Holidays: Keeping My Animals Without Ruining Me!
When I go on vacation, I have to organize myself to keep my cat.
However, I do not always have someone who is trustworthy and available.
So I became interested in affordable pet care solutions to go on vacation with peace of mind.
On the Internet, there are many initiatives and different sites that allow you to have your pet sitter. Here are the most interesting:
1. Home-sitting
As Cathy has already explained to us here, house-sitting is an alternative more and more used by individuals to have their home monitored for free on vacation.
Naturally, some sites offer home exchange with pet sitting, such as Anihomesitting.
Internet users not only trade their homes for the holidays, but they also take care of pets. Cost: 0 €.
In addition, through classified ads or Internet pages, retirees offer to take care of animals free of charge during holidays, at home. Cost: 0 €. I can still contribute to the volunteer's travel expenses or bring back a souvenir.
House-sitting may be chargeable. Sites like this are aimed at retirees who, to make ends meet, are committed to being of service by taking care of animals.
Cost: from 0 to around 15 € per day.
2. The pet-sitter
The pet-sitter or dog-sitter is someone who comes to my house to take care of my animal, take it for a walk, feed it, change the litter ...
I choose my services à la carte: frequency and duration of visits, duration of walks ... The pet-sitter must respect my requests.
The dog-sitter professional must have a certificate of animal capacity and specific civil liability insurance. However, there are many individuals offering their services, whether they are animal lovers or need to earn some extra cash.
I can find a pet-sitter on the Internet, especially on animal protection sites like 30 Millions d'Amis or on specialized sites like Anihomesitting or even at my vet ... Many veterinary students practice this activity and offer their services in local classifieds.
Average cost: 10 to 20 € per day (depending on the breed and size of the animal, the number of visits, etc.).
3. Custody exchange
Recently, Internet owners and animal enthusiasts can get in touch to offer to exchange custody of their animals during the holidays.
The animal remains free of charge with its keeper (and the latter's animals), and its owners are responsible for doing the same for the keeper's animal when it also leaves.
The Animal-futé site requires membership, € 30 per year, € 5 for NAC (New Pets). You register and write an advertisement valid for one year presenting your animal.
Once the membership is paid, we have access to the announcements, we can contact other owners of corny and decide whether or not to conclude the exchange of custody.
The AnimoVacances.fr site offers the same type of services, for an annual subscription of only € 9.90.
Cost: 10 to 30 € (membership).
4. Host family
It is also possible to entrust Minou or Toutou to a host family for a fee.
Here again, websites like this put teachers and host families in touch with each other. The announcements specify if the accommodation has a garden or not, if there are children, other animals ... Cost: around 10 € to 25 € per day, depending on the size and breed of the animal.
5. Kennel or boarding
Less idyllic for the animal than home or family care, the kennel offers "wholesale" care. The animals are distributed in the evening in boxes.
On the other hand, veterinarians control the animals, and the kennels are subject to strict legislation.
Depending on the size and breed of my animal, and the desired services (daily walks, food provided by the refuge or not, etc.) will cost from 10 to 20 € per day.
If I choose my kennel well, Médor will have room to exercise and friends to play with.
To find a kennel near you, I offer this link.
6 tips for getting away from it all
So that the guard goes as well as possible, I think about these few points:
1. Meet the caretaker beforehand
Whatever the method of care chosen, I advise you before you start, to meet beforehand the person who will take care of Médor or Félix, at least twice, including one in the presence of your animal. It is necessary for the current to flow.
2. Leave elderly or stressed animals at home
Home care is ideal for fearful, stressed, elderly and / or animals with health problems.
3. Check that the animal is insured
Professional guards have an obligation to be insured. If you go through a private individual, check with your comprehensive home insurer to what extent your animals are covered, in particular in the event of an injury inflicted on the keeper.
4. Sign a custody contract
It is recommended to sign a custody contract. Templates like this are available on various internet portals.
5. Leave the animal's food and papers
I do not forget to leave food (especially in the case of a specific diet), litter in reserve, any medicines or toys, as well as the animal's health record and the contact details of its veterinarian. Custody prices generally do not include food and consumables such as bedding.
I also leave a number where I can be reached in an emergency.
6. Advertising sites: not responsible in case of problem
Most babysitting sites are intended only to connect pet owners and sitters, and are not responsible for the pet-sitter and any problems he or she may cause.
For all intents and purposes, in France the abandonment of an animal can be sentenced up to 2 years in prison and a fine of € 30,000.
My tomcat being old and stressed, I usually get along with my relatives.
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Also to discover:
Home: The Essential Economic Steps to Make Before Going on Vacation.
The Trick To Remove Animal Hair From Your Carpets, Rugs And Sofa.
