Taking your pets overseas might sound like a fantastic idea. However, the reality sees you stuck with a small bundle of joy you’re going to need to watch whole time you’re en route. Here are six reasons to leave your pets with a housesitter when travelling. We believe is the best way for your pet.
Travelling and the trauma of flying for some pets
Dachsund on grass – not all pets like to travel
There are a fair number of humans who don’t enjoy flying in a giant metal car in the sky – so just imagine how it must feel for a small animal who has no clue what’s going on. They are unfamiliar with the smells, the sounds and the vibrations. It can be quite a traumatic experience.
As clever as cats and dogs are, they’re not built with the ability to comprehend every situation they’re thrown into.
When Travelling the world – factor your pets into the holiday
Unless you’ve decided to embark on a pet-specific holiday, bringing an animal along with you when you travel the world will only serve to make the planning process considerably harder for everyone involved.
Fancy taking a tour of a historical landmark? Well good luck with that – enjoy the face of the staff when you try to take a dog around the Colosseum or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
With an animal in tow you’re massively restricting your possibilities when it comes to the destinations you can freely check out. Extra hassle on holiday is never good.
Remember – It’s not forever
It might feel like you’re leaving your little furry loved ones behind for a crazy amount of time, but it’s just a few days (or weeks at most).
Remember – pets are actually very receptive to your moods and emotions, so try not to give them too much of a send-off, or it might freak them out a tad.
If you and the kids fawn all over your pet, hugging and kissing them they’ll think you’re never coming back. Be careful how you treat them, and try to maintain their routines by finding a housesitter to stay with them.
Travelling the world with your pets you incur added expenses
Kennels can be expensive
Holidays can be costly at the best of times. However, the additional funds you’ll need to round-up for your cuddly bundles of love might put you over the edge financially.
These costs will wrack up not only on for the holiday itself, but also in the build-up. In preparation, you’ll need to:
Have a pet micro-chipped – although in some countries like the UK this is a legal requirement already
Get the required vaccination
Acquire travel documentation for the dog
Arrange the transport.
When push comes to shove, there’s a lot of planning and money spent when you take your pet with you on holiday. As much as you love them, is it really worth taking them when you can find free petsitters? Check out through house sitting websites like HouseSitMatch.com
House sitters – There are plenty of havens for them at home
While animal care in the past has been relatively poor, advancements in housing methods for pets means they’re likely to be far safer in the modern day and age.
There are plenty of high quality kennel services out there which strive to ensure your loved ones are cared for in a secure and appropriate manner.
They’ll be having just as much fun with their new friends as you’re experiencing on your vacation, so there’s no need to feel guilty at any point.
Finding accommodation can be a challenge if you take your pet with you
Finding accommodation that caters to the needs of pet owners is not always easy.
Dog and cat owners can sometimes struggle to find a flat where pets are accepted, let alone a hotel or cottage for on holiday.
There are locations out there which will accommodate to the needs of your pets, but you’re limiting your options drastically when you’re forced to opt for one of these locales.
These are just six of the best reasons why taking your pets on holiday is perhaps not the best idea. Instead, why not leave them at home with a loved one, or opt to house them in a specially designated kennel area, or better still find a housesitter to stay with them in their own home?
This blog is brought to you by 1 Cover Travel Insurance
At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.
Founder and Director of HouseSitMatch - I'm a hands-on Admin on the site. Please ask any questions and as soon as I can I'll happily answer and assist where I can.