Need ideas on boarding pets for vac.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Need ideas on boarding pets for vac.
14
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 1:17am
Hi, everyone. Hope you can help me with this upcoming expenditure. We have two cats, and fish. We are going on vac. for two wks in August. I checked on boarding at the vets. Have not done that before for any length of time. Well, it is $20 per cat per day. If, of course, I wanted their shots updated, baths, etc., it would be extra, but they have coupons and specials for that. Looked into online pet-sitting services. Not much in my area. Somewhat cheaper. One person had excellent credentials---bonded, vet tech, experienced, etc. Asking friends is out of the question. Everyone is busy, and it would be an inconvenience and imposition to have someone come over daily. Did this once, and paid a friend $300, but they didnt always have time, etc. All suggestions welcomed. Whiz.

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 3:46am

Hi,
We have similar problems from time to time -- I am always hesitant to have someone I don't know come to my house. A friend of mine actually called her vet to ask if they had any people they would recommend who whould come to the house and she got a list. They also sometimes list people in the classified sections of the local newspaper. Anybody around with kids? Sometimes you can hire a kid, and the parents will actually make sure the job is done.
Good luck, I know how hard this can be.
Megan

Also: you could check with your local pet store -- sometimes they know people who pet sit, or they have bulletin boards.
M




Edited 7/7/2005 3:49 am ET ET by looking4info2005
Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 8:07am

If having a neighbor help out is out of the question, I am a fan of developing a relationship with a good petsitter - licensed/bonded is key.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 9:25am

Where are you located Whiz? If your in Maryland I volunteer!

Geez, I think if a friend was paying me $300 just to stop in a feed cats & fish, and poopy scoop, I would be delighted. Heck I probably could sleep with the fish for $300, not the cats I am allergic.

Do you have any teenage nieces or nephews? When we go on vacation, sometimes my brother stays home and keeps the dogs, but sometimes we pay my cousin to spend the week at our house with the dogs. She charges $20 a day for 2 dogs, and if I leave my daughter home :)too I pay her $50 a day! It works great, the dogs stay in their surroundings, and she enjoys the extra money.

Shannon

Shannon


Pregnancy%20ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 10:00am

Do you know anyone else with pets? With my friends we just help each other out for free and when someone is going out of town we just pitch in and help. None of us have the money to spend, and I wouldn't charge a friend, and then they help me with my pets when I'm gone.

I just bring back a gift for the person from where ever I visited as a thank you. Just an idea.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2004
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 10:32am
When I was a teenager, my best friend's parents hired me to go over every day and feed the fish, take care of the cats, etc. For this I was paid $20 (total) and was happy to get it. I agree with the idea of hiring a trusted teen, when you know the parent the parent will make sure the job gets done. And its cheap!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 11:01am

Well my cousin does it as a part time business, so I am happy to pay her. Her fee is half of what it would be if we boarded at a kennel. So its a bargain if you ask me. Not to mention all the things she does for me for "free" She babysits my daughter at least 6 days a month, she buys half her clothes, tons of toys... I am more then happy to pay her $500 a year to house sit, plus I always bring her back a gift.

I also pet sit for a friend a couple times a year. She has cats and I go every other day. She pays me. Money is an excellent motivator, and makes people go the extra step to do a great job. When I do things for people I would like to get paid, so I would not expect anyone else to work for me for free. I hope that makes sense.

Shannon

Shannon


Pregnancy%20ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 9:51pm

I had a cat at one time and agree it is best not to board them if at all possible. Whenever I had to go out of town, I got a neighbor kid to watch her. He went in every day and fed her and made sure she had water. His mother helped every few days with cleaning the litter box. I paid him $50 for 15 days and his parents scolded me saying it was too much, but to board her would have been $10 a day, so I got off cheap. On the flip side, I fish sat (and prayed everyday the fish (I think there were two or three) would survive)and didn't expect anything in return. The fish owners brought my daughter a small token gift but that was it.

I say find a trusted kid, agree on responsibilities ahead of time and make sure the parents will supervise. You may want to agree on a price ahead of time also (either by the day or a flat rate).

Kellie

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Fri, 07-08-2005 - 2:02am
Hi, everyone. Thanks again for the valuable tips. I am definitely going to look into the pet-sitting thing. The idea about checking at the pet stores and vets is great. Cant count on neighbors. Where we live, it is mostly renters and people who dont want to be bothered. Co-workers live too far away. I dont have nieces and nephews (DH's) that live nearby. I will explore all options, and let you know what happens. Money talks, so is $300 enough for two weeks, you think? Part of me wants the cats at the vets, as I know they will be well cared for and the vet will be there in case anything happens, but it just might disrupt their routine, as Danni says. All ideas were great! Much appreciated. Whiz.
Avatar for colomom99
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 07-08-2005 - 3:22pm

I think $300 is very expensive but then I'm pretty cheap. Too bad there isn't a kid around. I agree that adults don't want to be bothered but kids think it's a blast. My kids (ages 10,7,5) just took care of our neighbor's fish and cat for four days. They got $15 to split and thought they had just hit the jackpot. I went over with them everyday because the cat needed medication and I wanted to do that. Another thing I did twice was put an ad in our company blog (or a note on the board) The first time I had someone stay at our house over a long weekend to walk our dog (more trouble than a cat) and watch the house. I think I paid her $25 a day. The second time I took our dog over to a single guy's house. He agreed to do it if we brought him a nice bottle of wine home from our trip. When we got home he had fallen so in love with our dog he said keep the wine and I'll keep the dog. Called her a chick magnet every time he took her to the park. Ha ha.

Anyway, sometimes if you live near a school you can always check with summer counsleors. They need extra bucks or could recommend someone. That is how we got our summer nanny. It was way cheaper than going through an agency. Also check with an animal shelter. They use lots of volunteers so you know they would already be very animal friendly.

Jenny

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-08-2005 - 3:33pm

wow!! I, too think $300 is alot.

Anyway, when we lived in California and went on vacation. My cousin drove to the house a couple of times a week to feed two cats and changed litter. We would be gone for two weeks. We gave him $50 and brought a sourviner from where we were vacationing.

MYM

Pages