If you are leaving the country this holiday season or if you are planning an out of town or country weekend getaway, here are the options for you:
- Leave them to a trust-worthy friend
It would be best to leave them with a fellow pet owner who knows how to handle dogs or cats.
Make sure to also bring along your pet’s favorite toys and of course, carefully instruct your friend of their routine and food.
Keeping them along with their favorite pet park buddy or a relative’s pet helps lessen your dog’s stress while you are away.
- Hire a pet sitter
There are online applications where you can book or hire a pet-sitter for the specific dates when you will be away. Fellow Kabayans also do this as a part-time work, ask around your circle of friends if they know anyone. Note that someone recommended by a friend is always better than a complete stranger.
- Leave them with the experts
Let them board at a dog hotel or day care.
Filipina entrepreneur Liz Danganan who owns a pet nursery in Dubai called Cooper’s Crib shared with The Filipino Times why it’s beneficial to leave pets in the hands of those with proper knowledge and training.
“It is important for pet owners to leave their dog in a proper facility whenever they travel mainly because it is safer for the pets. In a facility like ours, dog’s well being is main focus and priority of the staff 24/7. The dogs are surrounded with other dogs and staff morning and evening, which makes them happy and active,” said Liz Danganan.
The advantage of leaving them at a pet nursery is that you get to enjoy your vacation as you will be at ease knowing that your fur baby is well taken care of.
“Parents receive updates 24/7 and they can always ask and hive instructions to the staff if needed anytime of the day. If the dog is left alone with at home with a pet sitter, there could be numerous risk and accidents that could happen while the dog is alone and in some cases, dogs get sick and the owner’s are not aware up until the time they come back leading to serious cases. In a facility like ours, dogs are always accompanied all throughout the day, so if any emergency and health issues we observe, we notify the owners right away. In this way, owners will also feel at ease while away from their fur babies cause they know that they are in good hands,” said Danganan.
- Bring them with you
To take your pet with you on your travel, you need an export permit that will be examined at the cargo village of Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah international airports; proof the animal has been microchiped; a travel box that meets International Air Transport Association standards; and a valid rabies vaccination between one year and 30 days.
The UAE government website https://www.moccae.gov.ae/ and your airline company will also help you get more details in terms of the rules and policies in traveling with a pet.
