Pet parents have always faced the dilemma of how to leave their babies behind when they have to go away. Be it on work trips, holidays, or other commitments, it is always a big and stressful decision for pet parents as they have to make arrangements for their pets to stay with someone until they return. Many choose to minimize travel altogether for fear that there will be no one to look after their beloved pets when they are away.
It’s unfair. Having a pet should not mean that you cannot go anywhere. There are always options if you are willing to explore them. Sure, there will be some anxiety involved as you leave your pet in the hands of someone you don’t know, but with the right person and arrangement, you can hopefully leave all your stress behind and enjoy your trip while your pet enjoys their stay with their temporary carers.
Most people would prefer leaving their pets with a trusted family member or close friends, but not everybody has the convenience and luxury of keeping them. If you don’t have anybody who can care for your pet as their own in your absence, who do you turn to?
What are your options? Well, two: Pet Sitting or Pet Boarding.
Understanding the Difference
The two most convenient answers are pet sitting or pet boarding. If you are a new pet parent and are not aware of the difference between the two, allow us to explain.
Pet sitting is when you leave your pet at home and hire a sitter who can come in and check up on your pet during your absence. Much like a babysitter, a pet sitter cares for your pet, regularly gives them food, change their water, play with them, take them out on walks, and cleans up after them for an hourly or daily fee. If you are going away, you might want to give a set of house keys to your sitter so they can come in, check up on your pet and leave after seeing that all their needs are attended to. Needless to say, pet sitters stay for specific periods of time but are not with your pets 24/7.
Pet Boarding, on the other hand, is when you drop your pet off at a pet boarding program, where they keep your pet, alongside others, while you are away. Pet boarding facilities have their own premises and pet carers who attend to every need of your pets at all times. Your pets are kept in ideal and comfortable conditions and are monitored and looked after round the clock. You might have to submit some documents regarding your pet’s health and identity and provide any special stuff such as your pet’s favorite toy or treat, but the rest is the boarding’s responsibility.
Both of the two options are great for pet owners who are looking for solutions to their pets’ living situations when they are out of the city, on holidays, or any situation that is not allowing them to come home anytime soon.
Pet Sitting Vs. Pet Boarding
The debate continues. Which one, pet sitting or pet boarding, is better? All pet owners want to make the best decision for their pets and do not want to compromise on anything when it comes to their fur babies. The concern is legitimate, and we have made a small comparison to show you which one is best suited to your needs.
- Pet Sitting allows your pet to stay within the familiar comfort of their own homes, with someone else coming in to tend to their needs. Moving to a pet boarding can be a little stressful for your pet.
- If your pet is not social, they will not enjoy their stay at a pet boarding where there will be other pets around. If your pets like being on their own, maybe being home alone would be the least stressful option.
- Pet boarding enables someone to look after your pet round the clock, while a poet sitter only has certain time periods during which they will drop by. If your pet needs anything during any other time, a pet sitter won’t be able to tend to that.
- In case of emergencies, when a pet sitter is not around, your pet might be alone at home and runs the risk of getting hurt or injured. At a pet boarding, the pets are monitored all the time, and emergencies can be tended to by any of the staff members.
- A pet boarding has trained and experienced pet carers who know what they are doing. On the contrary, pet sitters might simply be students looking to make some money on the side, without having any real experience of caring for a pet.
- Your pet might get extremely lonely and depressed if their only interaction with anybody for a long stretch of days is for a few hours/minutes every day. At a pet boarding, there will always be somebody around to entertain, cheer-up, and play with your pet.
- Pet boarding can be more costly than a pet sitter, as they provide far more facilities than a pet sitter does.
There is no right or wrong answer. You must make the decision on your own of whether to get a pet sitter or register your pet with a boarding program, based on your needs, budget, and your dog’s personality and requirements.
Twissted Whiskers Pet Boarding Programs
Twissted Whiskers Pet Spa and Hotel have separate boarding programs for all kinds of pets. We have a feline boarding program, a canine boarding program, and even a small animals boarding program. At TWP, we ensure that your pet will be well taken care of, loved, and pampered by our very experienced and trained staff who will treat your babies like their own. We have strict rules and checks in place to make sure that the pet is provided the perfect conditions to dwell in, and their safety, health, and happiness are never compromised in any way. We understand how difficult it is to part with your pet, even if for a few days, but knowing that your pet is in good hands is sure to bring you some comfort.
If you are planning to take a trip soon, register your pet in one of our boarding programs. We will be happy to have them here!
