About Making Sure Your Pets Are Cared For When You Leave Town For A While

1. About Making Sure Your Pets Are Cared For When You Leave Town For A While Pets live in our hearts, just like our children do. From the moment they arrive, we take care of them like we would a baby, as it relies on us, the humans, to protect them, to look after them, love them and provide in every sense right from food and shelter to medical care. Keeping a pet is a lifelong responsibility which the pet owner understands and supports – also during those times that we have to be absent, not during our normal working day, but also for extended periods such as when we go on leave or have to leave town on business for a day or more. In households where one person remains behind, it is not a problem, but when the whole family – or single person – go away for a while, one is often faced with a dilemma. What do I do, who do I turn to? Do I get a house-sitter during my absence, hoping they bond with my animal - which may be a big chance to take? Animals do not always take that easily to outsiders and they may be unhappy, pine for you, be aggressive to the well-meaning carer, or they may escape – not knowing if you will come back. One of the best solutions, still, is to consider a boarding facility for your cat or dog when you go away for a while. It is, probably, still the best option, even if it may cause a bit of anxiety at first for both owners and the pet when it arrives at the kennels or cattery. A little bit of homework upfront is essential so that you will feel confident about the boarding facility where you will leave your pet(s) while you’re away. You have to ask yourself some important questions the moment you have your dates fixed. Examples include: Does the facility I have in mind come recommended by others (maybe someone you know has used them in the past), is it known to offer facilities for my pet such a clean, pleasant environment where they will sleep, is it safe so that my pet does not escape, will it receive love and care and be made to feel welcome and comfortable? Of course, these are general considerations; however, many dog and cat owners have their unique circumstances and requirements, and one has to make sure upfront you choose a facility that can meet your demands. For example, my pet may not be so sociable around other animals, or it may not flourish if it is separated from the other pets in my household that is also

2. booked into the same facility, or it may need to be petted and played with more often than is the case with other animals. These are important issues and should be well considered or you may return after your break to an unhappy, nervous pet – which is not what you want. Therefore it is a good idea to visit the facility you have in mind, let some staff member walk you through, explain everything, show you where pets are allowed to play, where they will be exercised, let them show you if your “unsociable” pet will be kept away from other, maybe noisy animals so it does not get upset. You want to know how often pets are fed. Is it the same schedule you follow at home, and if not, are you happy with that? Should you arrive with your pet’s food or will the facility provide? If your pet is on a special diet, will they promise you your pet will indeed get their food at the prescribed times? These are all factors to be considered by the loving owner. You have to find a great facility. Many owners approach their vet for good advice and a recommendation. What’s more, some vets offer these facilities for pets of absentee owners themselves, which is often a wonderful solution as they are the perfect people to care for pets. About Us: At Powell Veterinary Service we offer all pet owners almost 30 years of dedicated, unrivaled service to ensure their pets remain healthy and happy. We offer a great experience and are proud of the services we offer about all aspects of animal care. We perform surgeries, we spay and neuter, we offer boarding facilities and we provide puppies for different activities that appeal to our clients. At PVS we also offer a wellness service for pets to ensure any conditions are picked up early. We are Kersey, CO-based, and serve the surrounding areas. We are available by appointment, but also for emergencies. Pets are our passion and we ensure that your animal receives excellent treatment from our practice. For more about us please visit https://powellvets.com.