Dog Sitting Recommendations?

[mr-mcfeely.livejournal.com]

Long-time reader, first-time poster.
Simply put: We're going away for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and need to find a reputable person to take care of our beloved pooch (black lab, male, 90 lbs) from 5/22 - 5/25. We normally take him with us, but this is not an option this time.

I've done the DSLJ tag search, a Google search, and contacted someone via craigslist (no reply yet). We had a poor experience with a local dog-sitter in the past so I'm hoping someone here might have a favorable recommendation of a dog sitter who will take great care of our best friend.

...the "kennel" alternative makes me want to cancel this trip. Thanks everyone!

Comments

[mderidder.livejournal.com]

We use Patti Zackular of All Creatures Great and Small http://www.aboutallcreatures.com

She is our regular dog walker and has been so for years. She takes the dogs on long hikes and she keeps dogs overnight.

Who did you have a bad experience with?

[mr-mcfeely.livejournal.com]

1) That website link seems to have gone bad. Do you have contact info?
2) re: bad experience...I'd rather not dis anyone publicly. Long story short: We left him with a provider over a weekend who took dogs off leash hiking & swimming. He came back filthy and was (probably) left to sleep completely wet. The night we picked him up, he developed hot spots, hair fell out, leading to expen$ive vet vi$it. I'm sure provider meant well, but wasn't handled well.

[mderidder.livejournal.com]

send me an email if you still want her info mderidder at gmail .com

[apricot3.livejournal.com]

i know this isn't a reputable suggestion, but my unemployed roomie was actually thinking of walking some dogs in the jobsearch meantime... however, he's carless now (we live off of Rindge Ave, whereabouts are you?) but I can ask him if you want!

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Sitter City?

http://www.sittercity.com/

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Yvonne from http://www.dogwalkingpetsitting.info/ has done a great job looking after my cats while I was away several times in the last few months.

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

I have personally had bad experiences with Creatures Comforts for cat sitting and cannot recommend them at all.

[mr-mcfeely.livejournal.com]

DSLJ comes through again! Its proving to be a tough weekend to find someone to look after our dog, but hopefully one of these suggestions will pan out (I had never heard of sitter city). Thanks for all of the feedback.

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

J. Bryan is (I think) a member of this community. She's been my catsitter for 5+ years and I know that she is also a dog walker. I cannot recommend her highly enough (she calls me with updates daily!) When she comes to the door to get my keys, my cats run up to greet her, which they don't do for anyone else. You can reach her at borderlands at gmail dot com.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Suggest you go to the vet ASAP and get him a nose-snort of kennel cough vaccine. It takes a couple of weeks to take effect, but many/most kennels require it, and it will protect him from any problems if he's in a multi-dog environment. A Good Idea overall.

[karenjulip.livejournal.com]

My friend just started a pets and gardening service company. She's awesome. I bet she'd do a great job with your pup.

http://www.pets-petals.com/

Dogsitting-small animal sitting

[lovefourpaws.livejournal.com]

The staff at Crate Escape do home stay over-nights, weekends, weeklongs etc. They are wonderful and truly do care about dogs. Our pup goes to doggy daycare and has not done an overnight, but there are so many people who use them and have said great things about it.

While I'm here..If anyone here has tips for small animal sitting (specifically rabbits) I'd really appreciate it!