Get recommendations
You may simply need someone to pop in to feed your animal several times a day, or a sitter who will move into your home for the duration of your trip.
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a dependable person. Start by asking for recommendations from friends, the local community or your vet, and search for them on your area's Facebook page and community sites such as Nextdoor.
Sites that list profiles and reviews of local sitters include Gudog, Rover, Care.com, Cat in a Flat and We Love Pets.
Prepare for a surcharge Costs vary widely depending on the sitter's experience, the location, the length of stay and how much they need to do for your pet.
Overnight dog care costs anything between £25 and £70 a night, while cat-sitters charge about £10 to £15 a visit.
You are likely to pay a surcharge over bank holidays. Tails and Trails Pet Services in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, charges £18 for two daily visits with a 50% surcharge on bank holidays, and The Dog Walker, also in Yorkshire, charges double on some days. This includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Sites such as BorrowMyDoggy put owners in touch with local animal lovers willing to walk and care for dogs. Owners pay £48.99 a year for the service, which includes messaging, insurance and a 24-hour vet helpline. The "borrowers" usually offer walks but may also take dogs overnight or for longer stays.
Trusted Housesitters can be a good way to find a reliable sitter if you're going away. You pay an annual fee of £199 for the standard service to find animal lovers who are willing to take care of your pets in return for a free place to stay.
Esta historia es de la edición November 16, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 16, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Filter Cast-iron alternatives to Le Creuset for less
Le Creuset's colourful pans have long topped the wishlists of amateur and professional cooks.
Money hacks How to find a pet-sitter you can trust
Unless you have family, a friend or a neighbour who can care for your pet when you're away, you'll need to find a pet-sitter you can trust.
Pensions An A to Z of how to save for your retirement
Everything you need to know to plan for your future and make the most of your finances. Rupert Jones and Hilary Osborne report
'A fork in the road' AI's bid to help on laundry days at Europe's tech summit
This year's Web Summit in Lisbon was all about artificial intelligence and a robot sorting laundry.
Brexit So how could Labour improve EU ties for the sake of growth?
The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, said this week that Brexit had undermined the UK's economy, and urged the government to improve relations with the EU for the sake of growth.
Aviation Flying taxis: destined never to take off?
In a dreary November day in the Cotswolds, the VX4 - a cross between a plane and a helicopter - rose from an airport runway, hovered a few feet off the ground and set back down.
Property firm back in profit as workers return to offices
One of Britain's biggest property developers has provided further evidence of the return to office working, saying occupancy in its central London offices is at an all-time high and the value of its portfolio has returned to growth.
Analysis Summer of dark warnings from the Treasury may have cast a shadow on growth
It was hardly surprising that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, declared herself \"not satisfied\" with the news that the UK's GDP expanded by a measly 0.1% in the three months to September.
Contracting GDP adds to German woes as general election looms
Germany's looming general election will be fought against the backdrop of a stagnating economy, the European Commission has forecast, with GDP expected to have contracted in 2024.
UK economy slows amid jitters over Labour budget
The UK economy slowed to a near-standstill in the third quarter as uncertainty around Labour's first budget and high interest rates weighed on business and consumer spending.
