What dogs do for the holidays

Booking the flights, packing the bags, and planning the itinerary may be the easy part of going on holiday. For pet owners, there’s another important question to answer before they can leave: who’s going to look after the furry members of the family? 

From calling on family and friends to hiring pet sitters or booking kennels and catteries, owners have plenty of options. Choosing one usually depends on more than convenience or cost; it’s about making sure their pets are safe, comfortable, and well cared for while they’re away. 

Dog sitter Michelle Levy says people opt for a house sitter when they prefer to have their pet remain in their own environment and keep their routine. 

“When you send a dog away, some places put them in a cage or around other animals, which can be very stressful,” she says. “At home, they’re in their own environment, they know their surroundings, and they’re more comfortable, which is especially important when their owners are already going away. 

“That’s why I do a meet-and-greet beforehand and spend about an hour playing with the animal so they can get to know me while their owner is there. I also try to keep their routine the same. If they sleep on the bed, they sleep on the bed with me; if they sleep under the blankets, they can sleep under the blankets. They get the same love, care, and attention they’re used to from their owners,” she says. 

Similarly, Johannesburg grandmother Denise Hotz sends her dogs to Tanya Kalvari Rubin at her home in Lyndhurst, where Rubin takes care of two small to medium dogs at a time. 

“My two dogs are always happy when I fetch them. I prefer my dogs to stay in a home environment rather than a kennel where they cannot get the affection they’re used to in a home environment. It’s better to leave your dogs in a loving home and lock up and leave your house,” says Hotz. 

Kirsty Baker-Pinkus says she, too, has never considered sending her four dogs to a kennel. 

“With a house sitter, they get to stay at home, sleep in their usual spots, follow their normal routine, and have all the things around them that they’re used to. They’re still in their own space, which I think makes a huge difference and keeps the whole experience much less stressful for them. There are also the added benefits of having someone at the house, like being there to let the helper in, keep an eye on things, and the house having presence,” she says. 

Cape Town animal lover Janet Gelgor has been using the same house sitter for her eight pets for 13 years and says she will never send her cat and three rescue dogs to a cattery or a kennel. 

“For me, choosing a pet sitter over a kennel is about peace of mind, knowing they’re in their familiar environment. So they get one-on-one attention at home and get taken for regular walks which they’re used to,” she says. 

Talia Levy started hosting a few dogs at her house a couple of years ago when people she knew went away. She has continued to do so. “The dogs live in my home and stay on my bed, as their owners believe that they would feel isolated in a kennel environment. Some of the dogs are timid, so socialising in a kennel setting isn’t always ideal for them,” she says. 

Levy loves looking after dogs and even sends her husband and daughter away so that she can accommodate more of them. 

“They make me feel like a superstar and follow me everywhere. I chased my husband and my daughter away between Christmas and New Year, which is my busy time. This means that they could go away, and I could have more space on my bed for more dogs.” 

However, some people prefer to send their pets to a kennel. When Michelle Alpert goes on holiday, she sends her golden retriever to one in Kempton Park. 

“I like it because they let the dogs run outside most of the day. Sending him somewhere allows him to socialise with other dogs, run around outside, and have company. If someone stays at my house but goes out during the day, he’s still going to be left alone for periods of time,” she says. 

Similarly, teacher Shira Symons sends her dogs to the Woodrock Pet Hotel, north of Johannesburg, saying it’s like sending them to camp. 

“I chose the Woodrock Pet Hotel because there’s very good care there; they’re very knowledgeable about dogs and what they require and their needs. The other reason is because they socialise the dogs. They keep small dogs together and big dogs together, so the dogs actually play with each other all day. And so we call it Habonim Machaneh. He goes to camp, you know what I mean? When we go on holiday, he goes on holiday,” she says.