advice: what to do with pets when you're in rehab?

[orleans]

a friend of mine has two dogs and is considering going into rehab for some help. and he needs some help finding someone who can take care of his dogs.

he doesn't have any family or friends (except me) who could dog sit. his dogs would have to stay at my house (we live two hours away) and have a 13 year old dog who isn't the most friendly and she's a bit frail.

and the house isn't that big. no basement. i already have a cage under the dining room table for my dog when i go out.

one of my friend's dogs is a mean little thing too. i dread getting them together--they're all females. i can't think of an alternative except for him to board his dogs--but since i don't even know how long his rehab would be (2 weeks? 1 month?) i'm guessing it would be horribly expensive. he's a vet on disability and can't afford anything. and i can barely afford to make my own bills lately. but he needs help.

so, i'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions or ideas or advice on this. i guess my friend's biggest excuse for not going into rehab sooner is that there isn't anyone to take care of his dogs. if that problem is taken out of the equation then maybe he can find some help. so, i'm thinking i'm going to offer--but i do need some advice if you have any. thanks in advance.

[KC]

1. I was

in the hospital and then physical rehab for about 8 months and I was lucky enough to
know a woman that groomed my dog that also did pet sitting. So she would come twice a day and feed my dog and cat and take my dog out. Occasionally she would just spend the night with them. I don't know what I would done otherwise.
There are services like that and the sitters are bonded. I think it would be easier though if you actually knew them. Maybe he could start using one and get to know them first. A lot of times people that work at the vets office do pet sitting on the side. That is how I knew the one that I used.
I read something about PetSmart having
a place for pets to stay. Sounded pretty nice, not just in a cage like at a vets or boarding place.
I guess my first choice would be to ask at their vet's office.

[dballance]

2. That's a tough situation.

I have a dog and would never want to be in that predicament. He's been with me for over 15 years and he's a love.

Here's a question I feel I need to ask though. Should this person have pets at this point in their life? If they're at the point that they need in-patient rehab what is their life like and are they able to care for their pets appropriately?

Pets are a huge responsibility. Is this person able to provide properly for their pets? Are the pets a drain on this person right now - financially/mentally? I know that it's possible his pets may be the best and only thing in his life given what you said about him having only you as a friend and no family. Two hours away is a long way in this case.

I'm really not trying to be harsh or judgmental. I want what's best for both your friend and his pets. Best for the pets and your friend may mean needing to give them up for adoption if your friend isn't able to care for them. I'm not suggesting he doesn't care about them and doesn't want to keep them.

[SharonAnn]

6. Sometimes a single person has to go into rehab or hospital. It happened to me.

I fell and broke my hip, it was a really bad fall on concrete. Between hospital and rehab, I was gone for 4 weeks. I friend took my dog to a boarding facility (which turned out fine), fed my cat once a day, and picked up my mail.

Sometimes the unexpected happens! And I didn't want to saddle a friend or neighbor for that long a time so boarding was the answer. More expensive that way, but I was comfortable knowing he was getting care and attention. Put a dent in my budget, for sure, but it's part of what I needed to do for him.

I do know that when money is a serious issue, friends or family are sometimes the only fall-back.

[Voice for Peace]

3. maybe he can find a house & dogsitter?

Probably really important for his rehab that
he's got good care for his dogs, or he will
be worrying about them.

[intheflow]

4. Has anyone asked the rehab if they have any ideas?

I know some cancer treatment and HIV in-patient facilities have connections to local animal welfare groups who can help out with this type of problem. Although the ones I've heard of have all been in large, largely progressive, urban areas. If you live in the sticks or a conservative austerity-loving city, there probably isn't that kind of support around. Still, couldn't hurt to ask.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. What a predictament!

I would ask at my vet's office. I would call any animal welfare or rescue groups in the area to see if they have any ideas or if they could find a foster home for the time he is in rehab (I would offer a donation if they were willing to do this for him too). People who work for rescue groups are good-hearted, to animals and people. And they would prefer to have the animals for a short period of time than to have them dumped.

You say that he has no money, and you have no money, but if it is possible to get enough for a pet sitter somehow, that is also an option. I don't know if OneGrassRoot's Wish-a-doo could help with finances to accomplish this, but you could ask.

I can imagine that many people who want to get help will refuse to go because of the responsibility to animals. If there is any possible way for you to take them if all else fails, please do it. Time goes by quickly, even though we never know how we are going to get through things.

[hamsterjill]

7. I would contact some local rescue groups.

Ask them if THEY have any suggestions, etc. It might not yield any results, but can't hurt to try.

I know we have fosters in this city who take care of the pets of enlisted military personnel until their return.

[roody]

8. Crates!! Everyone stays safe.

[japple]

9. Is there a university with a vet school nearby? Sometimes there are students who do pet

sitting to help pay their way through vet school/vet tech programs. Also, many vet practices know of people who are qualified and able to serve as caregivers. There is a program called "Deployed Dogs" or something like that that will help find caregivers for dogs whose owner has been deployed. Maybe they can help. Look around on facebook. Good luck and I hope your friend finds someone soon.