THE PET CONNECTION By Gina Spadafori Pet Columnist

With the summer vacation season approaching quickly, people are starting to worry about what to do with their pets while they're gone. Pet-sitting is a tried-and-true solution that may work for many.

A wide range of services is lumped under the general title of pet-sitter, covering everything from a reciprocal agreement between friends to care for each other's pets, to paying a neighbor kid to look in on your pet, to hiring a professional pet-sitting service to care for your pet in your own home.

One of the benefits of having your pet stay in your own home is that he's familiar with the surroundings. This is more important for cats and birds than for dogs, but some dogs prefer to stay home as well. And pet-sitters can do more than just look in on your pet: They can take in your mail and newspaper, water your houseplants, and turn lights on and off.

Professional pet-sitting services have come on strong in recent years, and many pet lovers use and love them. If you're considering hiring a service, be sure that you discuss services and prices beforehand, make sure that they're bonded and insured, and ask for references. One of the best ways to find a professional pet-sitter is by asking friends, family and co-workers for a referral. A happy client will be delighted to offer a positive reference.

The biggest drawback to pet-sitters is that your pet is left alone a great deal of the time, because most professional pet-sitters probably can't spend all that much time giving your pet individual attention. If your pet becomes ill or manages to escape, a pet-sitter may not come back to notice before some time has passed. And finally, some people just aren't comfortable having people in their home while they're gone.

Informal arrangements for house-sitting (actually having the person move in while you're gone) or pet-sitting (having the person just drop by once or twice a day to check on your pet) can be even trickier than hiring a professional service. I had a friend who once left her house and pets in the care of the college-age daughter of a co-worker. When she came home, she realized that the young woman had been anything but a quiet resident: She'd had guests and even a party. (The house was a bit worse for wear, but at least the pets were fine.) If you're going to go with a young person -- and many people do, with no regrets -- make sure that parental oversight is part of the picture.

One of the best solutions is to trade pet-sitting. Most animal lovers have friends who also have pets, and chances are you're one of them. Making a deal with one of your friends to cover each other whenever you're gone can work out very well. Trading care is a solution that's both reassuring (if you have friends who love animals as much as you do, that is) and inexpensive. All the arrangement requires is your own time in return.

Trading pet-sitting is how I most often care for my pets when I'm gone. I have friends who treat their pets the way I treat mine -- in other words, they spoil them rotten. Their dogs know mine, and all our pets are familiar with and comfortable in each other's homes. Although it does make for a crowded house sometimes (I'm currently sharing space with five dogs, my three and the two belonging to a vacationing friend), I always know that when I'm gone my pets are safe and well-cared-for.

That said, I have also hired professional pet-sitters, and boarded my dogs, all with good results. I wouldn't hesitate to use such businesses again -- after checking them out thoroughly, of course. But for now, I couldn't be happier with my arrangements, even if I am dealing with a little extra dog hair right now.

Date Published: 5/17/2000 12:39:00 PM

    

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of Dogs for Dummies, Cats for Dummies and Birds for Dummies. She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her at petconnection@gmail.com.