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Pets

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Original poster

Has anyone used a service that comes to your house to look after your pets?

30 replies

OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 11:15

They don't live in but just come in to care for animals. We're away for a week in August and we have 2 rats, 4 fish and an elderly cat who would probably turn up her toes if we took her to a cattery. Nice neighbour very politely declined to have anything to do with DS#1's rats but will feed cat. Wondering if it's easier to pay someone to do it all.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/06/2007 11:17

EEewww, rats!

Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 11:21

They are very well-behaved housetrained and generally very handsome female rats. Excellent pets for kids. But I've given up trying to persuade anti-rat people of that .

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expatinscotland · 15/06/2007 11:22

Cheaper just to tell the kids to go play in the sewer - plenty of free rats there .

handlemecarefully · 15/06/2007 11:22

Well usually they do live in. And it aint cheap. Circa £200 for a week around here (Hampshire / Wiltshire border)

Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 11:26

Really! I can't manage that. There was a poster in the local pet shop saying something about it - need to have a closer look perhaps.

expat, I am ignoring you.....

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vonsudenfed · 15/06/2007 11:28

You can also find people who will just pop in once or twice a day - usally about £7 a visit, more for bank holidays. My old cat lived to 18, and so we did this for just the same reasons!

Try asking at the vets - that's where I've always found mine.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 11:29

thanks vonsudenfed.

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wheresthevalium · 15/06/2007 11:30

A friend of a friend in an Animal Aunty, would you like me to ask if they do small animals/live out?

expatinscotland · 15/06/2007 11:30

I'm going to start a little side gig of offering this service when we move to a more rural area. Will come in and look after your pets and plants whilst you're away, but not live in but not for £200 !

handlemecarefully · 15/06/2007 11:31

Well hopefully you'll find someone who will either just pop in to look after your rats for you, or take them to back to theirs for a week.

It's just that full housesitting services (which includes pets) are somewhat easier to find (listed in Yellow Pages etc)

Are your children school age? (was wondering if school friends might take the rats for you)

Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 11:31

What? Even rats expat You'd love them really.....

Yes please wheresthevalium!

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expatinscotland · 15/06/2007 11:32

I'd get DH to care for the rats. He kept one as a 'pet' and said she was 'lovely'.

Oh, yes, sewer dwellers are lovely .

Fubsy · 15/06/2007 15:00

I used one when we'd just moved to the area and didnt know anyone well enough to ask.

They came every other day to feed the cats as we had one of those automatic feeders, so they just came and refilled that.

Theres quite a few people doing it now, they advertise in the pets section of the local paper.

Bubbaloo · 15/06/2007 15:06

Whereabouts in the counrty are you? I'd be happy to feed your rats if you live nearby.I also used to have them as pets.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 16:59

Thanks bubbaloo. We're in Somerset. Actually I am thinking of sweet talking the neighbour again. She's only got to check the water and chuck some food in once a day.

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Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 17:00

Meant to add that clearly you appreciate their finer qualities too. Not like some on here >

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Bubbaloo · 15/06/2007 17:07

Hopefully she'll come round,as Somerset's a bit too far from Essex[pgrin].

Original poster
OrmIrian · 15/06/2007 17:08

It is indeed bubaloo! We had to drive to Brentwood and back last weekend for a family party - I don't think my ar*e has recovered from sitting in the car that long.

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jura · 15/06/2007 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

arfur · 15/06/2007 22:23

Try asking at local vets - when I asked ours to recommend pet sitters they said that their veterinary nurses quite often do it for extra cash and will live in or out. Might be worth a go - I got quote from local company of £13 per day for two visits which added up to a fortune for a fortnight! Good luck.

Bubbaloo · 15/06/2007 23:17

Oh yes,of course OrmIrian.I now remember you from another thread when you were asking about places to stay in Brentwood.Hope the wedding was good.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 15/06/2007 23:25

Some cateries/kennels sometimes take rodents too. Agree about the vet, but don't loose heart if you don't see anything that can fit your needs. The person who walks our dogs was a "I feed cats only" person but she seems to get along well with the dogs and... she surely welcomes the extra income.

expatinscotland · 15/06/2007 23:27

Thanks for the tips! DH was definitely wanting to offer this service when we move, especially as he loves and gets on with ALL animals, to earn a few extra bob and now we know what to charge.

TooTicky · 15/06/2007 23:30

Whereabouts in Somerset OrmIrian?

Original poster
OrmIrian · 18/06/2007 12:58

Bridgwater Tooticky. Go on, run screaming

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