Okay, I will admit it (as much as it pains me to do so) in-home pet sitting just isn’t for every pet. If you have a pet that cannot be left alone in the home without destroying everything, a boarding facility might be for you. However, in pretty much every other instance, in-home pet sitting completely outweighs boarding in its benefits. Why do I say that? Let me explain.
Dogs and cats are bonded to their owners and their environment, they don’t adapt to change like we do especially when that change involves being away from you in a completely strange place. They don’t have the ability to realize that you will be coming back for them so often times boarding ends up being a very stressful situation for your pet.
In order to take your pet to a boarding facility they need to be up to date on their DHP, Rabies and Bordatella vaccines and have a negative fecal test on record within the last 6 months. This means extra cash for you to spend. With in-home pet sitting, these things are not required. We obviously encourage you to keep your pet up to date on their vaccines but with today’s growing controversies over just how often our pets need these vaccinations, we understand if they don’t get them every year.
Boarding facilities often have a large number of cats and dogs and a small staff. This means that their isn’t enough staff to provide your pet with one on one attention. When you use an in-home pet sitting service, your pet sitter is at your home for 20-45 minutes at a time and is able to concentrate solely on your pets.
In addition to being away from their environment, often times you are charged extra to send your dog or cat to a boarding facility with their favorite blankies and toys. With in-home pet sitting they are able to stay in the comfort of their own home with their favorite toys, beds and can even sun bathe in their favorite spot by the window.
With in-home pet sitting there is minimal interruption to your pet’s routine. We try to feed them and let them out on the same schedule that they are used to when you’re home. With boarding, your pet is on the schedule of the facility. It is just not feasible for them to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Lastly, in-home pet sitting provides the added benefit of home security as well. Most pet sitters will take out the trash, bring in the mail and rotate lights and blinds to make it appear that someone is home. When your pet is at a boarding facility, there is no one checking in on your home while you’re away.
So, do you now see the benefits of in-home pet sitting? Stay tuned for our next article on how to pick the right pet sitter!
