What do you do with your pets when you are traveling?

Thank you. It's good to be back. Seems like I have a LOT to catch up on, so please bear with me. Lol.

You only just noticed? Heh. Yeah, seems to be a thing I've noticed around most pet forums I'm a member of. Screen names are usually something like "X'sMom", pet names or similar. Least chance of the name being already used I think. Not that most would name their dog something Hebrew...

It's both, really. I don't like them out of my sight for too long even at home. Jasmine is much too curious and likes to get into EVERYTHING. Plus sadly, my area really isn't the best and there's a lot of cases where bored teens or just jerks will throw poisons over people's fences. I'm very particular when it comes to how my dogs need to be cared for and live on a daily basis. Not a lot of people I know would be willing to bend to my requirements about their care, unfortunately. And paid services...despite them being paid, I still couldn't trust a stranger with the responsibility either. I'd be the same with my human kids, no stranger would be allowed to look after them. I'd have to know them and completely trust them beyond any doubt, and that goes for family members and friends too. Because sadly, you just never know these days...

If I ever had to be without them for a long period though, I'd have to do extensive research on the person or people looking after them before I even consider them. Their ability to care for them in an environment that isn't too overwhelming, which probably would rule out most with young children and obviously...they have enough on their plates among other reasons. If anything happens while I'm away, they would need to take them STRAIGHT to the vet even if it's 4am, of course I'd pay for that too, but I'd much rather them have been to the vet before I get back to find them worse.

I'm a panic-pet-parent. If my dogs are acting strange in any way, or there's even a small "hot spot" on their skin, vet gets called right away, and the appointment is made for usually the next half an hour. Same day at least. So yeah...it's usually best they do stay with me, because not many people I know would be willing to put their own life on immediate hold to rush to the vet over an itchy ear. (True story, too!)