In need of temporary foster for family dog

MonsterCookie

My son will be going into hospital soon and we expect we will need to travel abroad for treatment.

We normally leave our Lab in a really good kennel when we go on holidays but that is expensive and I don't think she gets the exercise she needs (she runs long distance with me a few times a week and loves long beach walks at weekends).

Are there any fostering services that would hook us up with real genuine animal lovers that would look after our pet as if she was their own and then happily give her back when we get home from my sons treatment?

Any tips or advice would be gratefully received.

aonb

where are you based Monstercookie?

There are many home-boarding options - where the dog will live in the home - most places will do a reduced rate for longer terms.

I dont know of FOSTER places - could you find a friend/relative/contact who will have the dog while you are away, you would pay for food and any other expenses, there might be a teen in the family who could take the dog on in return for pocket money (with his/her parents consent of course) - investigate your options...

I hope all goes well with your son.

Knine

Some boarding kennels might do you a better deal on longer stay options.

The best of luck with your son. I went for treatment abroad with my daughter & the care we got was fantastic. You might already be linked in with the Treatment abroad section of the HSE but if not it might be worth contacting them.

MonsterCookie

Quick update on the OP. My son will travel to Germany for proton treatment - probably early next month.
Of all the things that are worrying us at the moment, making sure our dog is well looked after is quite high on our list. She's such a good dog, if a little mischievous!
Our kennels have said they will cut us a deal on a longer term stay - not sure what that is yet. Anyway, I can't help feeling she would be better off with someone who has more time to spend with her and to exercise her.
any more ideas or suggestions would be very welcome.

Have you tried www.housemydog.com? You might find someone in your area who will treat your dog like a family pet while you are away. They might also negotiate long term price.

njs030

MonsterCookie wrote: »

Quick update on the OP. My son will travel to Germany for proton treatment - probably early next month.
Of all the things that are worrying us at the moment, making sure our dog is well looked after is quite high on our list. She's such a good dog, if a little mischievous!
Our kennels have said they will cut us a deal on a longer term stay - not sure what that is yet. Anyway, I can't help feeling she would be better off with someone who has more time to spend with her and to exercise her.
any more ideas or suggestions would be very welcome.

If you feel she doesn't get looked after properly in that particular kennels perhaps a different one might be better or somewhere that she stays in someones home instead.

annascott

Where are you based? Also, is she neutered and how is she with other dogs?

MonsterCookie

annascott wrote: »

Where are you based?   Also, is she neutered and how is she with other dogs?

We're based in Dublin but would bring her anywhere in the country of I thought she was going to be well looked after.
Neutered and all vaccines up to date.
She gets on very well with other dogs.

MonsterCookie

notjustsweet wrote: »

MonsterCookie wrote: »

Quick update on the OP. My son will travel to Germany for proton treatment - probably early next month.
Of all the things that are worrying us at the moment, making sure our dog is well looked after is quite high on our list. She's such a good dog, if a little mischievous!
Our kennels have said they will cut us a deal on a longer term stay - not sure what that is yet. Anyway, I can't help feeling she would be better off with someone who has more time to spend with her and to exercise her.
any more ideas or suggestions would be very welcome.

If you feel she doesn't get looked after properly in that particular kennels perhaps a different one might be better or somewhere that she stays in someones home instead.

it's not that she isn't looked after - in fact the kennels are very good. as per OP - I just feel that 6 weeks (could be longer) in a kennels is too long and quite expensive.

karenalot

MonsterCookie wrote: »

it's not that she isn't looked after - in fact the kennels are very good. as per OP - I just feel that 6 weeks (could be longer) in a kennels is too long and quite expensive.

Would you get a housesitter in? I've done plenty of house sits and also brought house sitters into my homes when going away. It can be perfect for long stints and all it costs is the housesitting website annual sign up fee. Lots of people would welcome 6 weeks free accommodation in Dublin in return for looking after your dog.

annascott

I have asked a friend who has a lab/GS cross and walks on beach every day. I will let you know when she gets back to me.
Meanwhile, there are these guys http://www.bwampets.com/Dog-Boarding.html
They have a good reputation and will take your dog into their home.

CeilingFly

Deleted User wrote: »

Have you tried www.housemydog.com? You might find someone in your area who will treat your dog like a family pet while you are away. They might also negotiate long term price.

I second the housemydog site and at this time of year with schools and colleges off, you won't find it difficult to get a long term sitter assuming you'll be back before college starts.

Springwell

Email UCD Vet School and ask them to forward a house sitting/dog sitting request to their students with a contact umber. Lots of the vet students mind dogs for people over the summer for a little cash and being vet students should now what they are doing!