Before you make a decision about owning a pet it is important you look at your personal situation to determine which pet is right for you.

Whats in this Section

• Pet Walking
• Pet Sitting
• Kennels/Catteries
• Pet Passports

Owning a pet of any kind requires a high level of commitment as they are dependent on you for all aspects of their care including any necessary vet bills. Furthermore, you are also responsible, where necessary, for ensuring regular grooming or exercise takes place. Please see our choosing the right pet pages for more information.

It can be said that we are a nation of pet lovers. According to the Blue Cross Pet charity, 48% of us own a pet of some kind and spend, on average 5 billion a year on them. The Blue Cross Pet charity also states that the most documented problem associated with being a pet owner is underestimating the level of responsibility required.

On a day-to-day basis the responsibility for our pet can be quite easy to accept but many people are concerned about who will look after their pet when they go on holiday, go to work  or in an emergency situation such as admission to hospital. Most small animals such as hamsters, budgies or fish can quite happily exist on their own, even overnight as long as someone is available to ensure they have enough food etc. For longer periods of time and most certainly if you have a cat or dog, more formal care arrangements will need to be made.

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Pet Walking

Regular exercise is just as important to your dog's well-being as being fed and properly groomed.
If work commitments or mobility issues prevent you from exercising your dog regularly, there are a lot of companies who are able to perform this task for you. There is usually no lower limit to the amount of walks you require; it can be as regular or sporadic dependent on your needs and those of your dog.

Are they trained?
 
Most people who are involved in walking your pet are, or have been, experienced pet owners. They receive full training and have a set of procedures, which will be discussed with you beforehand and which they will adhere to.

Regardless of whether your dog needs a nice sedate walk or a more robust exercise routine, all needs should be catered for, including a choice as to whether your dog walks alone or is joined by another dog for socialization purposes.

What shall I ask?

• When you first make contact with a company make sure you ask whether the staff have been properly vetted, for example do they have to complete a Criminal Records Check?
• What sort of insurance does the company hold?
• How are your keys stored?
• What happens in an emergency i.e.; your pet becomes ill, goes missing or is involved in an accident?

How do I find a dog walker?
 
Like everything, personal recommendation is always best. If you don't have anyone to ask, speak to your vet as they should have details or any services in your local area. Prices will differ from area to area but you can expect to pay between £8 and £15 per walk. Always ask about discounts particularly if you aim to use the service regularly.

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Pet Sitting

Placing your pet in a boarding establishment is never an easy option for the majority of pet owners. If you have to be away from home for either a planned or un-planned period, what are the other options available to you? If you have friends or family the obvious choice is to see if they can offer your pet a temporary home or even stay in your home with your pet. If this is not an option there are organisations who offer an alternative. 

A Pet Sitter can be arranged to come and stay with your pet. This person will be chosen because they are suitably experienced for your type of pet.

How does it work?
 
In the first instance all your basic requirements should be discussed over the telephone, including your preferences for a sitter, for example male/female or even a couple. Most companies should be able to accommodate this. A meeting will then be arranged between yourself and the prospective company; this is usually done as far in advance as possible in order to see how your pet reacts to the individuals.  The general idea is that the Pet Sitter will come in and take full responsibility for your pet whilst you are away. They will stay at your home for a fixed amount of hrs or the service can even mean they stay for full 24hr periods.

If this is an option you are considering it may also help to relieve any worries you have over security whilst you are away. Be clear about what your expectations are when you have you first meeting.

Are they trained?

Most people who pet sit are, or have been, experienced pet owners. They receive full training and have a set of procedures which will be discussed with you beforehand and which they will adhere to.

What shall I ask?

• When you first make contact with a company make sure you enquire as to whether the staff have been correctly vetted, for example do they have to complete a Criminal Records Check?
• What sort of insurance does the company hold?
• What happens to your pet in an emergency i.e.; your absence is delayed or your pet becomes ill. 
• Make sure you are fully aware of what your responsibilities are as well as the company's.

How do I find a pet sitter?

In the first instance, personal recommendation is always best, if you don't know anyone who has used this service try contacting your vet as they usually have details of different services available in the area.

There is a National Association of Registered Pet Sitters who may also be able to help.

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Kennels/Catteries

When considering placing your pet in a boarding establishment for any length of time it is important to put in as much research as possible before making a final decision. This will not only enable you to feel more confident about leaving your pet but could also go a long way to ensure your pet receives something positive from the experience. 

If you look in any of the well known directories you will see that the number of boarding establishments available is vast, so how do you tell if the one you have chosen is reputable?  In the first instance try and visit the establishment as this will enable you to pick up on any visible clues about how the establishment is run.

Visual clues;

• Your chosen kennels or catteries must appear clean and attractive
• Your pet should have access to some level of fresh air
• They must have access to fresh water
• The environment must appear stimulating

If you can manage to visit, have a look at the pets that are already boarding there.
Do they look clean and well cared for? However don't rush into making a decision based purely on how a place looks you will also need to ask some questions.

Questions to consider include;

• What are their policies regarding infection and disease control, and what precautions do they take?
• What insurance do they offer?
• Will they keep the same feeding regime you have at home?

Are they regulated? In 1963 the Animal Boarding Establishments Act came into force.
 
This means that before a person can open a cattery or kennels they will need to obtain a licence. This licence is granted from the city council and will only be permitted once a veterinary surgeon has inspected the premises to ensure they comply with all the regulations.

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Pet Passports

It used to be the case that if you wanted to take your pet abroad they would have to spend a period of time in quarantine before being allowed into the country. If a pet has to spend time in quarantine it is usually to ensure that the animal won't bring the Rabies disease into the country.

By UK law, pet quarantine lasts 6 months.

Fortunately processes have changed in recent years, and you are now able to apply for a pet passport for your dog, cat or ferret. This enables your pet to travel with you to other countries within the EU and to re-enter the UK without having to spend time in quarantine.

The Requirements;
 
To ensure that your dog, cat or ferret can travel freely between the UK and other countries in the EU, you must complete the following, in this strict order:

• Have your pet microchipped so that it is easily identifiable
• Have your pet vaccinated against Rabies (this must happen after your pet has been microchipped)
• Get a sample of your pet's blood tested and certified to show that the Rabies vaccination has taken correctly
• Arrange a meeting with your vet to get the Pet Passport documentation issued

To return to the UK having taken your pet out of the country you must;

• Have ensured that at least 6 months has passed since the issue of your Pet Passport
• Ensured that your pet has been treated for ticks and tapeworm by a certified vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before it is checked in with an appropriate transport company to travel to the UK .
• Your pet must only travel with an approved animal transport company and may only enter the UK via an approved route.

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