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Single Folks, Pets, and Travel

Single Folks, Pets, and Travel

Old Jan 16, 2007, 11:08 pm
  #16  
 
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I have managed to find college students -- responsible ones, so the house has never been trashed -- who are eager for an easy way to earn some extra money and I pay for them to move in and stay with my very sociable kitty if I'm gone for more than a couple of nights. Helps keep the house protected, too. It adds to the travel costs, of course, but I like knowing that my baby is being cared for and is not lonely & sad.
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 6:31 am
  #17  
 
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Get a petsitter.

Ask around, including at your vet's. Post an ad on Craigs List and check out http://www.petsitters.org/ for registered petsitters, although there are many that aren't.

Added bonus of petsitters-housesitters: They'll pick up your mail and make your house look lived-in while you're gone, too.
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 9:28 am
  #18  
 
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When I had a cat and was single, I would have a pet sitting service come in once a day, and they would also pick up the mail. It's an okay, but not ideal arrangement; my cat started getting sick and they really did not notice. It's also not inexpensive. Still, cats are a lot easier than dogs. With our dog, we are lucky to have family that will stay at our house most of the time when we are gone. Our dog is a very beta (pretty much omega!) dog, so she hates going to the kennel, even though we take her to a fancy, open play, nice place. She just doesn't like being around other dogs at all, so it's better if we can arrange for someone to come here. We've been wanting to take her on a trip, but a lot of hotels do charge a premium for pets...for example, some Ritz Carltons will allow small dogs, but when we inquired at one, it was an addition 125-150 a night to bring your dog.
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 11:04 am
  #19  
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when i lived in boston and had my dog, i would pay the super's daughter the same that i would have paid a kennel. along with feeding and fresh water, she would walk him in the mornings and evenings and this way barney would be at home and with someone he knew (and they got along great)

now living in sf with 2 katz (it was recently 3 but sadly i digress) i have the pleasure of goalie-parents and a terrific landlord who will take care of my girls (shelby and slapshot).
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 11:18 am
  #20  
 
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Luckily I have been able to bring my dog on a few trips with me. He's small enough to fit in what I would consider a large carry-on sized carrier under the seat. Then I arrange for friends to help me watch after him when I get to the destination if necessary.

Ideally, I have a friend just stay at my home with him while I am gone if I am unable to bring him with me.

Cheers,

Adrian
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 6:10 pm
  #21  
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One of the advantages of living in the big city...pet-sitting and dog-walking services abound. I currently have two cats, and as most have mentioned, cats can be left alone for a few days without problems. But...one of mine is sick and requires medicine, so I use a great pet sitter who's also a vet tech at my veterinarian's office. It gives me peace of mind because I know she can a) administer meds with confidence, b) be on the lookout for any signs my sick one is having problems, and c) get him to the vet if something does happen. But I also have a few pet-loving friends who are more than willing to stop in every day or so, which help supplement the people-time my pets have (and keeps me from running up a huge bill with the pet sitter). And keeping them at home minimizes the stress.

For longer trips, my sick cat boards with my one of my vets who's an internal medicine specialist. He has a small, quiet practice, and only boards cats. I think it minimizes the stress on my cat (my "regular" vet boards both cats and dogs, and is a lot busier/more hectic). At the specialist's office, they'll let him out of the cage to walk around. My healthy cat will then stay at home (with visits from friends/pet sitter) or go to a friend's house. (He likes dogs, so it's easy to farm him out *g*).

I love animals...they're great, non-judgmental companions. But I always have them in mind when I'm planning travel or actually on a trip. It's hard to leave them.
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 6:35 pm
  #22  
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I have put off going on vacations to stay home with my poodles. I prefer to be with them. I do understand!
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 6:41 pm
  #23  
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A person who has to travel for their work and continues to get dogs (very high maintenance) and cats (low maintenance) has a problem that they themselves create, therefore whatever the expense for sitters is an expense that must be incurred. Hire a sitter or pay someone to keep the pet.
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 8:27 pm
  #24  
 
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I've got two dogs - a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever/Husky mix (I think). Both are about 10. The dogs also have a cat, about 14.

I usually have a domestic trip of 3-5 days every month, plus a few 6-7 day international trips annually. I've been doing this for going on three years now.

I can usually manage to bribe friends to house sit. One friend of mine was happy to watch them for about a year as he was going through a divorce and had moved back in with his parents. Not that I'm recommending you start breaking up marriages to get a dog sitter.

