As a pet owner, one of the hardest things for me to do was actually going on vacation. The thought of having to leave my pets behind and the concern for their well being haunted me all year prior to actually leaving on vacation. I was fortunate enough to find a wonderful kennel "for cats only" where I could leave my cats and go on to enjoy some time off with my family. Back then my children (now teenagers) were small, and pet sitting was a remote possibility. There was a lot of skepticism back then. That wonderful cat kennel is still around, "The Country Cat House," and the skepticism about pet sitting is totally gone from our society. Many people find the convenience of using a pet sitting service one that they cannot do without.

For years, there has been a big misconception about kennels. One should never pass judgment without proof. There are many wonderful kennels, members of "The American Boarding Kennels Association," where I would not hesitate to leave my animals at any time. In fact, I have visited few where you can eat off the floors.

Nowadays we also have the opportunity to leave the pets in their own environment, "home," and more and more people are becoming acquainted with the services of a pet sitter. For pet sitters there are two powerful support organizations, The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, (NAPS), and Pet Sitters International (PSI.) Both of these associations offer continuing education to their members by providing them with newsletters, by setting professional standards, by providing them with instructional pamphlets and workshops or seminars to prepare them for excellency. They also offer them a special group policy that covers them if anything happens to the client's home or pets. The American Kennel Boarding Association, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, offers its members the same quality support.

Whether you are boarding your animal at an accredited facility or you are hiring the services of a pet sitter, the procedure should be basically the same:
1. Ask questions.
2. Visit the facility (if you are boarding your animal).
3. Look for reliability.
4. Ask for credentials and references.
5. Discuss basic fees and extra charges.

As a pet owner, you have responsibilities, too. Be sure to openly discuss and give your animal caregiver all the details necessary to properly take care of your pets. If an emergency arises, they will need the name of the veterinarian who regularly cares for the animal, the kind of food you feed, the kind of litter your cats use, the pet's medical history, their regular routine and personality, and last but not least where you could be contacted in case of a medical emergency or if evacuation is necessary. It is also a good idea to notify your veterinarian that you're going away and provide the doctor with the name of the facility or the caregiver that will be in charge of your animals.

Keep in mind that many veterinary facilities also offer boarding. All you need to do is ask.

To obtain information about accredited boarding facilities or pet sitters near you, contact:

American Boarding Kennels Association. 4575 Galley Road, Suite 400A. Colorado Springs, Co 80915. (719) 591-1113
National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPS) 1200 G St., Washington, DC 20005. (202) 393-3317
Pet Sitters International (PSI) 418 E. King St., King, NC 27021. (910) 983-9922