Question:
Does anyone have experience with having to kennel their pets during

It will be BOCU expensive for me to kennel my two dogs. I have no one to take them temporarialy while I have the surgery and recovery. I was thinking maybe someone may have information on possible a non- profit or something that accomodate pets in this situation. Any insight anyone has will be helpful. It be extremely expensive to kennel them and I don't won't that to interefere with my surgery date.    — L F. (posted on October 11, 2000)

October 11, 2000
Maybe you could call your vet, the local SPCA or the Animal Rescue league and get some suggestions on what you could do? Maybe a neighbor could look after them? Maybe you could hire a neighborhood teenager to look after them, come and take them out and feed them? Just a couple of suggetsions. Good luck
   — enjo4

October 11, 2000
This is just an idea, but if you go to the Find Peers section of this site and click on PA there are aprox. 60 people listed in Philadelphia. Perhaps if you email some of them you may find someone who is sympathetic to your situation, lives nearby, and is willing to help.
   — kaydeeb16

October 11, 2000
have you thought of a pet-sitter? if your dogs are housebroken, you could hire someone to come to your house a couple of times a day and walk and play with the dogs. what about having a friend watch them? or maybe you could have someone stay at your house while you're away?
   — webgrrlie

October 11, 2000
Again, I have NOONE to assist me with this issue. And while pet sitting or kenneling options, it is really expensive to pay for. I was just hoping someone out there had this experience.
   — L F.

October 19, 2000
Please Please Please talk to a trusted vet. I work with the SPCA and have seen and heard too many horror stories about "well meaning" pet sitters and kennels. Only a vet can tell you what resources can be recommended. Good luck! (If I lived closer I'd help you out!)
   — Joanne C.

October 20, 2000
I can't be of much help, but I can certainly relate. My mother is having drastic surgery, then, shortly after I care for her, I plan to have my RNY surgery (yes, that's the right timing for me despite the added stress). I can say that I interviewed sitters before I traveled for other family needs. I found one who was: 1. a certified vet tech 2. licensed and bonded, with local references 3. willing to come 3 times a day if need be 4. lived not too far way 5. willing to take my pets to the vet as needed, with prior billing authorization 6. a total animal lover. I had her come 3 times while I was home so the dogs could get used to her, and see she was "family". I watched her with them, and saw she was good. I got her recommendation on a good local kennel as emergency backup, should my stay be prolonged drastically and she not able to care for them that long. I informed the vet she was authorized to bring them in. I left a guidesheet of pet and vet info for her and PLENTY of food. I made extra-comforting nests on the sofa for the "kids", and left the TV on very low, with instructions to turn it off at each nightly last visit. I left her the phones/locations where to reach me, and a relative for backup. I asked my neighbor to just notice if she really was coming 3 times a day (not that I really had doubts, with HER). If I had had to use the kennel, I would have done so some get-used-to-them drop-in stays of several hours prir to the real one, so the dogs wouldn't be in an unfamiliar place. (You can usually do these for a sharply discounted daily rate, with notice.) The thing that eased me most was knowing she liked my animals and loved animals in general. I'm going to use her again for my surgery and maybe my Mom's. P.S. They did fine that first time, for 10 days! Hope this helps.---Jesse
   — Jesse M.

November 23, 2000
If you do get a pet sitter, I would recommend that you contact Pet Sitters International. The sitters they will refer you to will be insured and bonded, so you won't have to worry about any accidents. Good luck, and please post again if you need more information.
   — Elizabeth B.

March 31, 2001
I also am looking for kitty sitters. I am one, I have sat pets for quite a few years, now I need one. I have no people in my life, I live in Ventura, Oxnard CA area if anyone on this list does also. contact me at [email protected] Thanks.
   — [Anonymous]