Should you hire someone for at-home pet care or should you board your precious furry companion at a nearby kennel or boarding facility?
Plans for your dream vacation are all set. You’ve chosen a great location, booked yourself in the swankiest hotel you could find and you’re counting down the days before you get to let loose and enjoy some well-deserved fun. This last but oh-so important detail has you stumped and you just can’t bring yourself to make a final decision. You love your little cuddle buddy so much and wish you had the option of taking her with you, but you can’t. What should you do? Which option will be the best for your furry best friend?
A Straight Answer
At-home pet care is a better solution for your pet than a kennel or boarding facility. This is almost always true for cats and dogs, as well as other pets such as birds and reptiles. While boarding is for some, a traditionally used option, at-home pet care has emerged as a better solution since it allows your beloved to remain in the familiar environment she is most used to and in a place where she feels comfortable and is safest.
Still not convinced that at-home pet care is the way to go? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of both options, shall we?
The Pros of At-Home Pet Care:
Your beloved furbaby stays at home where she is most comfortable
Your furry friend maintains their normal routine
Your pet feels safe and secure, despite your absence
Your pet benefits from focused attention from their caregiver, and maintains their schedule for feeding, play and exercise
The Cons of At-Home Pet Care
Your pet may miss you
Prices may be a bit higher
As you can see, the pros outweigh the cons here. And if you bring on the right dog walker or pet sitter, your pet may not even miss you! If you have security cameras in your home or if you would like to videochat with me, you can even peek in and even say hello to your love bug every day that you are away.
The Pros of Pet Boarding
Daily costs may be lower
Your dog might enjoy making new friends at a boarding facility
The Cons of Pet Boarding
Your pet is exposed to a new environment, scents, sights and sounds which may be frightening to them
Your cat or dog may be exposed to airborne diseases, such as kennel cough and canine influenza
Your dog may be picked on by an alpha dog, possibly causing physical or psychological harm and high vet bills
Your pet may not get the level of attention or quality of environment they are used to
Your cat or dog may develop anxiety from a bad boarding experience
Escape artists that they are, your cat may run away and become lost
Weighing Your Options
So, on the one hand, you have a scenario where, besides missing you, not much changes in your pet’s life. On the other hand, with boarding, there are more than a few serious risks involved. Being creatures of habit and pretty big on having a territory of their own, most pets will appreciate staying at home without you as opposed to going to a strange environment without you.
Full Disclosure
Clearly, I have a bit of a bias here, but it’s not just because I offer superior pet sitting and dog walking services. I started Peace of Mind Pet and House Sitting because I honestly believe that there’s no place like home for pets and I want them to feel as happy, safe and comfortable as possible. There simply is no better way to care for your pet when you have to hit the road!
The Stress-Free Option
Your pet hates to be separated from you as much as you hate to have to leave her. There is a distinct difference between leaving her at a strange place and leaving her at home, however. As leaving her at home creates less stress and supports her comfort, I hope that you will agree that at-home pet care is always better than boarding.
What’s Your Preference?
Do you prefer at-home pet care or boarding? Which do you have the most experience with? Which pros and cons did I leave off of our list and which do you think our readers will appreciate most? Here’s your opportunity to have your say, I would love to read your comments. Please keep them conversational.