How do you handle PETS on a mini retirement?

[Monkiii]

I know that Tim talks about kids in the 4hww. Trouble is, there's loads of places that let you bring your kids, but that don't allow animals. Given that I'm looking at around 3 months for a decent mini vacation it also seems unfair to leave a dog in a kennel for that long. I also can't imagine my daughter would be too pleased if I applied Parkinsons law to the dog... :eek:

So is there anyone here taking mini retirements with pets,
and if so how do you handle it?

[phil]

I really want a dog, but travel too much. I haven't figured out a good solution.

How about leaving the pet with a friend, family, neighbor, for a small fee. So that it's not in a kennel, but still being watched well.

How about hiring someone to come to the house at least once a day and handle the pet?

[kamakiri]

I pay someone to house sit. Not much, but enough to get a college student or my sister-in-law when she is free. I have a short list of trusted people.

My initial reaction is to say that if you don't have that kind of a network that you probably shouldn't have a dog, but there are all kinds out there.

The link is gone now, but : http://twitter.com/jfrenzel Jose, a friend of Tim's was renting out his apartment for 3 weeks, and it is dog friendly.

International travel with dogs is difficult. They need to be chipped and have some serious paperwork. It is a pain in the rump. In country travel isn't so bad. There are a lot of places that cater to canine companions. Figure out what you want and make it happen.

[REOBULK]

I pay someone to house sit. Not much, but enough to get a college student or my sister-in-law when she is free. I have a short list of trusted people.

This is what I do, it's the most expensive part of the time away!! But, it's the lifestyle I chose BEFORE getting this one moving.....

I find that the pets are happy and obviously well fed when I get back!

Brad

[Zach.Ho]

for me,I decide not to raise any pets though I really really want a cat & a dog at home.
but if I have had pets,I will let my family or friends take care of it,and I'll do this days before I start travelling to see if there are problems.

[Monkiii]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

We do have a network of friends, family and a dog sitter. It's just we have a rescue dog with abandonment issues, meaning she gets very upset when left for more than a short period of time.

We've looked into travelling with her, but it does look rather beuracratic and there's a few things I'd really rather she wasn't injected with... (although she was chipped by the pound before we got her).

Seems to me that if one was to travell with a dog that it would probably work better going and staying overseas in one place for a few months rather than jetting all over the place. I know someone who brought their dog to Ecuador this way, but I'm just not sure if this is the best way possible.

[TBarretH]

Another thing to think about is quarantine time. Depending on the animal and the country you are visiting quarantine times can be several months. If you are going to be gone for 3 months it would probably be better to leave the dog at home with someone they know, then to try to take them with you and wind up leaving them locking an quarantine kennel with unfamiliar people and dogs all around for 6 weeks.
My girlfriend and I have pets (cats and a dog) and thus far have chosen to leave them at home when we travel because of this.

[Marcie]

Yeah, I know someone who lost a beautiful chocolate lab in quarantine in the UK, diagnosis was a broken heart :(

[Monkiii]

Yeah, I know someone who lost a beautiful chocolate lab in quarantine in the UK, diagnosis was a broken heart :(

Yeah. I'm just afraid that the same would happen to ours, even if we left them with our dog sitter instead. She is *very* attached, after having been abandoned by one set of owners before us.

[Zach.Ho]

hey,is there any NPO that offer pets-watching service?I read an article today about this,though the name of the orgnaztion is not real

[Monkiii]

NPO? You mean non profit organization? Not that I know of, but who knows, maybe someone like the (r)spca might...

[Zach.Ho]

yes,non profit organization
I'm sorry I can't help more but I think it's a way