Travels Without Fido

It’s that time of year again when many of us are looking forward to an annual vacation.  For my husband and me, the hardest part of preparing for travel is the anticipation of leaving our pets behind.  No matter how prepared we try to be, there is always the concern that an emergency will arise in our absence, as it did two years ago when our cat, Mrs. Bean, became critically ill with fatty liver disease.  Thanks to the diligence and quick action of our neighbor, Wanda, who was caring for Mrs. Bean, our story had a happy ending.

I’m getting ahead of myself though.  Our annual vacation preparations include arrangements for the care and feeding of our cat and two dogs.  There are special foods to purchase, vet visits to ensure the animals are in good health, and written documents for the pet sitters and vet allowing our permission to provide medical care in the event of an emergency.  We also provide the caregivers with copies of our itinerary so they know how to reach us. Mrs. Bean stays home and is cared for by Wanda while the dogs are lodged with our friend, Julie, who operates a doggie B&B from her home in the nearby hills.  

The written permissions and contact information became critically important when Bean fell ill.  While traveling outside the country, we received an e-mail from Wanda indicating that Mrs. Bean was off her food and appeared to be very lethargic.  How would we like Wanda to proceed?  We immediately requested she take Mrs. Bean to the vet.  The vet kept Bean and treated her over the next few days until we arrived home.  By that time, it was determined that Bean required surgery and feeding through a stomach tube for the next month.  However, it was Wanda’s quick intervention that ultimately saved her life.

As important as providing the above documentation is having a dedicated and reliable caregiver.  Wanda and Julie both fall into that category.  When searching for a pet-sitter or interviewing a kennel operator, the most important consideration aside from the animal’s physical safety and comfort, is trusting the caregiver.  Will he or she give your cherished pet enough attention to know when something is wrong or different about the pet’s behavior?  Will he or she then know what steps to take on behalf of your pet?  Leaving our animal family behind while we vacation is much easier knowing they are in such kind and capable hands. 

Wishing all of my readers safe travels this summer and hoping you return home rested to find your pets healthy and happy.

by Elizabeth Sundstrom