“Make a List and Check It Twice” When Selecting Pet-Care Services this Holiday Season

It’s that time of year, again. The holiday music has started. The door-buster sales are buzzing. The family is gathering at Grandma’s — and you’re trying to figure out how to squeeze Fluffy into a carry-on. Holiday traveling is stressful. Whether going on a plane, train or automobile, and adding your pet as a passenger doesn’t make things any easier. The roads are busier, airports are crowded and flights are packed. If your family decides the hustle and bustle of pet travel is too much around the holidays, there are other options that can give you peace of mind. Here is everything you need to know to make sure this season is hairball-free!

Hire a Pet Sitter

Pet sitters can be a great alternative to kennel care (and often a cheaper option). Knowing that a beloved pet can enjoy the stress-free environment of its own home during the holiday season can provide great peace of mind for pet owners. Even if you don’t plan to travel long distances, a pet sitter can also come in handy to help keep pets on their regular schedule when you are out late shopping or enjoying holiday parties. It’s important to understand what to look for when selecting a professional pet sitter. You wouldn’t hire a babysitter without having her meet your kids first — it should be the same with your pet! Otherwise, it might be a shock when a strange person appears. Happy at Home schedules clients an initial consultation called a “Meet-and-Greet” with your potential pet sitter/dog walker prior to booking our services. The Meet-and-Greet visit allows you to get to know each other and allows the sitter/walker to spend some quality time with your pet(s). Together, we will tour your home to learn about your pet’s daily routines, where you keep the pet supplies and your home security routines. In addition to watching your dog or cat, our sitters will keep up on training, take your dog for walks and be that friendly, loving face while you are away.

Hire a Dog Walker

A dog walker coming by twice a day to take your dog on walks while your family is away is often the cheapest option. This could be the least expensive option if you are only going away for a short time, your pet is comfortable being alone, and he only needs a few breaks a day to run and play.

One final tip for pet owners traveling this holiday season? Book early! You can reserve a pet sitter RIGHT NOW for your furry family members with Happy at Home. Simply log into our online reservation system and sign up for a Meet & Greet today!

Lisa A.

If you’re looking for someone who’ll go bananas every time they see your dog or cat, knows them so well they notice one hair out of place, speaks their language, knows their favorite treat AND movie and most of all become their second favorite human in the whole world, then you’ve found the right person! Lisa resides in Westerleigh and is a Dogtec Certified Dog Walker, NYC Certified in Animal Care and Handling, FEMA Animals in Disasters Certified, a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and Feral Colony Care Specialist and Red Cross Pet First Aid Certified.