Pet sitting and boarding

2023-06-05 - BY DEVON APODACA

Special to This Newspaper

School is out of session, the summer heat has moved in, and many Imperial Valley residents have begun to plan an escape from our brutal summer. Unfortunately, countless community members have included surrendering their pets as part of their summer agenda. Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a disturbing and overwhelming number of pet owners calling the Humane Society to surrender their pets, specifically dogs and puppies. When asked why they must surrender their pets, many openly admit that they are leaving town for vacation.

The Humane Society staff has done its very best to accommodate these animals but has had little to no success at being able to keep up. Yet again, the shelter is overcapacity, and the number of unwanted pets is literally climbing by the hour. Animals (mainly dogs and puppies) are being housed in very unconventional ways, causing them to live in very uncomfortable living conditions. Adoptions are basically nonexistent, and droves of dogs, puppies, and kittens from unwanted litters continue to enter the shelter daily. Although the shelter is doing everything in its power to NOT euthanize animals for time and space, it is beginning to look like it might become part of the shelter’s way of dealing with the hordes of unwanted pets. Historically, the Humane Society sends animals to out-oftown rescue groups when the shelter is full, but shelters and rescues all over Southern California are experiencing the same issue. Sadly, for many, pets are no longer family and are as disposable as an old pair of shoes. Dogs are no longer “man’s best friend”.

The Humane Society staff believes that traveling should never be a reason a pet is ripped away from its family and placed in a shelter. Why? Because there are several alternatives! Although shelter staff do their very best to make the animals happy and as comfortable as possible, the shelter environment can be scary for pets. Shelters are noisy, they have a lot of unfamiliar smells and unfamiliar people, and most often they are overcrowded. All these factors make it very hard for some pets to adjust to the change, making finding them a home that much more difficult. The Humane Society frequently refers pet owners to local community members and businesses that deal with pet boarding or pet sitting. Desert Veterinary Group is a local veterinary office that provides boarding services to the community. Buddy Sweets has years of experience and provides exceptional pet daycare and boarding services to our community. Cathy Dobson and Mike Burk (both local animal lovers, advocates, and supporters of the Humane Society of Imperial County) both provide exceptional in-home pet-sitting services for our community. Pawsome Pet Sitting was started by a shelter staff member, Jackie Ruiz. Jackie specializes in drop-in visits, overnight stays, dog walking, and much more! Each of these local professionals has years of experience in the companion animal care field. Whoever you decide to board your pets with or have a pet sit for you, you can find peace of mind in knowing that your pets will be treated kindly and will be well taken care of while you and your family are away. Please remember that having a trusted family member, friend, neighbor, or coworker to pet sit or pop in every few hours to check on your pet is also an excellent alternative! If you’re unable to schedule something with the resources listed, please visit Rover.com. This website will help you find other affordable and reputable pet-sitting services that are perfect for your pet!

Although these services are not free, we cannot put a price on the happiness, health, and well-being of our pets. In any situation, being with the family ultimately is what is best for your pets. Please remember that all family members deserve to be with their families all year round, especially our four-legged family members.

If you and your family have plans to leave out of town this summer and cannot take your pets with you and need to inquire about setting up an appointment for boarding/pet sitting and for pricing, please make sure to make the phone call today to ensure that your pet is happy, comfortable, and safe while you are away.