I would like to go abroad for the winter months (Oct - April) for the heat. I have a dog 14 a Siamese Cat12 and a Burmese Cat 13. My husband says we can't go abroad as to put them in kennels would be rather expensive £15 per day. I always put them in kennels when I go away as I know they will be safe and fed. Can anyone tell me what I should do? There is no considering getting them destroyed. It's just the cost that bothers me.
2007-01-16 00:55:08 · 17 answers · asked by Blantyre1947 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
check different shelters
2007-01-16 00:59:24 · answer #1 · answered by gaffingpoints 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'm definately glad to hear that euthanasia is NOT considered. Where I live, NO Veterinarian would euthanize a pet for this reason. You have quite the dilema here! As a pet parent since 1979 and my involvement with Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, one makes a huge commitment when you have pets.
These are the options I can think of and questions regarding them:
Kennel: price reduction for a long stay?/ what if animal becomes ill?/ outside run for dog?/ amount of attention given to them?/ is it clean,warm,and enough room?/ will they feed them the same food as you do?/ CHECK THEIR REPUTATION!
Veterinarian: same as above except for health care.
Home Pet Sitter: price reduction?/ what if animal becomes ill?/ how often comes to your house daily and how much time spent with them?/ AGAIN CHECK THEIR REPUTATION!!! Since you will be gone for 6 months,,,a Home Pet Sitter is the BEST for your pets!!!
Unfortunately no one can tell you what you should do. You have to take into consideration that you will be gone a long time and they are at the age where they are considered seniors. That's a long time for them to be away from their domain. Dogs and Cats DO NOT like change, especially at their age. I'm assuming you do not have family members or close friends that can come to your home and care for them as a "Pet Sitter" would.
Bottom line:There is no FREE puppy/dog or kitten/cat....there are many costs involved through out their lifetime. Best of luck and please put "their" needs into consideration in making your decision.
2007-01-16 09:45:49 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with some of the above... there is not a good answer for you. Boarding them or having them stay with someone you know are your only options. Taking them with you is senseless stress on them. I'd start saving the money now so it doesn't hurt so much when you get the boarding bill. They are YOUR responsibility... no one said you had to have 3 pets...it was your choice, so now you have to make provisions for them. You might look into a family member or young adult friend that will stay in your home for 6 months and care for them and the house. Many young college-aged people are responsible enough, and would LOVE to have their own place for a few months rather than stay with mom and dad.
2007-01-16 09:06:47 · answer #3 · answered by dvm78 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
try to find a friend who will take them into their home, pets tend to get stressed out if they are at a kennel too long. sometimes i take my friends dogs for months at a time. it will still be expensive, but not quite as much as a kennel would cost. just the cost of food, toys, vet bills, and other necessities. as well as some money for their trouble. see if a friend can care for them. but if i were you, i would have a week test run if you are unsure they can handle it. or you could keep the pets at your place and have a neibor come down 2-3 times a day...good luck!
2007-01-16 09:02:23 · answer #4 · answered by Rattiesrule 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
honestly? i personally would never leave a pet for that long..
When i made the decision to have them I knew this meant that I was committed to the one area... they are all quite old animals.. I think leaving them for so long would probably cause a lot of stress. plus how would you feel if one of them got sick whilst you were away and weren't able to help them?
Oct to April is 7 months.. you are basically giving up ownership of your pets for more time than you wish to look after them. Perhaps it would be better to get in contact with a dog's trust... (or one of the adoption centres that never put a healthy dog down).. they may be able to find fosters for them whist you are away?
Is there anyone who can 'adopt' them for you? maybe family or close friends that know them and that can bring them into their own family whilst you are away?
I would have thought that most kennels wouldn't even accept them for such a long period of time but I am not sure on that.. it really isn't the best environment for them for such a long period of time.
2007-01-16 09:06:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I would never leave my pets for that amount of time, but if you must how about asking some family members to stop by a few times a day?(or even better staying in your home) Or how about hiring a pet sitter? In my opinion taking them to a kennel is more stressful for them then staying at home
2007-01-16 09:40:42 · answer #6 · answered by debra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to pay for my cat to go into a cattery for nearly 2 months because of housing problems.
The cost did not matter to me but her overall welfare did.
Because of the situation at the time the cattery were very good and gave me a special rate. Give it go negotiating a rate with your cattery and try and pay a couple of months up front then set up a standing order or direct debit after that. You can always get a friend or relative to go in and see that they're OK.
At the end of the day I paid the money coz I loved my pet dearly and refused to give her up!
2007-01-16 09:01:10 · answer #7 · answered by Bristol_Gal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Could you not look into Pet Sitters,they will come inot your home and care for your pets whilst you are away,but be warned,like any service they want to be paid,also looking at the ages of your pets,would it not be wiser to just wait until they pass away,they are really quite aged now,so it really would not be fair to put them into kennels or leave them with strangers at their time of life,it would be very disruptive for them to have settled with new people only for you to come get them six months later,when you've had enough of the sunshine,and they are once more convenient for you,to care for,then for you to only do it again when the colder weather sets in,
Wendy
2007-01-16 12:10:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First I would check to see how much it would cost to take your pets with you, as compared to the cost of the kennel. Then I would see if perhaps one of your friends might be able to take them in. From the sounds of it you have older animals, and even though it may be feesable to take them with, it may not be healthy for them to go. Keeping their welfare in mind of course.
Perhaps a friend might be able to take them in, if you pay for the animals food, and maybe a lil something extra for going out of their way to do this for you. Purpose it to them as an investment in care. They get to become friends with your pets, love them like their own, and get paid for it as well. That's bound to be cheaper than a kennel.
( We have 3 cats, ages 12, 1 1/2 yrs and 5 months. as well as a guniea pig)
2007-01-16 09:06:10 · answer #9 · answered by Enigma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im afraid you dont have much choice but to either put them in kennels, leave them with family/friends or dont go on holiday. Theres note really any other option unless you want to transport them over with you and put them through a laborious quarantine system. Sorry
2007-01-16 08:59:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
you can ask a friend or neighbor or someoneone to house sit for you and take care of your cats while you are gone so they will be in their own environment. or you could cut your vacation back so you aren't gone as long. Personally, I think that having you gone for so long would stress your animals out a lot and they are up there in years (which means you deffinatly are a good parent to them and take good care of them). Maybe just go there for a month or 2. Think what would be best for your animals.
2007-01-16 09:13:01 · answer #11 · answered by macleod709 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