Do you think pet owners who travel are cruel?

[BePoliteOpalQuail]

I mean for a couple of nights here and there, every few months. Not talking about getting a pet then leaving it weeks on end, and obviously the pet would be left with a trusted sitter or in a cattery/kennels.

We do in home boarding with the same people every time and have done for ten years.

The dog fucking loves it down there and has bonded with the owners dogs since they were all puppies.

We left him there for a month before for our honeymoon.

I think much depends on the individual circumstances. Our dog goes to a home boarder during our holidays. She has the company of two other dog and is in a home environment. She is clearly very happy there as evidenced by the excitement she shows when we drop her off. Personally I wouldn't put her in kennels because I know she would find it stressful. But that's just her. Much depends on the temperament of the animal involved.

I have a bigger issue with people who have dogs and leave them home alone all day while they go to work tbh. Dogs are fundamentally pack animals and I don't think being left alone for 40 hours a week is good for them.

It’s true 😂

It depends on the circumstances. Very frail with loss of hearing/sight, then it is very hard on the animal and I would struggle to leave them.

However, we have a senior (but very healthy with all her faculties) cat and now 2 older kittens. We have a 2-week and 1-week holiday each year plus the odd weekend away. They miss us but no more than we miss them I suspect (which is a lot!). They are fine, well looked after, and comfortable in their own home whilst we're away. They are very loved, have a great life that is safe and warm with enough food, and we're not going to never holiday because we have pets, so what is the alternative? Living in your comfortable home without your human family (but gaining a visiting human who provides food) for a cumulative total of 4 weeks a year seems like a good gig to me!

I leave mine all the time, if it's for more than a night then someone comes in to feed them. Nobody cares, cats or rats, I think the cat enjoys the peace tbh and I can't say I blame her.

My dog goes to a boarder every week while I go to work and for longer if I go away without him. He’s very happy and well loved - I do some holidays with him and some without. He’s not very keen on kennels but he’s been to two different boarders over his life and he loves it, I think it’s helped him be adaptable and socialised him well to being around dogs and people.i don’t like leaving him alone for long periods so I’d rather there were places he could go where I know he’s happy. I don’t think it’s cruel- I’d prefer to be with him all the time but I’m not prepared to never go out for more that 4 hrs!

We go away often, my pets get cared for. The dog usually stays with my neighbour who he adores, and the cat stays at home but has someone popping in twice a day to feed and have cuddles. If we holiday in the UK we will take dog with us.

My cats don't care a jot if I'm here or not. They only care about their bellies being full & my niece minds them for me, which is great. I also mind her dog when she goes away and he misses her terribly.

Jeez, whoever made you feel like that would hate the owners of the dogs/cats that come to kennels i help at. Some come in for 3-6 weeks at a time. The dogs love it, they are on their holidays too..... they get spoilt, exercised and cuddled.

Also, after my mum died suddenly her cat lived alone in her flat for 2 months while we looked for a home for him- we had someone but they couldn’t take him immediately . It wasn’t ideal but the local rescues were full and the cat didn’t get on with the dogs of other people who could take him in. He was quite settled in the flat and we made sure someone went in every day to play with him- we got a clockwork feeder so he was fed regularly. He was lonely- he’s a sociable boy and would come running the minute anyone went round- but the wait was worth it as we found a great place for him and he’s blissfully happy now as is his new owner. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have been any happier living with the hated dogs or in an overcrowded shelter. Sometimes circumstances happen and you do the best you can.

I think it's a normal part of having a pet. That said, it should be someone/somewhere you trust and where you think your pet will be as happy as possible. I've looked after a lot of people's cats and dogs and I've only had one where the animal was unsettled - but that was a rescue dog with separation issues and now with more experience I would say no to the owner on welfare grounds.

animals aren’t human children. Mine our outside dogs we go away regularly and get someone to come in and feed them once a day.

Are you actually my clingy whippet who has miraculously learned how to use a computer? She considers me leaving her in the car with dh, while I go to the parking machine, when she can see me, a total betrayal. Going on holiday and leaving her with grown ds(her 2nd favourite person) sends her frantic. For five minutes, then she’s fine.

It is tbf mine all used to trot away quite happy, not giving a hoot 😀

When we go away, our dog stays with our dog minder who she adores.

Not at all.

My cat is my absolute world but I wouldn’t not go away because of her. When we go away, she goes to stay at my mum and dads- we call it her little holiday. She loves it- they have a much bigger garden than us for her to explore, and they’re retired so she sits on my dads knee for most of the day being pampered.