What to Do With Your Pets While You Travel (A Quick Guide)

What to Do With Your Pets While You Travel

12/29/2023

What to Do With Your Pets While You Travel: A Quick Guide

The ability to travel is a fantastic privilege and a family vacation is an exciting opportunity, but for pet owners, the excitement is often accompanied by the responsibility of ensuring their furry companions are well-cared for in their absence. Deciding what to do with your pets while you travel requires careful consideration and planning to guarantee their comfort, safety, and overall well-being. Making thoughtful decisions will not only ease your mind during your travels but also provide a positive experience for your beloved pets.

To Take Them or Leave Them,
That is the Question

The answer to this question will vary widely based on the number of pets you have, the size of the animal, the type of animal, the temperament of the animal, whether or not the animal gets motion/car sickness, whether you are flying or driving, how pet-friendly your destination is, and more.

As a general rule, if you have more than one pet, leave them at home with a sitter (more on that later). If you have anything other than a cat or dog, leave them at home. If your pet gets car sick, leave him at home. If you are flying and your fur-baby is not small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat, leave her at home. Regardless of how emotionally attached to your animal you are, your pet will be much happier at home with a sitter (and their fur-siblings) than getting sick in the car or being stuffed away in the cargo bay of the plane (with the potential of getting lost just like any other "luggage"), so do what's best for your furry friends.

As a rule of thumb, when we go on road trips, if we won't be gone more than a few days and we can find pet-friendly accommodations (more on that later), we try to take Einstein with us. Otherwise, he stays home.

To board or to hire a sitter,
that is the next question

If you are not taking your pet with you, this is the next thing to figure out. Let's explore some different options. This decision depends on what's available in your town, whether or not you personally know someone who can house-/pet-sit for you, and if not, how comfortable you are hiring someone from a website like Trusted Housesitters to stay with your beloved animals while you are away.

How to find a boarding facility

1. One good option is your pet's veterinarian. Ask your local vet if they offer boarding services. Ours does, though I've never boarded Einstein with them. My sister-in-law's does, and she has used them several times for her little guy, with great results. The benefit of boarding with the vet is that generally someone is there for emergencies all night (confirm with your vet), and during the day, several staff members are in and out checking on the animals, letting them outside for play time, feeding them, etc. You also have the added benefit of knowing that your pet already knows many of the people who will be caring for him, and they are trained to assist should a medical emergency arise. If your pet needs to take medicine each day, they already know what he takes and they have training to administer the medicine as well.
2. Reach out to local friends and family for recommendations for local boarding facilities or pet resorts they know and love.
3. Do a Google search for local boarding kennels. Read the reviews. Call them to ask questions, like "How often are the dogs taken outside to play?" and "Is there someone there overnight with them?"

Einstein in his backyard

How to Find a Pet Sitter

I much prefer finding a pet sitter versus a boarding facility, especially for longer trips. This allows the pet to stay in familiar surroundings rather than being taken to a new environment. It also allows him more freedom to run around his home rather than being crated much of the time. And, particularly if you'll be gone for a week or more, it relieves some of the concerns you might have about your house by having a house sitter there as well. Finding a great pet sitter will give you the peace of mind to know that your sweet pets (and your home) are in good hands.
1. The best option is to find someone you know and trust who can come to your home and stay with your furry friend while you're gone. When I was home from college for the summer, I sometimes pet-sat for friends of my parents. I loved it, as I was able to hang out with sweet pups while making a little side money. And we now have a very sweet young woman - the daughter of a friend - who stays with Einstein while we're gone. The main benefit is that you aren't inviting a complete stranger into your home, and often your pet already knows the sitter and will be comfortable with them.
2. Reach out to local friends and family for recommendations for a pet-sitter. Oftentimes, you can find someone in your own neighborhood or circle of friends who can either watch your fur-baby for you or knows someone who can.
2. Use a service like Trusted Housesitters to find a traveling pet-sitter. Find one with good reviews and make sure you set the right expectations.

