{"id":588,"date":"2023-09-06T08:30:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T13:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tenwestvet.com\/blog\/?p=588"},"modified":"2023-09-06T08:30:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T13:30:06","slug":"pet-boarding-vs-pet-sitter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tenwestvet.com\/blog\/pet-boarding-vs-pet-sitter\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Boarding vs. Pet Sitter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If we could, we\u2019d take our pets everywhere. Unfortunately, most animals aren\u2019t cut out for a weekend in Las Vegas or a work trip full of seminars. It\u2019s never easy to leave your pet behind, but when you feel you\u2019ve made the right decision for their care, safety and comfort, you can hopefully have some peace of mind. There are pros and cons to nearly every tough decision, and we can help you choose between boarding your pet or hiring a sitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Long Before You Go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to approach this situation is to conduct a search long before you absolutely have to leave town. Give yourself plenty of time to schedule interviews, tours, call references, and prepare your pet (the most important step of all). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great place to start is by asking friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members, and even strangers at the dog park who they hire when they leave town. Word of mouth and online testimonials really help owners know what to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay at Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many experienced, credentialed, responsible, and expert pet sitters out there. You can look for someone to come and stay inside your own home (maximizing your pet\u2019s safety and comfort), and hire them to keep an eye on the garden, mail, or other items in\/around the property. Plus, your pet has all their stuff there, and despite missing you, they\u2019ll be safe and sound without any disruption to their routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another great option could be to bring your pet to the sitter\u2019s home. They may have one or more pets they\u2019re watching at a time, so if your pet is a highly social one, this could be a great opportunity for them (or not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Boarding Makes Sense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are standalone boarding facilities that simply feed, exercise, and clean up waste as stipulated in the intake paperwork. If your pet is healthy, socialized, and experienced with this environment, boarding your pet may be a terrific choice for a short time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veterinary Pet Boarding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To achieve the maximum peace of mind,we recommend veterinary boarding for these reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n