While their humans are away, our pets still need to play!
We will hardly go on a trip without packing or booking our accommodations in advance. Similarly, our pets’ temporary care should not be an afterthought.
But where do we leave them, and with whom?
Enlist the Help of Trusted Friends or Family
If you have relatives or friends who are familiar with your pets, it is a good idea to ask if they can help with caregiving at your home. This reduces the transitional stress for your pets while you are away, since they would continue being in the comfort of home and among close company. But as their owner, the responsibility lies with you to ensure appropriate handover of their care. This should minimally include information on:
- Your pets’ usual behaviour, preferences for interaction, and any potential triggers
- Daily feeding and cleaning routines
- Play and activity needs, such as frequency and duration of walks for dogs, where their toys and supplies are kept
- Special health requirements such as medication and how to administer it
- Your go-to vet as well as the nearest 24/7 clinic in case of emergency
Engage a Reliable Pet Sitter
The benefit of having a pet sitter (assuming they are reliable) is that your pets can receive personalised care at home without being sent to an external boarding facility.
In Singapore, there are currently no regulations on pet sitters. However, there are steps you can take to choose a pet sitter who will put your pets’ welfare first:
- Look up their reviews and references, including any qualifications related to pet care
- Find out about their services from family, friends, veterinarians, or other clients
- Invite them to your home for preliminary sessions with your pets, being sure to observe their interactions and goodness of fit
- If you have a pet camera at home, obtain consent from the sitter to be recorded in the common living spaces (if the sitter refuses, this could be a red flag)
Ensure that the sitter is well-prepared by providing comprehensive information on your pets’ care. This could build upon the list that you would share with a friend/family caregiver, but in slightly greater detail if the sitter is entirely new to your pets.
Entrust Your Pets to a Boarding Facility
Several tragedies at boarding facilities have caused owners to shudder at the thought of leaving their pets in an unfamiliar place with unknown people. In one case, the boarder claimed that a cat had gone missing, only for the owner to rush back from her holiday and find her cat’s lifeless body stashed in a bag within the facility. In another case, a dog passed away under the care of an unlicensed pet boarder, allegedly due to neglect.
While these incidents are reprehensible, it would be unfair and inaccurate to throw shade on all pet boarders. In fact, owners assume part of the responsibility for ensuring that they leave their pets in good hands. Here are some tips for selecting a trustworthy pet boarder (and there are certainly dependable ones out there):
- Ensure that the pet boarding facility is licensed by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) for the relevant species of pets
- Beyond licensing, owners may find it helpful to read the AVS Terms and Conditions for Boarding so that they know what to look out for
- Pay a visit to the facility to assess the living conditions, cleanliness, staff-to-pet ratio, and whether the pets who are currently boarding look well cared for
- If the facility houses more than one pet species, the different species should be housed separately to prevent stress
- Find out their daily routines, including time for socialisation and exercise
- If you are required to provide proof of vaccination and preventative treatment, it is a positive sign that precautions are taken to limit the spread of disease
- Take note of the information that the staff shares and the questions asked, as these offer a proxy of their commitment to meeting your pets’ needs
- Request 24/7 webcam access so you can check on your pet at any time (otherwise, make arrangements with the staff to provide timely updates)
Given the amount of preparation needed, it is wise to start early. Then when the time comes, you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind that your pets are safe and happy.
December 2024