RSPCA Queensland has urged pet owners to leave pets with trusted sitters over Easter, after seeing an increase in the number of owners returning from holidays to an empty nest.
“Leaving a pet with family and friends is common practice for some holiday-makers but this arrangement can have dire consequences if the pet escapes,” said the RSPCA’s Michael Beatty.
“If a pet goes missing these minders often can’t provide crucial identification information and if the animal turns up at a shelter with no contact details it’s presumed to be a stray and can then be adopted by another family.
“In some cases, by the time the owner returns from their holiday and contacts us, the animal has settled into a new home which causes confusion and distress for all involved.
“While these situations are rare and everything possible is done to find the original owner, we’ve already seen eight cases this year and are concerned that this number will continue to rise over the Easter period.
“We urge anyone doing this to make certain their pet is microchipped and has an ID tag. They can also register the pet with our Home Alone service via the website. This way the contact details of the person looking after the dog are registered with us and we know who to contact if the animal comes into our care.”
Instead of relying on family and friends who may be too busy to properly supervise animals, pet owners could invest in professional pet sitting services like PetCloud.
All PetCloud sitters have passed police checks and online courses and provide insurance with each booking.
“Paying a small fee for a professional pet-sitting service means that you can enjoy your holiday without worrying about your four-legged friend,” he said.
PetCloud CEO Deb Morrison said the organisation’s first priority was to ensure that animals were safe and cared for while owners were away.
“Using PetCloud means owners can trust their pet will be fed, walked and given plenty of love and attention,” she said.
“Plus, because of their experience professional pet-sitters can help animals adjust to their temporary home and know what to do in the case of an emergency.”
Learn more online.