Preparing for a Pet Sitter

1. Make sure your sitter has a private room that is cozy, clean, and free of clutter. Make sure they have closet space and space to put their bags. Ensure that they have WiFi access and access to the TV.
2. Ensure that they know what the pay will be. We usually give our sitter half before we leave and the other half when we return, but that's something you'll need to work out with the sitter. I also usually leave a little gift bag with a comfort item (fuzzy socks or slippers, a cute throw blanket, bath bombs, a nice candle, etc.) as a "thank you."
3. Leave detailed instructions for taking care of the pet(s). Include information about feeding times, bathroom breaks or litter/tank cleaning, interactions (petting and playing), bedtime, walks, etc. Include the vet's information as well, in case a medical need arises. Leave your pet's favorite toys in a basket where they are easily accessible.
4. Set expectations for their meals. I always leave a snack basket that includes packets of oatmeal, granola bars, popcorn, chocolates, fresh fruit, and other things like that. I also try to set aside some frozen meals and I leave menus for places that deliver. But our sitter also knows that she is welcome to go home for meals or to bring food from home to eat at our house. If your sitter is not local, leave a list of your favorite local restaurants, as well as some must-see sites and shopping options.
5. Leave whatever other instructions they need regarding how to get in the house, what to do in case of emergency, bringing in packages and/or mail, watering plants, or any other small tasks you require them to do. If there are any spaces you don't want them to venture into, or any spaces that your pets are not allowed into, close those doors and make sure they know to keep those doors closed. Leave your contact information, preferably for both you and your partner, as well as a trusted neighbor in case the need arises.

Traveling with a Pet

So you've decided to bring your beloved pet with you.
1. When planning your road trip with your pet, consider the destination city. Are there lots of green spaces where you'll be hiking or playing in the park? Are there plenty of pet-friendly restaurants? Will you be able to bring your pet to at least some of the sites you want to see? What will the weather be like? Will the temperatures be too frigid or too hot for you and your pet to spend most of your vacation time outdoors?
2. When planning accommodations, a great option is to look for a VRBO rental that is pet-friendly and a single family home. This way, there should be a yard for your dog to use the bathroom, and if you need to leave for a bit (to get something to eat or to go to a museum or other site that is not pet-friendly), your pet can stay at the rental and you don't have to worry about him disturbing other people if he barks.
3. If a single family rental is not an option, look for a pet-friendly hotel. The downside to this is that hotels don't generally allow you to leave the pet in the room by itself. So you would limit the places you can go, and you'll need to really do your homework to find pet-friendly restaurants.
4. Speaking of pet-friendly restaurants, look for places with large outdoor patios. I like to see what options are available before we even hit the road. Beer gardens are great for people traveling with their pets, and many restaurants (though not all) with patios are pet-friendly. Even if I see something online that says they are pet-friendly, I still call ahead to confirm.
5. Pack a bag for your pet just like you do yourself and/or your kids. Make sure you take one or two of her favorite toys, something to wipe his feet, puppy pads (just in case), their crate and a blanket, plenty of food and treats, and his harness and leash. It's also a good idea to have easy access to their latest vaccine record (either printed out or digital). Bring any medicines or supplements they need. If you're bringing wet food (Einstein eats a mix of wet and dry food), make sure you have a way to keep it cold once the can is opened.
6. Now it's time to leave. The best option for a road trip with your pet is to have him in a crate, tucked into a safe place in the back seat. Do I follow this advice? No. Einstein is 10 pounds and loves car rides, so he sits in the lap of the passenger in the front seat or draped over the armrest. But for the purposes of this article, for safety reasons, crated is the better option.
7. Once you arrive at your accommodations, get everyone, including your pet, settled in. Make sure you know where your dog can go potty outside. If you haven't confirmed pet-friendly restaurant options yet, now is a good time to do that. Enjoy your vacation with your furry friend!

As pet owners, we love our pets and want to do what's best for them. We know our pets love us and don't necessarily want us to ever leave them. But if we can't take them with us, we need to find loving people who will take good care of our furry family members in our absence.

I hope this guide has helped you. From exploring pros and cons of taking your pet with you or leaving him to choosing the right option regarding pet sitters and boarding facilities to preparing a comprehensive checklist for their care and for the comfort of your sitter, you've seen that careful planning is essential.