Lisa

Proud owner of one very adorable Cocker Spaniel and a fiery, long haired cat. I also have a young daughter who requires me to facilitate her new passion in life, Ice Skating. I'm only too aware of the stress and worry of arranging care for our pets if we are going on holiday. Our Cocker Spaniel resided in one small kennel facility for less than a week when we decided to cut short her stay. While the kennel and owner were fine, our little darling was traumatised. We knew from the pictures sent to us by the owner that she was not coping and very afraid. We had her collected by another family member and decided that she wouldn't ever stay in kennels again.

So my reason for embarking on this House Sitter Forum is to find a pleasant solution to my current need to travel to facilitate my daughters Ice Skating Practice. My journey from our home in Derry to Dundonald, Belfast is very wearing and to have the opportunity to stay somewhere safe, near the ice rink would allow me to drive less and offer my daughter more Ice time.

I don't like to stay in hotels or b&b's with my young daughter, without my husband as there is an uncomfortable, stranger danger reality. There is no opportunity to cook your own meals and they are generally very expensive.

The prospect of staying in another pet owner's home may offer me a mutually safer and alternative solution. To reside in the comfort of a pet owner's home in an established neighbourhood seems to be a more appealing alternative The added bonus of having the company of some lovely four-legged friends seems too good to resist.

Our own pets will be well cared for by my own family for any trips that my daughter and I make.