The 53" TV plus a stocked refrigerator and liquor cabinet also help.

If I can't arrange a house sitter, I kennel the dogs and have someone drop in to check on the cat. I notice the OP is DTW based. There is a good kennel just north of DTW - Britt's Bow Wow - on Ecorse just west of Merriman. It is six minutes from their parking to the McNamara garage. They actually take care of pets in transit for NW. I can drop the dogs at 8:00 when they open and still make an 8:50 flight (although it is very close). They are open until 9pm, so it is usually easy to pick them up on my return. It does get expensive at around $18 per dog per night. The dogs don't seem to mind and are always exhausted when I get home. They also take cats, but I've only taken the dogs.

If you go the house sitter route, make sure your yard is secure - very secure. My shepherd has always been an escape artist. Somehow they got the gate open last year and ended up being picked up by the local police and spent the night in the basement of the police department. Thankfully my dogs will go to anyone so they have always been found when lost. The animal control officer told me it is very common for dogs to take off when their owners are not home. Also make sure they have ID and are licensed. I had neglected to get the license done and got lucky with a warning - I think she took pity on me for being up all night trying to locate my dogs from 600 miles away.

Getting a second dog will increase your bills, but dogs are pack animals and will be happier with a companion around all day.

I guess I need to start cleaning the house as I am outbound this weekend and have a sitter.
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 8:58 pm
  #25  
 
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Originally Posted by drbond
A person who has to travel for their work and continues to get dogs (very high maintenance) and cats (low maintenance) has a problem that they themselves create, therefore whatever the expense for sitters is an expense that must be incurred. Hire a sitter or pay someone to keep the pet.

I don't think I've seen anyone here complaining about expense... Mostly it seems like folks who have found ways to accommodate their love of their pets and their need or desire to travel. Not sure what the issue is with this "self-created problem."
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Old Jan 17, 2007, 9:58 pm
  #26  
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I totally understand what you are going through. When my 16 year old cat passed last year I tried to talk myself out of any new pets, because I travel so much and I felt guilty for them and imposing on friends. After a month I had to get pets I was going nuts with no living creatures at home when Iam home. I got 2 cats. I realize also that they have great lives in my home even if I am not always here.

As for their care, I gave up on the friends feeding them mess and got a professional cat sitter. She stops in daily (she does dogs also and those she visits more often) and she feeds them, cleans up as needed (including litterbox) plays with them and just gives them great care. She was recommended by my vet, and was a vet tech so she also can watch for health problems while I am gone. She is well worth the cost.

Only thing that really irks me is that people can take out cost of child care pre-tax, I should be able to do the same for my pet care!!!
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Old Jan 18, 2007, 9:20 am
  #27  
 
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Originally Posted by tev9999
It does get expensive at around $18 per dog per night.
Ah, the good ol' days before moving to NYC. Now it's a bargain that I've found a dogwalker who lives in my building who will watch my older dog for only $30/nt (since she can't go on long walks, just out to do her business at the curb.)
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Old Jan 18, 2007, 9:23 am
  #28  
 
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Originally Posted by Lehava
Only thing that really irks me is that people can take out cost of child care pre-tax, I should be able to do the same for my pet care!!!
Agreed!! And if only I could add my dogs as dependents on my health insurance...I would gladly pay the "family plan" rate to get $10 prescriptions!
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Old Jan 18, 2007, 10:31 am
  #29  
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I do agree that adopting animals while knowing I am going to travel is my decision, and I deal with it and don't complain.

I would LOVE to see employers offer componsation to employees with kids that must travel that have few options. It's not simple enough to say "well, then they just shouldn't travel or find a new job!" as sometimes these jobs are the pathway to growth and moving into roles that may not require much travel. These days, you can't put your career on hold for 18 years and expect to maintain it.

In a perfect world, pets would be accepted as kids! Between food, school, boarding, they should be a deductable expense if you don't have kids.

I have my situation well covered. I have a friend that is going through a divorce that stays at my house while I am gone, and my parents when I am home. A full time roommate again would be a nice option, but I don't like the generic house sitter route. It's a shame, but that is just me. It is great reading what other folks do!

I'd be interested to know if drbond is an animal lover.
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Old Jan 18, 2007, 11:26 am
  #30  
 
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I don't have pets, but would love to get one. But, with job travel I know I won't have time for one - so my decision is not to have a pet.
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