Are you traveling for the Holidays?

Not only is it the season of giving, it is a season of spending time with loved ones, and oftentimes the season of traveling! If you are indeed traveling for the holidays and have pets; it is important to think about travel arrangements, vet details, care instructions, supplies, identification, and emergency contact details. Take a look at this list to make sure you haven't missed anything!

• Travel arrangements

  • Make sure you book boarding well ahead of time, many facilities book out months ahead.

  • A pet sitter coming to your house is also a great option, especially for cats who tend to be most comfortable at home. It is a good idea to ask for references if it is a new pet sitter.

  • A trusted friend or family member is sometimes a perfect fit!

• Vet details

  • Make sure your boarding facility, pet-sitter, or pet caretaker has the vet details for your pet's vet/vet clinic and specific instructions should your pet fall ill or suffer from injury while you are away.

• Care instructions

  • All things food, meds, and specific care instructions that will ensure your pet gets everything they need while you are away.

  • An important point to think about may be specific instructions for safekeeping your pet around New Year's and fireworks. Many animals get stressed around loud noises and we sometimes see an increase of lost pets coming to the SPCA at this time. For example, keeping them indoors may be a good option. Maybe they have a specific and comforting spot in your home?

• Supplies

  • Make sure you have enough pet food, litter, meds, chewies, and anything else that your pet will need while you are away.

• Identification

  • Microchipping your pet is one of the best ways of making sure that your pet can be reunited with you should they get lost. The SPCA and vet clinics all have microchip scanners and can quickly scan and search for your details and contact you should your pet get lost.

  • Making sure your pet has a collar and a name tag with your phone numbers (we recommend two numbers at least) is a great way to make it easier for a Good Samaritan to contact you directly should they find your pet on the street.

• Emergency contact details

  • If you will be traveling outside the country, not have cell-phone reception etc. it is a good idea to have an emergency contact person whom you trust that can be a point of contact in case of an emergency. Make sure to list them with all relevant parties, and perhaps even on the name tag!

We hope you have a lovely trip, perhaps was given food for thought, or thought of a friend who could use the information here! Can you think of anything we missed? Email connect@spcawindhoek.org.na and let us know!