding Kennels, mostly for Dogs & Cats,around Ireland and as with anything there are some good some bad. The following is a check list that might help you in choosing the good kennels.Make sure you go and visit before you leave your Pet.
1.
Recommendation ..................as with anything this is the best it gets so ask around and see if anyone has put their Pet in the Boarding Kennel you have picked and if it was a good experience or a bad experience.
2.
Were the staff polite & friendly ?........................if so you will feel happier leaving your Pet as nobody would feel comfortable leaving their Pet with a rude or angry person.
3.
Did you check out the kennel where your Pet would be staying ?............
ALWAYS make sure you ask to see where the animals are kept. If they make an excuse and don't let you see them you can take it that they are not great and have something to hide. They could be old, drafty, dirty, smelly the list goes on.
4
.Noise & Overcrowding..............levels of noise can stress out Pets so take a check and listen if it is very noisy. Dogs will bark when visitors arrive but other then that if they are housed correctly and not overcrowded it should be reasonably quiet. Stress can be very dangerous for an animal and in some cases can kill them.
5
.Bedding & Flooring.....................check out what sort of bedding is available sometimes they allow you to bring your Pets own bedding this makes him feel less stressed.Make sure there is nothing on the floor of the run such as papers as these will just soak up the urine and gives the impression that they do not wash out the kennels every day. It will also be a health risk to your Pet.
6.
Exercise................check out the exercise area which some kennels have. Ask how often they are let out or how many walks they get each day and for how long. How many dogs are brought at a time and how many handlers. Are the handlers experienced and know what to do if your dog is attacked by another dog.
7.
Vaccination.............Did they tell you that they would need to see proof of your Pets vaccinations if not this shows total lack of responsibility and lack of interest in the Pets.
8.
On Collection.............If you have checked out all of these things and are happy to leave your Pet make sure that on collection you check him out. If he shows signs of fear, loss of weight, hurt........something is wrong. Ask for a reason and accept that this is not the kennels for your Pet in the future.
DON'T FEEL GUILTY
IF YOU HAVE DONE ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE TO CHECK THEM OUT
YOU HAVE DONE YOUR BEST
PET FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
This type of Accommodation is new to Ireland but more and more Hotels and B&B's are becoming Pet Friendly.
In order for your short break or holiday to be as relaxed as possible there are a few things you need to watch out for in this type of accommodation. You don't want your holiday to be full of stress and just because you book Pet Friendly Accommodation it does not mean it will be what you expected.............there are no hard and fast rules and each accommodation is different.
Make sure you check Pet Prices & Pet Policies at time of booking
Make sure there is somewhere for you to take your Pet for a walk some have made out pre-planned walks
Is there a Dog Walker available in case you may not be around to walk him?
Is there a Pet Sitter in case you are gone for the day and unable to take your pet with you ?
Kennels on site : Are the kennels on the premises & are they heated ?
Rooms: Can your Pet stay in the room with you ?
Can you leave your Pet unattended in the room?
Can you bring your Pets bedding
Do they supply food and water
If your pet is a cat do they supply litter trays
Is there a Vet on call ?
ALWAYS ask if there are any extra charges for your Pet at the end of the stay. The last thing you want when paying the bill is a large cleaning bill !
PET SWAP
This is the alternative Pet Minding service which Pets Holiday Swap offers. If you have watched our You Tube Video 'About Us' and have checked out our website you will understand how this works. If you want your Pet to have a very stress free time while you are away this is the way to go .
As with any other Pet Minding Service there are certain things you need to do before you 'Swap' your Pet. It is your responsibility to make sure your Pet is happy while you are away. The one good thing about this type of Pet Minding is that the minder you pick is a pet owner.
When you become a Member make sure you put up your Pets profile and as much information about your Pet as possible. This makes it easier for Pet Owners to contact you .
Send an email to any possible person you feel might be a suitable minder and you can ask whatever questions you like.
When you find a minder you then have to make sure the Pets get on with one another this really only applies to dogs ---in our experience this is not a problem . Once the Pets have set their boundaries with each other everything is fine. Expect a few snarls and growls !
It is a good idea in the case of a dog to meet for a walk in a Park .
Always go to the persons house who is going to do the minding----you can tell a lot from a persons house. Is it a house suitable for your Pet.
Check where they will sleep........any dog we have had have slept in the kitchen with our two !
If you come to an agreement it is a good idea to leave your Pet with the other owner for a few hours or maybe a weekend so if there is a problem you are around.
Accept that sometimes you might have to try a couple of people but once you find your new minder you will never look back. You can go away on holidays happy, content and a few euros more to spend on holiday! The only cost to you is that you mind in return which is no problem once everyone gets on.
For any smaller Pet once you are happy that the minder knows how to look after your Pet------maybe a bird, goldfish, etc-----------good to go !
Always leave instructions on feeding, medication, vets phone number, your mobile number.
Take a little time finding your Minder
Don't leave it until the last minute
ONCE YOU FIND YOUR MINDER YOU & YOUR PET WILL NEVER LOOK BACK
PET MINDING WILL NEVER BE A HEADACHE AGAIN
JOIN NOW FOR FREE AND START YOUR SEARCH
We hope that this explains a little about the different types of Pet Minding and a few of the main things to look out for and questions to ask. NEVER be afraid to ask questions.
