Inherited a new dog: Wow boarding costs!

[FunnyFarm]

Mom is 85, in a walker and can't take care of her German Shepard so now it's mine as of 2 months ago.
Headed to our annual 17 day visit to Hawaii for Thanksgiving.

Just booked that big boy for boarding starting Wednesday. (Got lucky for a cancellation, boarding was booked up for T-Day. Another lesson for next trip, just like timeshare book early.)

Looks like it will be about $1100 plus $110 tax.
That seriously affects our travel budget.

We normally don't eat out, always cook in-room so we can travel more/longer.
Rental cost for cars is crazy in Kauai & Maui, much more than airfare this year.
Went to TURO again to save a bit.

Might try no car and just UBER next trip since we have pretty much seen and done most activities and attractions.
Anybody out there succesfully enjoyed Poipu, Kauai or Kanapali, Maui without a car?
I'll ask that question in the Hawaii forum.

Too much timeshare, what a problem

 

[JudyH]

Mom is 85, in a walker and can't take care of her German Shepard so now it's mine as of 2 months ago.
Headed to our annual 17 day visit to Hawaii for Thanksgiving.

Just booked that big boy for boarding starting Wednesday. (Got lucky for a cancellation, boarding was booked up for T-Day. Another lesson for next trip, just like timeshare book early.)

Looks like it will be about $1100 plus $110 tax.
That seriously affects our travel budget.

We normally don't eat out, always cook in-room so we can travel more/longer.
Rental cost for cars is crazy in Kauai & Maui, much more than airfare this year.
Went to TURO again to save a bit.

Might try no car and just UBER next trip since we have pretty much seen and done most activities and attractions.
Anybody out there succesfully enjoyed Poipu, Kauai or Kanapali, Maui without a car?
I'll ask that question in the Hawaii forum.

Too much timeshare, what a problem

I pay $25 a day for two cats at the cat sitter house and I supply everything.
We eat out less.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Yes it can add up. I have a house sitter (try Rover.com). We had 2 cats boarded when we went for 2.5 weeks to Portugal when my house sitter was unavail. DD took dog but her roomate is allergic to cats. I could not let them sit in a cage for that long so opted for the cat room. It was $100/ day for 2 cats. Cost as much as 1 airfare or $1500 more than the week in a top timeshare. Ouch.

Trip was awesome. Worked extra this fall to pay for it. No regrets but might coordinate trip timing to shoulder from peak to lower costs.

 

[DrQ]

Yeah, I've read that Vet costs are going through the roof too as Wall Street is buying up Mom and Pop practices and creating corporate entities for small animal practices.

 

[isisdave]

It's too late for Wednesday, probably, but I recommend TrustedHouseSitters.com -- we've been sitters 30 times and had our own dog sat about 4.

Basically, someone stays at your house and takes care of it and your dog for free. No payment either way, all it costs is the utility charges you wouldn't incur if you weren't home. You can imagine how much you save with more than one dog, and they're happier, particularly for older dogs.

Some people say "What? You let strangers stay in your house?" but the answer is yes, and that suits millions of us.

Look at it. Here's a link for 25% off if you'd like to try it.

 

[geist1223]

We have been hiring House/Pet Sitters for close to 20 years. We have had the same Sitter for about 12 years. We pay $25 per day. We currently have 1 Dog and 1 Cat. It is great because the pets get to stay in their Home and the House does not sit empty.

 

[callwill]

It's too late for Wednesday, probably, but I recommend TrustedHouseSitters.com -- we've been sitters 30 times and had our own dog sat about 4.

Basically, someone stays at your house and takes care of it and your dog for free. No payment either way, all it costs is the utility charges you wouldn't incur if you weren't home. You can imagine how much you save with more than one dog, and they're happier, particularly for older dogs.

Some people say "What? You let strangers stay in your house?" but the answer is yes, and that suits millions of us.

Look at it. Here's a link for 25% off if you'd like to try it.

You have done this 30 times? I have been curious about doing this. How did it work out? Was there a fee for you to get started?

 

[klpca]

We have a sitter that we used (she is great) but the cost is $75/night to stay in our home. Gulp.

Actually our sweet girl crossed the rainbow bridge in late Sept. She was about 14 and it was time, but it was just awful. I just can't go through that again so we will be pet free for the foreseeable future. I miss her immensely, but I am not going to miss the stress of leaving her, nor the cost of petsitting.

 

[VacationForever]

We have a sitter that we used (she is great) but the cost is $75/night to stay in our home. Gulp.

Actually our sweet girl crossed the rainbow bridge in late Sept. She was about 14 and it was time, but it was just awful. I just can't go through that again so we will be pet free for the foreseeable future. I miss her immensely, but I am not going to miss the stress of leaving her, nor the cost of petsitting.

We went through that with our 2 kitties. Costs of pet sitter were not the issue but the heartache of leaving them home. Then they both got sick with the same disease, and we put them down 10 months apart. Vet could not explain why they both had the same disease. I also never want another animal to be inflicted by what got them.

 

[FunnyFarm]

Thanks for the tips!
I've seen Rover.com but not explored it.
Trustedhousesitters.com sounds like a good way to go as well.
I actually wouldn't mind a house sitter at all. We are way back off the road so burglars could be done and gone unseen.

This issue actually came up just this week. Mom was looking forward to having Sparky back for a bit, but a health issue came up and it's just too much.

My son has 2 dogs so they only camp now so dogs go with.
They can't join us at the timeshare due to the expense (2 kids at University).

Fortunately we have a great neighbor who has a key to our house and feeds the cats while we are gone, that has saved us $ over the years.

