Who "Babysits" when you have to go away?

[JavaJoy01]

Our family give us heck over all our pets. They feel it makes it hard to travel and boarding costs us to much money.

We thought about having somebody come to the home and pet sit, but then changed our mind. Did not feel good about having somebody in our home while we were gone.

We don't know anybody that we trust to come over and take care of the birds other then my husbands parents, and they tend to travel with us.

So...

I'm curious, those who have as many if not more pets then I, what do you all do??

We usually board the dogs and the cat (That'll run us about $600 for about a week) and the people who sold us our birds watches them for us for a low price. I hate to keep asking them to babysit, but I don't know what else to do.

Ideas and advice are welcome..

[Nazir's]

Join a bird and/or kennel club, meet some new associates that share your interest and hire them on when you need them. Most times, they won’t accept the money offered because they know that they too will need you one day. Personally, even when I took business trips my dogs came along. That was before the fids. Now, I consider leaving the dogs home with a sitter but my fids must come along with me. Once I feel secure enough with someone to watch my fids, that perspective may change but until then, it will remain the same. Believe me, I know how limited one may be with several pet companions but it doesn't disappoint me, not one bit. Sometimes I enjoy them much more than those I'd be going to visit.

[JavaJoy01]

Originally Posted by Nazir's

Join a bird and/or kennel club, meet some new associates that share your interest and hire them on when you need them. Most times, they won’t accept the money offered because they know that they too will need you one day. Personally, even when I took business trips my dogs came along. That was before the fids. Now, I consider leaving the dogs home with a sitter but my fids must come along with me. Once I feel secure enough with someone to watch my fids, that perspective may change but until then, it will remain the same. Believe me, I know how limited one may be with several pet companions but it doesn't disappoint me, not one bit. Sometimes I enjoy them much more than those I'd be going to visit.

Believe me, my husband and I would join a bird club in a heartbeat if there was one. There is none to be found, I even asked around at the local parrot store and researched online. I heard there used to be one many years ago but it's long gone, just no interest for it. We don't get any bird conventions or fairs either. Don't feel like driving 5 hours to Houston for it.

I know when we go on weekend trips to ride our sea-doos we take the dogs and leave the cat and the birds home, they take care of themselves for 2 days. I have more of a problem with the week long trips.

[catschair]

I live alone, and not close to my family, so I have always had (not set up here yet) pet sitters with my key, who are on my ICE list. When I have a sudden business trip, or that accident I keep fearing that has not happened yet, they come in once or twice a day -- usually ten to twenty dollars a day. They take care of the mail, plants, cats, birds and do a quick check that nothing else has gone wrong. I have been lucky and been able to hire folks who were working for my vets at the time. Business and pleasure trips range from a few nights to a few weeks.

[gilliegirl]

I had to lose my hen grey of 7 years because she went wild on me but have ensured she went to the best home possible - her vet.
I have been three months without a feathered friend but picked up from 80 miles away a guranteed cock African grey from his breeder.
I have a four year old Yorkie Terrier who was a replacement for the one that died from grape poisoning 4 years ago. Replaced because my parrot created.
Now I have got a bundle of october 13 hatch untrained fluff that bites at every approach over the last 48 hours.
My solution is was to find places to stay that weill take dog and bird. But I am not going to increase my flock or pack in anyway. I even had qualms about getting the new one up to the last minute but hopefully I have not made a mistake. I have yet to break it to the vet that has got my origional parrot and ont know how to.
Over here in the uk we have books by the AA automobile club that list pet friendly places to stay and lots of details about them. You can find them on the web via tha IAMS site or AA

[ReneeE]

Do you have an Avian Vet? If so, ask there if anyone working there would willing or maybe they know of someone who would.

[avianretreat]

I am in Washington state and there are a few bird clubs here as well as a pretty large bird community. I have 21 parrots and believe me I have been trying for years to get someone good to care for them. You have to get over the fact of having someone in your house, I did. It is much better for the birds to have them in a familiar environment in my opinion. I encourage you to talk among your friends that also have birds, work out a system to share caring for each other's birds.

I try to have more than one sitter come in, this makes sure there are more than one set of eyes looking out for my flock. I am also installing a web cam in the bird room so I can monitor where ever I am.

Good luck!

Judy

[ViolinGirl]

Originally Posted by JavaJoy01

Believe me, my husband and I would join a bird club in a heartbeat if there was one. There is none to be found, I even asked around at the local parrot store and researched online. I heard there used to be one many years ago but it's long gone, just no interest for it. We don't get any bird conventions or fairs either. Don't feel like driving 5 hours to Houston for it.

I know when we go on weekend trips to ride our sea-doos we take the dogs and leave the cat and the birds home, they take care of themselves for 2 days. I have more of a problem with the week long trips.

I live in west texas also. I know what you mean about no bird clubs. I asked about that at a local pet store and she said there use to be one a few years ago, but not anymore. I have never left my birds yet with anyone. We bought a travel trailer so the birds and the dog can come with us. Sometimes the dog gets boarded though. I do worry some day I will have no choice but to find somebody to watch them in an emergency and I am at a loss of who that would be. Not a lot of resources where we live now. The vet will do it, but it doesn't look like a very good environment and you have to bring your own cages. Klara's is huge, but I wouldn't want her to stay in a travel cage for a week. So it's a big problem. We don't really go on vacation though, because we own a business. We mainly will take the trailer on weekends though.

[dancing crane]

That is an easy one. Unless you are way out in no man's land, which I doubt, do what I did-I taught someone to do it. I travel frequently and would NEVER board my pet birds as I know they wiil come back with horrible sounds and language and don't like to move them.

My birds rec. care every other day when I am gone and pay the person $30 a trip and than give him an additional $30 or more for fuel. He does an excellent job but I taught him. Now, I can feed all my birds, about 31, pet and breeders, only 3 pets, in less than an hour. I trust him and you can also advertise and find someone, if they refuse to have you photo copy their drivers license, don't deal with them.

Use Craigs List if you have no one. You should not have trouble finding someone and please don't expect perfection until they help you a few times.

I do not know how many brids you have but I have never lost a bird or worried about them when on the road. I may call once to see how it is going but have stopped that as I just do not worry about it.

So, I do not think you should have any problem if you pay them what is worth their time and give extra for fuel, and teach them, write it down! I have softbill and hookbills some requiring a fruit/live food diet so all the stuff needs to be prepared.

Hope it works out-it should. Ask for references, call them let them know it will be a long term commitment. There is no way my animals will ever interfere with my life or travel plans. My person also picks up my dog at the kennel and is home waiting for me.

And, what if there is an out of town family emergency? ( I live alone)There is no way I can move my wild collection. And, now I will begin to teach my housekeeper as a back up who is closer and is also someone who really needs the money. The key for me is paying people who really need the money and care about animals. My bird tender only has one bird but he brings his girlfriend over to help so it is a team effort and takes less time. I do not forget them on various occasions, also.

In sum, when we have birds or a dog or cat, we need to remember it is going to cost money to maintain them and no one should feel imprisoned because they have pets. An avian vet bill can be mind boggling. With my dog, he has pet insurance.

I trust this helps. Please let us know what you come up with.

songsterfancier : SOFTBILL SONGSTER INTERNATIONAL

[shirlee100]

We live in Ohio in a small town, there is no one aroungh that I would trust with my 7 birds & I small dog. Several years ago we bought a RV. We take them everywhere with us. It's crowded but we have travel cages for them & put them outside for awhile at RV parks. You wouldn't believe the attention they get. Might not go to far this year with the big gas prices. I know there taken good care of because there with us. That route is not for everyone but it works for us.