10 Reasons Why NOT to Board Your Beloved Pet

Our Holly Never "Boarded" Our daughter Nicky Did!

Imagine being separated from your person, your family, the pack. Confined to a small, unfamiliar area surrounded by strange sights, sounds and smells. Remember, if you’re an animal all your senses are heightened a thousand times. This new place may be clean but you can smell many others that were here before. Darkness comes, where’s that familiar place gone? Where’s my person? Even dinner was different, you want to go home: home where you feel safe and secure! This could be the emotional reality of boarding your beloved pet.

It’s well documented amongst the Veterinary Profession and Animal Welfare Groups that keeping pets safe and secure in their own environment is by far the best option. Knowing your pet is receiving individual loving care and attention in their own home brings you enormous peace of mind.

Here are 10 reasons why pet sitting is better than pet boarding or kennels:

1. Nothing changes for your pet except the human carer, therefore reducing stress
2. Reduced risk of catching diseases such as kennel cough and gastric problems. These are easily contracted when exposed to other pets in a boarding environment
3. Existing health issues/medicating cared for and properly administered
4. One on one supervised care. Should any health issues arise they can be  dealt with immediately by your own trusted veterinarian
5. Individual attention and exercise according to your instructions
6. Many sitters are knowledgeable and experienced with the needs of different breeds/rescue animals
7. A regular familiar routine such as eating schedules, play, toileting, grooming
8. Constant communication with your pet sitter. Daily or weekly up dates via email even “chats” on Skype
9. Care of your pet has no financial motivation
10. The Trusted Pet Sitter you choose gives undivided love and attention. Your pet and home is their priority

We know there are good boarding facilities but many pets especially the very young, very active, nervous, seniors, those with health or special needs, rescued pets and those used to close human contact, simply do not do well in this type of environment.

In the past year I’ve experienced two situations of pets we were looking after needing urgent veterinary care. Both health issues could have been missed in a multiple care facility.

So is pet sitting better than pet boarding? Is there really a choice? After all, there simply isn’t any place like home.