by Rebecca K.

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: September 26, 2009

As a long-time pet owner, I believe the best substitute for mommy or daddy when you go away on vacation is a reliable pet sitter. There are many benefits to a pet sitter as opposed to simply taking your animal or animals to a kennel. Convenience and less stress for the animal are merely a couple of benefits off the top of my head. We'll take a more detailed look into the benefits in a bit.

Now there are many folks who just don't feel comfortable having a relative stranger come into their home and care for their pets. What if the person doesn't show up or they simply forget? What if they're a dishonest person? These are all valid concerns and you should be very particular about who you let into your home and care for your four-legged babies. A good way to find a reliable pet sitter is to ask around or by word of mouth. Only choose a pet sitter who comes with good recommendations and preferably one you have met prior to going away.

When going on family vacations, we used to board our dog and cat at a kennel. The place ran a vet's office, boarding kennel, and grooming salon all in one spot. It was so sad to drop off our pets at the kennel and they always seemed so sad, not to mention I think the experience was always very traumatizing for them. When we came to pick them up, they seemed so happy, like they'd never see us again. Probably they thought we abandoned them because there is no way for a dog or cat to understand, "This is only for a week, we'll be back."

Another major drawback of kennels is the odor. When you get near your boarded pet you'll notice a usual distinctive kennel odor. It smells of urine and bleach, yuck! All I can say is good thing there was a groomer right next door because our dog reeked so bad we had him bathed immediately; bet they make a lot of money that way.

Having someone care for your animals at home is beneficial because it is a familiar, comfortable place for your pets. They may look for you every day and wonder where you went, but stress levels are much lower than sending them to a kennel. Some pet sitters will even stay overnight and take your dog for his/her morning walk. They make every effort to keep the pet's schedule the same. Lots of pet sitters aren't in it for the money, they're in it for the love of animals, which makes them a much better pick.

Another benefit is, if you have other animals besides a dog and cat, like say a horse, the pet sitter may be able to take care of them too. Just have them come over, teach them how to feed your horse and when and you won't have to worry about hauling him/her off to a boarding stable either.

In my opinion there's no substitute for a good pet sitter when you're away. Hope you consider this option and find one that is trustworthy and as good to your pets as you are.

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