Hello everyone, I need some advice. Hopefully, this is the right place to post this.
I received an [url]internship
[/url] opportunity for this summer. This is great news for me as I have been looking and applying for months with no luck. The only problem... the internship is in California, and I live in Michigan.
I feel like this is an amazing opportunity for me as it is a great [url]company[/url] that will open a lot of doors for me in the future. The pay and hours are great, and it would provide awesome hands-on experience in the field I'm interested in.
I already have a place to live as my dad lives in California, but, unfortunately, his apartment does not allow dogs. I also cannot afford finding and renting a place for the summer that does allow dogs, plus there's the added difficulty of driving my 80lb, leash reactive (it's a work in progress 
) dog from Michigan to California.
I guess I'm just wondering if anyone here has had to leave their dogs for several months at a time and any advice you might have to make this as smooth as possible for both of us. I honestly am dreading leaving him. He is my baby, and it just about killed me being gone from him for a week.
Well, there are ways.
There are often pet-friendly extended stay hotels in thriving regions (Petswelcome.com). Yes, it may cost a bit more, but if your companion is that important to you, then I'd say it is worth the cost. Other than that, if the pay you are receiving from the internship is really good, and if your dad maybe helps out, you could put the pup in a doggy boarding resort during the time you are away (Care.com & BringFido.com). Of course, the really depends on how long the internship is for. There is also the option of relying on your friends in Michigan. Maybe someone could babysit your dog for the duration of your internship? Simply remunerate them for their aid.
As for transport, there are animal "limousines" that can drive your friend from Michigan to California for you. Then you could arrive before the dog and scout out appropriate places to walk him.
If the internship and your dog are of equal importance, you'll find a way! Get creative! Maybe it's the first test of this new challenge you're taking on. I wish you luck.
Freelance Writer, Dance, and Fitness Professional living abroad in Japan.
Feel free to visit my <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="website">website or check out <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="Fiverr">Fiverr.
You could ask a friend to take care of the dog with condition that you pay for the expenses.
3 months is a long period for anyone to take a pet they don't want, but perhaps there is someone who wants to get the "having pet experience". 🙂
I don't really know anything else to suggest, I'm assuming that you obviously wouldn't sell the dog.
This sounds like a nightmare. I can't imagine leaving my babies for several months, but I also cannot imagine letting go of an opportunity to better myself. I would go for it. It will be hard to be separated from your dogs, but if you can find a good home for them to stay temporarily, they will be just fine. I would look into finding someone that you can trust to take care of them while you're away- though you may need to talk to them about the costs of board and/or food for watching them.
I wish you the best of luck!
Oh man that sounds terrible, for all parties involved. At this point it would be akin to leaving my children, and that is always tough. I would have to take all of my strength to try and focus on that moment when I would come back and get to see them jump up and down and crazy and roll around. That would be the only way that I could make it through something like that.
Thank you guys so much for the wonderful advice.
Hi! Whenever we go to long vacations, we leave our dogs to our nearby relatives. Luckily, we have two relatives/families that live here in our village so it's easy to ask for their help. And if the vacation is short, say two or three days, we just give these relatives the key to our house so they can feed our dogs and clean their cages as well. Of course, we have to give them souvenirs when we get back as tokens of our appreciation.
I have also found a few pet hotels in Michigan, here they are:
- Paw Print Inn Resort and Spa
- Pet Ritz
- Holly Pet Hotel
- Pet Pals 90
Of course, it can be a bit expensive but this is another option if you cannot find a relative to care for your pet while you're gone. You can also ask your friends, pet lovers, who can take care of your dog while you're gone. Maybe just pay for the food and other finances that they might need.
I hope this helps!
I never thought pet hotels are actually a thing. I guess everything is possible in USA. 😀
There are numerous options you can take here, I would personally go with a dog hotel. I know that it may seem like a weird or unknown choice but they are fantastic. Every time I need to go somewhere more than a couple of days from home, that's where my dogs go!
I wouldn't know what to do if I am in your shoes! Three months are a long time to be separated from your dog. Personally, I would find a trustworthy neighbor or close friend to babysit my dog, with pay of course. It would probably be more affordable for the three months time.
The second choice for me would be flying my dog with me to California and put him in a caring kennel there, and visit him every day after work. At least you both still able to spend time together.