I love my pets – so much so that I have a difficult time going on vacation and leaving them. When I do get away, I’m like a mom with a newborn baby who’s out to dinner for the first time since the birth. My conversation centers on my animals. I wonder how they’re doing, if the recent thunderstorm frightened them, if they miss me. Oh man, I’m boring. But it’s the way I am. I don’t like boarding my pets knowing that, not only will they be caged, but they’ll be alone at night – and, during the weekends, the people who tend to them will come and go.
So I was intrigued when I received information about http://www.DogVacay.com, a new site that lists “host” families who will take care of your dog in their homes while you’re away. Here’s how it works:
Potential hosts post a photo of themselves, their place, their nightly rate, and a few sentences about why they’re a great candidate to watch dogs in their neighborhood. Then, dog owners who need a home for their pup while they’re out of town can search for free through all the nearby hosts and find the perfect match for their dog. Company literature stated that it’s cheaper than kenneling, and dog owners feel good knowing their pet is in a real, loving home.
Also from the site: “DogVacay provides basic protection for your dog, and has hundreds of hosts with Premium Insurance. In the rare event that anything goes wrong, your pup’s in good hands.” Good to know …
On the flip side – the host’s side – they get fuzzy love for the time you’re away and some pocket cash too. Oh, and the site was started by a young couple who, hit hard by the recession, boarded dogs to help pay for their wedding. Their entrepreneurial enterprise was the inspiration for DogVacay.
So what do you think? Does this sound like a good alternative for your beloved pet for your next vacation? (Or would you want to be a pet host?) Check out the site and how it qualifies hosts and, if it appeals, use code SUMMERVACAY for a $10 coupon toward your first boarding, courtesy of DogVacay.com.
And – gratuitous plug ahead – become a fan of my pup’s Facebook page. (I told you I loved my animals. You can meet her on FB and, believe me, she has a lot of things to say. Here’s the link to Sophie Coton’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/SophieCSpeaks and visit her blog (I know, I know) at http://www.SophieCSpeaks.com. Let me know how freaking cute she is.
love Sophie!!! and love my 2 & son’s pup that we are taking care of currently-. We go nowhere without them – so vacations are not at all, to son’s {where they are welcomed} or we go separately on trips so one stays home while the other spouse visits parents or tennis trip.
Oh yes, I get that. Before we got Sophie, who travels with us, I’d bring my dog, an American Eskimo, to my mom’s and fly from there – while a friend came in and tended to the cats once a day. Now that two of the cats have diabetes, it’s a different story. No vacay unless the kids can stay. Oh well. xo, Mel
What about cats? Charlotte thinks she is a dog.
I always thought Charlotte thought she was a person. She’s as smart as many I’ve known. xo, Melody