Concerned Canine

Dear Concerned:

Don't worry -- vacation is just a short amount of time that families spend away from their homes, relaxing and doing fun things. It gives them a chance to take a break from the daily routines of work and responsibilities at home. Most of the time, however, families vacation in places that dogs cannot go and probably wouldn't enjoy anyway. Your family is simply discussing how you should be cared for during their absence. One option is to arrange for a "sitter." That would be someone, either a friend or relative or a professional service, who would come to the house and stay with you while your family is gone. The other is to have you spend the time that they are away in a boarding kennel, a facility similar to the one you stayed at before you were adopted. Whichever choice your family makes will probably work out fine for you as long as they plan carefully and keep important points in mind.

If they choose to have a sitter for you, I'm sure they will select one that they are certain is very responsible and will follow their instructions on caring for you. It would be a good idea for the sitter to come over and take you out for a walk a few times and spend some time visiting with you before your family leaves. This will help you feel more comfortable with the person once your family has left. If your family provides written instructions about your habits and daily routines the sitter will be able to do things pretty much as they are done all the time. It is very important that your family leaves with the sitter a telephone number where they can be reached and the phone number of your veterinarian, just in case any problems arise. A really responsible owner also alerts the veterinarian about vacations and authorizes the hospital to treat you should any medical problem occur. Very often the veterinary hospital can act as a "back-up" to the sitter, providing lodging for you in the event of an emergency to the sitter. Your owner should be certain that all of your vaccines are up-to-date and also that your collar is in good shape with your identification tags and license firmly attached. (If you will be staying with a sitter at his or her home, your family can get a temporary tag with that person's name and number and attach it to your collar as well.) While a responsible sitter would NEVER allow you off-lead or leave you unattended during your family's absence, accidents can happen. Your family should be certain that your sitter knows exactly where to call if you should become lost and your sitter should have a written document from your owner authorizing an animal control agency or shelter to release you back to the sitter. In New Jersey strays must be held at an impoundment facility for seven days. Those unclaimed within that period can be placed for adoption or euthanized, so proper identification and instructions to your sitter are extremely important!

If your family decides upon leaving you in the care of a boarding kennel, they can ask friends and your veterinarian for a referral and will probably want to visit the facility if you have never stayed there before. They should remember that the usual "comforts of home" are not the first priority -- good sanitation and secure escape-proof quarters are most important. A well-run kennel will insist on proof that your vaccines are up-to-date and will want to have all of the information I suggested should be left with a sitter. Many will allow (and some insist) that you spend an "overnight" with them prior to your family's departure if you have never been kenneled before or if there is anything in your history to suggest that you may not kennel comfortably. (Your family should not be concerned if you seem somewhat tired and even a bit hoarse after your stay -- the kennel is a busy spot where you might spend more time wide awake each day than you do lazing about your home and you may spend more quiet time than usual when you first return home!)

If your family spends just a little bit of time preparing well for your care while they are away you will be just fine and they can relax on vacation, knowing that your time apart from them will be safe and comfortable for you too.

Volume 10 No. 2, Summer 1993