The Pet Guide: Pet Care Options

Need a pet sitter or dog walker? A plethora of options await.

• A live-in sitter who comes to your house -- This is probably the most ideal option as it involves the lowest amount of stress on your pet. Your pet remains in his or her element. Professional pet sitters are far more eager than friends and acquaintances to cater to your pet's exceptional needs (which is to say, they are far more eager to cater to your sometimes chimerical sense of what your pet's exceptional needs are).


• A live-in sitter who brings your pet to his or her house -- This is a fine alternative if the sitter is someone your pet knows well or if your sitter has a pet that is chummy with your pet (or seems willing to get chummy).


• A walker/feeder -- This is a person who comes into your house once or twice a day to feed, water and walk your pet. Once again, it can be an acquaintance or a pro. This is usually cheaper than the live-in option.


• A veterinarian's kennel -- Most veterinarians also provide kennel space for boarding. A veterinarian's kennel is a place for sick animals as well as healthy ones, of course. It is vital that you discuss with the vet what procedures he or she has devised for keeping healthy pets healthy in an atmosphere such as this. Find out how much time, if any, your pet will be allowed out of his or her primary enclosure each day. Some veterinarians have indoor runs, some have outdoor runs, and some have no runs at all. A run is a pen where a pet can move around a bit. Keep in mind that an austere kennel in a busy veterinary office can be a very stressful atmosphere. However, having an animal doctor on site has undeniable advantages.


• Pet motels, hotels or resorts -- These run the gamut from kennels that are not much more elaborate than the sort one finds in most veterinary offices to pet resorts that specialize in services comparable to what is offered to humans in five star hotels. At a luxury hotel or resort, your pet may be given the opportunity to socialize with other pets, watch TV, get massaged, and sleep on real couches or beds.

The bottom line

What pet care you choose is largely dependent on your relationship with your pet and how much money you are willing to spend. The two considerations are not mutually exclusive. Some people feel their pets do not warrant fancy treatment and some people dress their dogs in clothes. Most people economize, but some people are not willing to economize on their pet.

Steve Penhollow is the Arts and Entertainment Reporter for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in Indiana. He has written for a number of publications, including the Advocate chain of newspapers in Massachusetts and Connecticut.