You have made all your necessary trip plans, but........... About This Page:

[debe]

What are you going to do with your family pet(s)? Do you get a certified house sitter, family, or do you use a kennel? Or do you travel with your pet(s)?

I am interested in hearing how you find care for your critters! And your experiences!

This past trip we placed our dog Sandy (who thinks she is a kid) in a kennel... I did not handle this too well at the time but it was for the best! (Sandy never was in a kennel before & she is 5yrs we usually take her everywhere with us) She lived through it and appeared to be happy when we picked her up!

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Take Care & "Remember the Magic!"
debe-nj

[SarahJ]

Debe,

Having owned dogs all my life, I understand your feelings on leaving the dog at a kennel. We have a 1 1/2 year old, very active, cattle dog and I worry that he will get bored sometimes. But on the other hand, when we do take him on trips we often don't get to enjoy each other as much because we are taking care of the dog's needs or entertaining him.

I also worry a lot about the dog's comfort. Will he be bored, too hot, too cold. Will there be too many kids there to tease or otherwise bother him. Will we have time for him. Will there be a lot of other dogs there who may not be kept under control.

When we go on short trips, we have a beach house and a mountain cabin, we usually will take him. Or if we go camping we will often take him. Often we are able to leave him with my fiance's dad who spoils him rotten. At their house he gets to play with two other dogs, and kids as well. He's usually exhausted when we get home.

We have taken him to a kennel too. We are fortunate to have a highly reputable one about three miles from our house. They love him there. Since my mother knows the owners and always boards her dog there I know it is a great place. Last time we got the dog his own suite that had a bed, toys and everything. We always make sure he gets walks.

The key to leaving your pet at a kennel is to make sure you talk to people who have boarded there before and make sure you get to tour the facility. Some kennels only let you tour at certain times when it is less busy, so call ahead. Do some research and don't leave you precious pet just anywhere.

By the way, the kennel we use is call Paradise Pet Lodge. They even have a waterfall, plants, and music! Now how could that be bad?

Sarah

[This message has been edited by SarahJ (edited 03-22-2000).]

[This message has been edited by SarahJ (edited 03-22-2000).]

[stongette]

I have 2 very beautiful chocolate Labs (Indiana and Emma). They are very spoiled and go everywhere with me, well almost.

Because I work at an animal hospital, I have no quams about leaving my "girls" there. We have excellent kennel attendents who do their best to love, exercise and play with boarders. I feel that my dogs are well taken care of here.

In my opinion, driving trips can be very much fun for pets. My dogs love to go the beach, camping, or anywhere else I bring them. I do think, however, that flying with an animal should be thought through seriously. Large dogs, (small ones, too) often need to be sedated, because the truama is too much for them. Even smaller pets may feel too anxious and overwhelmed too care that their owners brought them with them.

Disney caters to alot people, but as of yet has no "pet friendly" resorts. Pets have to be kenneled in WDW unless you are staying at Fort Wilderness. Maybe someday Disney will join the ranks of many resorts and build at least one hotel that can accomodate well behaved pets (and owners ). Until that day comes, Indiana and Emma will have to make do at their own little home away from home.

--Lindsay

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Stongette

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"I Only Hope That We Never Lose Sight Of One Thing - That It Was All Started By A Mouse."
--Walt Disney <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[LauraBelle V. Hime]

I have the daughter of a friend come in and feed the cat. She's been doing this for me for 10 years.
We also have a Shih-Tzu, Mr. Benny, who loves to travel, whether it be by car or plane. If the suitcases come out, he gets nervous thinking he is not going! One of the few places we don't take him is WDW. DH is an ER nurse and his coworkers all love Mr. Benny, and are more than anxious to take him in. He adapts very well as long as he has his teddy bear with him! We do miss him 'cause he's a great guy!

Take care-
Laura
"When you wish....................

[SarahJ]

I have to agree with Stongette on the issue of pets and air travel. Our dogs have been show dogs and thus we've had to fly them places occasionally. I can recall more bad experiences than good ones. Like the dog who had an epileptic seizure while in flight. Also there was a time when they put the dog on an earlier flight than we were scheduled for and he had to sit in the airport in his crate until we arrived.

If you do decide to fly your pet, I would suggest getting a battery powered crate fan that attaches to the front of the airline crates. Especially important if you are travelling in the summer since the space where your animal is can get very warm if the plane is grounded for any length of time. I believe you can find them at some major pet stores, also through catalogs such as R.C. Steele and Foster & Smith. Both of those also have web sites.

Sarah

[michnash]

I have a dog and a cat. I wanted a friend of mine to live in my house while we are gone and take care of them. I was going to pay her. It would cost about $25 a day to board them both at the vet. But, that's too long I think.(I'll be gone 2 weeks.) She is going to come twice a day to take care of them and I am going to pay her (not as much) since she can't live in my house. I will also bring her a present from Disney! (She lives 20 miles away.) I may ask my nephew to live at my house while I am away.

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Michelle

[Fortissimo]

Okay, I admit it. I am an over-protective mother. I have two cats, Pipsqueak (15), Fortissimo (12), and a dog, Tigger (6).

Yes, I called home every night on my honeymoon to see how they were doing. (Did you know that collect phone calls from Hawaii to Denver can get expensive?)My husband's cousin, who baby sat for us, still teases me.

Hopefully for our trip in June, my brother-in-law can sit for us. He's very excited to give my asthmatic cat his medicine. At least Fortissimo doesn't need an inhaler!

[stongette]

Fortissimo,

Don't think that you are an overly protective mother.

At our hospital, clients who feel really anxious about leaving their loved one with us have an option. They can visit us online and then click on their pet to see them frolicking. I think our systen is an hour behind so I wouldn't call it "live" but alot of clients feel more comfortable knowing that they can check up on their pets at anytime! I also know that there are many boarding kennels and hospitals that use this technology, too.
(Of course this service requires an extra fee )

--Lindsay

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Stongette

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"I Only Hope That We Never Lose Sight Of One Thing - That It Was All Started By A Mouse."
--Walt Disney <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[This message has been edited by stongette (edited 03-24-2000).]

[ArielsDad]

Our kitty (8yr old orange tabby) does well while we're gone. Either my Mother-in-law or Brother-in-law will stop by frequently for food/water and to clean the litter box.

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Ariel's Dad ºoº

[maggiemay]

When we go away for the weekend, we usually bring our dog,(Zoe,)with us. She loves the beach, and the long drive. We always leave the cat(no name, because she wouldn't come anyway)home. She prefers it that way I think. I think she only "tolerates" us when we are home anyway.
When I go to WDW, my hubby doesn't go, so no worries there. Thank goodness!

[Fortissimo]

Stongette, thanks for reasuring me that I'm not over protective!

It would be great to have the boys (the cats) stay at a place where I could see them. Unfortunately, I can't board them anywhere because they can't have their rabies, etc. shots. Pip got a pre-cancerous lump from the last one. Tis was one of the few strange cases where the shots can cause a coldsore outbreak in his eye and his cornea ruptured. (Did you know that cats can have corneal transplants?) Anyway, our vet won't give them their shots because they are "high risk" patients.

Tigger, on the other hand, would love to spend her time bouncing and pouncing at grandma's while we are away!

[DVC_Don]

Our Pug, Bentley, is boarded at his Vets. Should something go wrong she knows him. Nothing has yet. Actually, he likes it there. The assistants spoil him and he actually pulls on his leash to get in! The kids call it his "camp time".

Don L.


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OS 4/90, BC 2/95, WL 1/97, Contemp 1/98 & 1/99, Poly 12/99, DxL 2/00