PROPERTY NEWS - With the June holidays fast approaching, many have already started planning for a mid-year vacation. But what happens to their beloved pet while they're away?
"An empty home is easy enough to leave behind when you are travelling: simply switch off all appliances, shut all taps, lock up and leave," says Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
"But, the process becomes somewhat more complicated when you have to leave your furry loved ones behind."
"According to most pet advice websites, the amount of time a pet can be left alone varies depending on the type of animal and the personality of the specific pet. Generally speaking though, any pet will need human interaction at least once a day, so leaving a pet to its own devices with a timer-set feeder and a bundle of chew toys simply won't cut it," Goslett says.
There are really only three options for pet-owners:
- Book your pets in at a pet-sitter;
- Hire somebody to pet-sit from your home;
- Ask a friend or family member to house-sit or pop in daily while you're away.
"If you are going to have somebody come into your home to look after your pet, you will need to make provision for certain things. For starters, whether it is somebody you know or a professional pet-sitter, the person looking after your pet will need their own set of keys to get in and out of your home.
If you don't have a spare set, you will have to get these made before you leave," says Goslett.
"Also, if you want to avoid a barrage of phone calls from your confused pet-sitter, you ought to write down what they might need to know while you're away. Even if you mentioned it to them before you left, people tend to forget these sorts of details. Alarm codes, how much to feed your pet, and where to find your pet's food and toys are a few of the vital points they will need to know before you leave.
Another thing most homeowners forget is that whoever is looking after your pet while you're away will not be familiar with the layout and the rules of your home.
You should also remember to mention where the closest vet is, or to leave the number of your pet's vet in case of an emergency."
Another thing most homeowners forget is that whoever is looking after your pet while you're away will not be familiar with the layout and the rules of your home.
"If you want to avoid vases being knocked over in the dark as the sitter fumbles for the light switch, or paw-prints on your newly purchased couch, then you ought to do a quick run-through of your home and the various rules you have in place for your pet before you leave," Goslett suggests.
While it might seem obvious, many people tend to forget to make sure that there is enough pet food to last for the time they are away.
Besides this, they also need to make sure that they have food and refreshments for whoever is pet-sitting for them.
"It is difficult to plan for every eventuality, so it is always a good idea to leave an amount of emergency cash for their pet-sitter in case something runs out or needs to be purchased," Goslett concludes.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
