Doggie Hotels – What To Ask Before You Leave Your Pet

For a pet owner, there are few things more heartbreaking than heading off for a trip and being forced to leave your dog or cat behind. Pet hotels are the answer, though you need to be sure that you've researched any service before you leave your animal in their care.

If you have friends, family or neighbors who have used pet hotels as their sitting service, ask for references. You're very likely to hear exactly what they thought - much more useful than the canned information you're likely to get if the sitting service gives you numbers to contact. Price is naturally important, and you should ask if they were satisfied with the fees.

When you talk to the managers of the pet hotels, ask them about cost. Find out if there are any additional fees. For example, you may be told the cost is $10 a day for Fido's housing, but you may find that there's an additional fee if you want someone to let him out of his kennel, walk him or play with him during the day.

Kennel size is important and you should be confident that your pet has room to move around during the day. Remember that he's going to be much more confined than he would be at home. This is especially important if you're forced to leave your pet in one of the pet hotels for several days.

More than likely, your pet is going to grieve for you while you're away. The sadness will probably be heightened by the fact that he's in a strange environment with other animals. Find out how many additional animals could be housed in the hotel with your pet. Pet hotels with limited space may be more expensive, but it could be worth the cost to know the workers will have time to indulge your pet with plenty of playtime.

Remember that your four-legged pal won't be able to tattle if he or she has been treated badly, but you'll likely see the signs if there was mistreatment or abuse. Before you leave the pet hotel with your animal, carefully check him or her for any marks, broken skin or other problems. Run your hands over the back, ribs, neck and legs, watching for signs that your pet is sore or hurt. If there's a problem, don't wait to ask about it, but confront the workers who were caring for your pet on the spot.

If the abuse was serious, contact your local law enforcement agency to lodge a complaint.