Community Corner

Boarding Your Pet When You're Away on Summer Vacation

If you're leaving a pet behind while you're on vacation, find a solution that you can live with so you'll have peace of mind while you're gone.

Summertime means vacations and sometimes that's with your cat or dog, sometimes without them.

If you plan to leave your pet behind, you've got several options:

  • Hire someone to visit or stay at your house with your pet.
  • Board your pet.
  • Leave your pet with someone.

Leaving your pet with someone
A service called Dogvacay.com has been referred to as "a Match.com for dogs whose owners are out of town." When you visit the site, you plug in your location and dates you'll be out of town. Dog-sitter contact information and photos will pop up with their rates (looks like they range from $20 to $50 per night) with services that are included such as feeding, walking, etc. There are other such sites available. Be sure to ask for references.

Leaving your pet at home
The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters recognized a Northern Virginia pet-sitting service this year. Becky's Pet Care of Alexandria earned its Business of the Year Award. Becky's Pet Care and other such services offer dog walks, feeding, administering medications as well as handling small tasks like turning on your lights, bringing in your mail, etc. for $23 to $40 per visit (on Becky's site, as an example here; check others), depending on the length of the visit.

Here's what they offer:
  • Walk
  • Playtime
  • Potty Break
  • Report Card
  • Fresh Water
  • Treat or Lunch
  • Lots of TLC!

"In addition, we can administer medicine or provide care for any other household pets, as long as your instructions for that care can be completed within your purchased time allotment. We can also collect mail, alternate lights, and open/close draperies to help your home remain secure in your absence."

Boarding your pet
If you think your dog is well socialized with other dogs, you might consider boarding, where there is likely a dog play area with other dogs. If you do board your pet, you'll need updated vaccine information ready to hand over (or ask your vet if they'll email or fax the information).

There are many boarding facilities throughout Northern Virginia but one of the more well known ones is the Olde Towne Pet Resort. At the Olde Towne Pet Resort in Springfield and now in Dulles, there are plenty of "extras" available for its boarders. The business offers five levels of service, from "Classic," to "Club Canine." Rates start at $60 per day for dogs and $30 per day for cats.

The "resort" offers boarding plus lots of extras like one-on-one playtime with a trainer, swimming at the indoor swimming pool, several play areas depending on the size of your dog, massage, grooming and more.

Old Towne Pet Resort also offers peace of mind with a back-up generator in case of any severe summer storms that might knock out power.

Oh, and if you plan to take your pet with you? Check out Dogfriendly.com.

Tell us, what's your solution to "pet-sitting" while you're on vacation?

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