Nevertheless, you do not always want to, neither is it always possible to, travel with or have a few days away with your pets. As such, anyone who has a pet will know that they must take a few important precautions and take into account where and with whom they can leave them when they need to for a while.

 

Loyal friends can stay in their own home, as long as a relation or friend can go there regularly to look after them. In this case it is recommended that you make the work of the person who is going to look after them easy, by leaving them enough food and everything that is required.

 

As an observation, if you are only going to be away for two or three days and the pet is a hamster or a bird, for example, perhaps it can be left on its own, as long as you leave the cage clean with sufficient water and food. It will miss its master and look forward to his return, but nothing will happen to it if it has enough water and food.

 

Sometimes, however, you may be away for a longer period of time and it is complicated to find someone you trust who will take responsibility for meeting the animal�s needs. That is not a problem. There are holiday centres for pets which are in charge of providing them with every kind of care. They are a kind of hotel, usually located in the countryside, where pets can rest and have fun away from the noise and pollution of large cities until their owner comes to collect them.

 

These homes devoted to looking after animals when their masters cannot do so, are usually highly sought after, especially in summer. As such it is essential to book a place in advance. Generally speaking, these facilities stay open all year round.

 

In order to choose wisely it is sensible to visit some of those closest to where you live or where you are going to see how the animals are treated, the recreational possibilities, cleanliness and food. If you do not have the time, it is likely that the vet who normally treats the animal will know of somewhere suitable.

 

Birds, rodents, cats, dogs� Some pets are taken to these homes just for the weekend, others stay there for months. Consequently it is necessary, in the case of dogs, for example, that they have space to run around.

 

Likewise, dogs must preferably have separate areas depending on their sizes and characters. For puppies from three to ten months old there are usually special pens. The facilities must have a limited number of places, be set up to offer each animal their own space to play outside and more living space inside especially equipped for rest and to protect them from the heat and cold.

 

Some homes offer a pet home collection and delivery service, although if the owner prefers, they can also take their animal personally. The prices vary depending on the distance; it is best to enquire over the telephone beforehand.

 

As regards the fees, it is important to point out that they depend on whether the pet will be staying for a weekend or longer. The daily rate for the odd day is around fifteen euros. The services usually include drinking water and electricity, daily cleaning, a few daily walks, food and disinfection work. Staff must be highly qualified and the centre must have a 24-hour veterinary service.

 

Where long stays are concerned, such as those offered for hunting dogs, the monthly rates are adjusted, depending on the breed and hotel. Some of these centres also offer parking for trailers and dog training classes. Some places have also been fitted out with authorised crematoriums for putting animals to sleep.

 

Finally, where small pets are concerned, such as hamsters, instead of taking them to a home perhaps there is the option of leaving them at a pet shop where you are a regular client.