Your pet’s second home
As we head for our festive holidays, who can we trust to look after our fur friends, wonders
“CAN I have another hamster?” I asked my mum after my last one died last year.
“Who’s going to look after it if we head for our holidays?” she asked in return. It’s the usual dilemma that I face every time I get myself a pet.
Being someone who’s really fond of travelling and of course, residing in a country that’s listed as having one of the highest number of public holidays, I find myself being away from my furry friend/s more often than I’d like to admit.
Though that may be the case, I still find it hard to give up on the idea of having a pet at home. Even if it’s just a small hamster. The joy of seeing your little fur friend scrambling to greet you as you get home from a long day at work is just priceless.
All pet owners would agree that uppermost on their mind when planning a getaway for any length of time would be where to place the pet and who to trust their beloved furkid with when they’re not around. I know of pet owners who think nothing of taking their pets with them on their travels.
My friend Lee Pei Lynn, for example, would bring her beloved cat Ollie back home to Melaka with her whenever she heads home during festive periods.
However, not every destination is easily accessible or even convenient for pets.
Some journeys may not even be safe for them, especially long haul flights where animals have been reported to have died in transit due to unfamiliar environment and from fear. Unless you live in Japan, I guess, for JAL now allows your pets to sit with you in the main cabin.
Others opt to rope in help from family members or friends, like another friend of mine, Loong Wai Ting, who’d often get her aunt to make sure her dogs, Paico and Blackie, have enough food and water.
If you have kind neighbours, you could get them to fill up your pet’s water bowl from across the fence and replenish the food too from time to time.
There’s also the option of taking turns with your partner if you need to go on holiday. Like cat enthusiast Intan Zareena does.
She shares: “I have 24 cats and my husband would be the one staying home while I go on trips with my kids or girlfriends. I’m just glad he’s more than happy to stay home with them.” Nevertheless, if you find yourself without a helpline — like me — hopefully the following options will help to ease your worries somewhat.
You can opt to have me drop by your home to look in on your pet or have me stay in your home for the duration of your absence.
Nanny Sue