Why a pet sitter is better than a boarding kennel.

No one likes to leave a beloved family member behind when they leave the house. For decades the only choice pet owners had to care for their animals during a vacation was a boarding kennel or cattery. Now there are also professional pet sitters to provide care and companionship. What’s the difference?

1. Routine
   We all get a bit cranky when our daily routine gets thrown out of whack. Animals are no different. A pet sitter will provide feeding, exercise and bathroom breaks on the schedule you have set up for your pet. At a kennel these needs are met on their schedule.
2. Reduce Stress
   Keeping a regular schedule and same diet is especially important for any pet especially a puppy or kitten. Same Environment. Staying in the familiar home environment will also reduce any stress on your pet during your absence. And who doesn’t prefer sleeping in his or her own bed – or couch, as your dog prefers?
3. Personal Attention
   Even the best-staffed boarding kennels cannot deliver the same one-on-one attention as a pet sitter provides your dog or cat. A pet sitter will also be equipped to better handle special needs.
4. Multiple Pets
   According to statistics from the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association half of all pet owners keep both cats and dogs in the house. Throw in fish and birds and reptiles and you have a menagerie that no boarding facility can handle.
5. Diseases
   The close living quarters of a kennel promotes the spread of contagious diseases. You may not want to expose your pet, especially vulnerable young animals, to these conditions. Or you may not want to give your dog the vaccinations that some facilities require.
6. Communication
   There is no substitute for peace of mind when you are away from your pet. At TLC lines are always open to your pet sitter with voicemail, texting and daily notes.
7. Other Services
   During a home visit a pet sitter can gather mail, water plants and generally keep your house looking “lived-in” while you are away.

10 Tips to keep your home safe while travelling.

Keeping your home safe is a priority for anyone who works or travels, and is gone much of the day. A burglary happens once every 14. 6 seconds, and these crimes result in thousands of dollars lost, time, trouble and trauma to the homeowner.

Frozen pipes and broken refridgerators and AC’s are just a couple of major things that can go wrong while you are away. It is always best to have someone keeping an eye on the place and making sure things go as scheduled.

Here are ten simple tips to help keep your home safe, secure and give you peace of mind while you are away.

1. Lock down the house. Don’t forget sliding doors and windows. Lock the door from the garage to the house.
2. Don’t let your mail and newspapers overflow. This is a sure sign someone is not home. Have the trash taken out to the curb on your specified days is another way to give the impression that someone is home.
3. Keep the lawn mowed and trimmed. If you are out of town for more than a few days, make sure your lawn care service is mowing and trimming.
4. Keep your driveway active. Having someone in and out of your driveway gives the appearance that there is activity at the home, and someone is there.
5. Don’t hide the key in an obvious place. It’s easy to “hide” a key so you won’t lock yourself out, however the usual hiding place is the same place someone is sure to look. It’s best to not have a key hidden anywhere, and to give a key to a trusted person.
6. Be aware that checking-in on social networks and posting photos of your vacation does let people know that you are out of town.
7. Keep your blinds in their normal position. If that is open during the day and closed at night, having someone change the blinds keeps the normal pattern and habits of your household.
8. Ask someone to watch your house. Having someone check in regularly, even daily, to turn on/off lights, pick up the newspaper, water plants gives the impression that someone is home.
9. Let the neighbors know if you have hired someone or a service to look after your house and garden.
10. Lock up your valuables. It seems so obvious, and may be one the things that we just don’t do.

Have a great trip!