Help with pet care anxiety?

Question

I have two large dogs and a new job that requires I be out of town 3 days per week, every week. The dogs have a pet door to go in and out to the backyard and I leave them plenty of food and water in the large dispensers. Still, I have a lot of anxiety about leaving them -- worrying that they may become ill, feel lonely or depressed. There are no pet sitters in this area and the few times I have boarded them they were quite despondent. I have thought about offering a college student free rent in exchange for simply being here with my animals. Am I being overly neurotic about the whole thing?

I am in a new state and have no family here or even any friends yet. I have left the dogs twice already, and they had plenty of food and water still available when I got back. To the person who said I was disgusting, this is not helpful or appreciated. These dogs have a large, warm home at their disposal - even sleep on my bed and have it a lot better than probably eighty percent of the animals in the world. Most of the people in this rural area leave their dogs tied up --- which I find truly disgusting.

Answer 1

You should not leave your dogs alone for 3 days at a time (I have someone check on my dogs and I'm only gone for 8hrs). You really should try to get someone to stay with them,you must have family or friends that would love to get out of their parents house and stay at your place for 3 days,if not you have to board them some place with a good reputation. Your dogs will get use to it, at least you have 2 so they have each other and if the care takers are good they will have more fun and you won't have to worry about them.

Answer 2

I totally understand your dilema! I live where I have no family, and it took over a year to develop a friend I could count on! My dogs are my best friends! First, I believe it is to your advantage that you have two dogs, so they can keep each other company. Secondly, I would leave a supply of sturdy toys out and rotate them so they have "new" toys with each departure. My dogs have busy balls that dispense treats when they play with it, and I saw at the pet store that they now have one that you can record a message into (they are getting that for Valentine's day!) I would encourage you to purchase the doggie DVD that you could play in your absence at well, or even better, a video of yourself playing with the dogs! Also, I have called home and spoken into the answering machine to the dogs as well. I know that you can't leave the DVD going the whole three days, but if you could find a licensed and bonded home sitting service (perhaps the kind that visits the elderly will do it?) then someone can stop in and play with them at least once in the 3 day spans for a small fee. I would want to make sure they are bonded though, because I would be more nervous about someone being in my house, having a key, etc. than the dogs being unattended.....also, do you know your neighbors yet? They may be able to look over the fence or at least alert you should the dogs (god I hope not) get out of the yard. Make sure their tags are up to date with your cell number too. The more I think of, the more I want to say....make sure the toys you leave out are very sturdy and could not pose a choking hazzard, my austi loves to take the squeeker out of the plush animals, and I have to watch her with those, also, some bones can be a choking hazzard. I also have had my chihuahua get caught once in a hole in a blanket. I don't know what kind of dogs you have, but those are two things that come to mind. I totally relate to you about the boarding though...my dogs would be so much more traumatized at a kennel, I would leave them at the house too. Things will work out, and you'll learn as you go. Have you worked it out so your mailbox isn't full or papers on the front porch will disclose your absence? What about timers on the lights? I wouldn't want a college student to come over, because they are too young and I would worry about trusting them. If it was my decision, I would go for a bonded agency or none at all. Good luck, you will make this work.

Answer 3

No. In all honesty your are not being "overly neurotical" about this situation. Your dogs should definitely not be on their own for three days out of every week. If pet boarding is not your cup of tea I can completely understand that, but there are many other options. If you have any family or friends ask them to check on your dogs at least once a day and play with them for an hour or so. And just so you know, there are many people who would love the opportunity to play with dogs and get paid to do so. It would not cost too much, and they would just need to take the dogs on a little walk and play with them for a couple of hours every day. Many people would kill for a job like that.
In any case, the dogs can not be alone for three days out of every week. Put an ad in the paper or ask around in your group of family members or friends. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Answer 4

No getting a pet sitter is the best idea if you can. Mine do best when somebody's home. If you can't get somebody to stay, getting someone to check on them, walk them and play with them a couple times a day would be better than leaving them alone for 3 days straight.

Answer 5

If you know your dogs are feeling bad when you leave them, then yes, I would put an ad in the paper looking for a roommate and interview them just as you would interview for a new job. Get references and check them out.

Answer 6

if you are leaving them for three days it is disgusting .what happens if they get hungry and eat all their food early they don't know to spread it out and how do you know this isn't the case?my dog would eat it all just so the other couldn't(survival of the fittest and all that!)re home your dogs if you cant care for them properly due to other commitments.what if one was to get stung(mine did)in its mouth and its throat swelled up and it couldn't breathe.mine survived cos i was here to rush it to the vet.yours would have long painful death.