They jump inside your suitcase when you pull it from the closet and their big sad eyes beg you not to leave. If you share your home with a cat or dog, you’re probably familiar with this scene every time you get ready to leave for a vacation.

It’s a mixed bag of emotions for people when they have to leave their pets. On one hand there’s the feeling of excitement to visit a new destination and on the other, there’s the gut-wrenching guilt of “what will become of my pet while I am gone.”

The biggest questions that loom over the heads of pet owners when they travel are, "Where will my pets stay? and "Which boarding option is best for my cat or dog?" 

Will you check them in at an animal hotel, board them with your veterinarian or hire a pet sitter to come to your home?

How they tolerate each of these options depends on the temperament, age and health of your pet.

Here are some tips for selecting the best boarding option for your cat or dog:

• Animal hotels are suited for friendly, easy-going animals that like people and need exercise and attention. Animal hotels range from elite facilities that will treat your pet like royalty to more basic hotels with modest accommodations, but typically they all offer amenities such as: private suites, cage-free boarding rooms, doggie/ kitty parks, group activities and caregivers that are on-hand 24 hours a day.
• Veterinary clinics are comforting, especially if your pet is familiar with the staff. And many have added their own amenities over the years, such as private rooms and 24-hour cameras to monitor pets. They are an especially good option for animals that have health problems because qualified personnel is always on-hand to administer medications, special diets or medical treatments. Check out the area where your cat or dog will live while you are away. Some veterinary clinics have cages for its boarders, while others provide individual suites with outdoor runs.
• Pet sitters can be a great alternative for shy pets, healthy adult animals and homebodies. (They are not appropriate during crate training, or if you are worried about a puppy chewing furniture or a kitten climbing up your drapes.) Because you will be inviting a stranger into your home, be sure the sitter is insured, bonded and a member of a nationally recognized association, such as the National Association of Pet Sitters. By hiring a sitter, your cat or dog gets to stay in their familiar environment and this can be a big stress reliever for them. Most pet sitters will visit a home from one to three times a day and some will stay overnight with your pet. Their services include feeding, walking and playing with your animals and they even pick-up poop.

To further research this subject, the Pet Care Services Association has a book titled: How to Seclect a Pet Care Facility.  It can be mailed or printed directly from their website.

Photo: Dora from Heaven Can Wait Animal Society