Pet Paradise

It's summer and that can only mean one thing: vacation! I love deciding where I want to have my getaways and researching travel plans on airBnB. This past spring break, my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to visit Charleston, SC. I absolutely love visiting this historic city and the beaches that surround it. I booked a super cheap airBnB in Mount Pleasant, made reservations for some new restaurants, and budgeted our Uber rides for each day - yes, I am that detail-oriented when it comes to my vacations. I like to plan so much that when I get to my destination I can go on auto-pilot and enjoy my surroundings.

A week or so before the trip I realized I had done all of this planning for myself but had no plans for my sweet cat, Opal! What a bad cat-mom I am. I asked my mother and roommate if they were available to feed and oversee my feline friend but they also had spring break plans and were unavailable. At the last minute, my father reached out and offered to pet-sit Opal if I brought her to his house. While this was such a nice gesture, it wasn't ideal. Moving cats (or dogs) from home to home can be super stressful on them and their emotional/physical health. Especially with rescue animals, the pet might think they are being given away again. It takes multiple trips for an animal to understand that you WILL come back. Because I was frantic and desperate, I took my dad's offer and transported my little kitty down the mountain and set up the necessities at his house. It took her almost four days to warm up to everyone and by the time she was cozy, it was time for me to bring her back home. She was incredibly angry at me and did not hold back her feelings as she greeted me with loud meows and warbles.

When I returned, I started brainstorming what I could do the next time I leave town that would be easier on Opal. I had heard of dog-sitting apps like Rover and DogVacay but only before I had a pet. It occurred to me that even though these apps were marketed toward our canine friends, maybe they service cats too! Sure enough, upon downloading and searching on the Rover app, they have an option available for cats. While I haven't come across an opportunity to utilize this service yet, I am so relieved to know it's an option. How genius to allow those who are great with animals the opportunity to hang out and care for other's pets while they are away?! Plus, my kitty gets to stay in her comfortable environment without adjusting to any new people or places. Rover offers many options based on your animal's needs such as: dog boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, doggy day care, and dog walking.

So, what does this have to do with social media? Upon signing in to the Rover app, you can connect your Facebook or Twitter to find friends who are also using the app. It also uses your Facebook location to find the sitters near you. Below are the screens you will see when scheduling a sitter on Rover. You enter what you need, the dates, choose a sitter, and book! You can even see sitters' profiles to see their specialties.

Don't like the fees on Rover? Try a local Facebook group in your community to search for a pet-sitter if you need more flexible options on pay. You might sacrifice security screening and experience with this method, but sometimes certain situations may call for this solution.

If you have pets and you're in the midst of planning a vacation, make sure they are accounted for. Maybe you can find a pet-friendly airBnB and bring them along! (if they're comfortable with new environments, that is!) Utilizing apps such as Rover and DogVacay are the key to making your getaway peaceful for you and your animals.