 

[clifffaith]

I started a Cat Ladies group (men welcome, but none have joined) as soon as we moved into the Old Folks Home. I am happy to sit any cat, but so far just my neighbor down the hall and I exchange duties. Anytime I meet a new resident it’s “Hi, nice to meet you, do you have a cat?” We have lunch twice a year when they change the semi-seasonal lunch menu in the dining room. Organizing cat ladies is as hard as herding cats. One of our currently catless residents sits on the board of the Bluebell Foundation which takes in senior cats when their owners die. Over time my goal will be to have older cats that will meet the 12 years-and-up age requirement. No one wants to deal with 5 year old Jack bouncing off the walls!

 

[Sandi Bo]

It's too late for Wednesday, probably, but I recommend TrustedHouseSitters.com -- we've been sitters 30 times and had our own dog sat about 4.

Basically, someone stays at your house and takes care of it and your dog for free. No payment either way, all it costs is the utility charges you wouldn't incur if you weren't home. You can imagine how much you save with more than one dog, and they're happier, particularly for older dogs.

Some people say "What? You let strangers stay in your house?" but the answer is yes, and that suits millions of us.

Look at it. Here's a link for 25% off if you'd like to try it.

My niece does this and loves it. They have stayed a couple time in Europe, as well an in the states. My dogs are too high maintenance or I'd try it.

 

[AlmostRetired]

We are not comfortable with someone staying in our house unless it is a friend or family member and we do not have one that will do it. Dog sitting is big business where people watch dogs in their own house. Some people watch as many as 4 dogs at a time and are still hard to find availability. We look for people who watch only one dog but availability is limited because of it. My wife is pickier on who we use than I am. After our previous dog died, my two boys who were at the tail end of college when we got her, all wanted the dog. Both are married now and within driving range to watch her. I think the word to use is USELESS. While someone coming to our house to walk the dog is an option. we want someone around our dog more often because our dog likes being around people or other dogs.

Between the cost and finding someone to watch her, it has impacted our vacation travels somewhat until this year. I turn seventy and though my wife and I are in good health, life has shown us it can turn on a dime. So this year I added 25% to the cost of traveling. I call it dogflation. We have a trip to the Grand Cayman Island in Dec, a week in a Disney timeshare in March(using an II AC), 2 weeks Italy in early April (still in planning stage) and a 10 day Iceland cruise in May.

I may actually get into the pet sitting business in retirement. I am willing to travel where you live on my own dime and housesit if you live outside the US. Europe preferred and rates reasonable.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Thanks for the tips!
I've seen Rover.com but not explored it.
Trustedhousesitters.com sounds like a good way to go as well.
I actually wouldn't mind a house sitter at all. We are way back off the road so burglars could be done and gone unseen.

This issue actually came up just this week. Mom was looking forward to having Sparky back for a bit, but a health issue came up and it's just too much.

My son has 2 dogs so they only camp now so dogs go with.
They can't join us at the timeshare due to the expense (2 kids at University).

Fortunately we have a great neighbor who has a key to our house and feeds the cats while we are gone, that has saved us $ over the years.

Trusted House Sitters is something I'm considering as a volunteer/traveller pet & house sitter.

 

[Timeshare Von]

FYI . . . my sister was also paying $25/day for one visit per day to her home to care for her kitty. Not much more in the way of services offered/provided.

 

[Timeshare Von]

<<SNIPPED>>

I may actually get into the pet sitting business in retirement. I am will to travel where you live on my own dime and houses it if you live outside the US. Europe preferred and rates reasonable.

I've been thinking about the same . . . maybe even getting hooked up with Trusted House Sitters.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I am also wary of strangers staying in my home. Our housesitter is someone we hired several times and then felt comfortable. But she is not always available.

Perhaps we could start a pet/home sitters group in TUG with trusted Tuggers? We could trade or I would be willing to pay. If there is enough interest, we could start a private group to exchange information.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I am also wary of strangers staying in my home. Our housesitter is someone we hired several times and then felt comfortable. But she is not always available.

Perhaps we could start a pet/home sitters group in TUG with trusted Tuggers? We could trade or I would be willing to pay. If there is enough interest, we could start a private group to exchange information.

This is a great idea . . . and I'd be happy to participate as a house/pet sitter. Since we have my BIL/SIL living in our in-laws' suite, we don't have a need for house/pet sitting services.

 

[Passepartout]

We are still using a boarding kennel, but traveling less. No question that pet ownership is ever more expensive. Vet bills are up- I just paid $180 for pet vaccinations last week (our human vax's are free) and our 35lb Dood costs $35/day to board.
I find it amazing that the numbers of homeless people I see almost invariably have pets. How do they afford the pets when they can't afford a roof over their head?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

For homeless it can be protection and support for mental illness.

 

[WinniWoman]

Went through that for years. Various boarding options, Including the least expensive - a daily pet visitor for $25 per day way back when.

After our last 2 dogs passed in 2011, no more dogs for us. Saves our wallets, our house and we just play with our neighbors dogs.

 

[WinniWoman]

For homeless it can be protection and support for mental illness.

But how do they afford to feed them?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Some homeless have low paying jobs or get welfare assistance. Some live in cars so buy gas but do not receive enough to afford or pay first and last mos rent.

A dog provides warmth, companionship and protection.

 

[geist1223]

Also a try for sympathy as they are begging.

 

[jp10558]

I keep trying to tell my mom - go visit one of your 2 (at least) friends with Dogs - she doesn't have a lot of money, and I really don't want her to not be able to go on any trips again due to dog kennel costs. But she also imagines she wants a dog real bad - but I just doubt she could take care of it. For instance her "early" wake ups are 10AM, not irregular to wake up at 1PM. Dogs don't do well with last bathroom break at 11PM-1AM and first the next day at 1PM or later.