Well, frankly, I was a bit leery when I read the suggestions for finding some "reputable" student from a local university...I am sure they are reputable but getting all A's isn't really a qualifier now is it?
Lauren25, please tell my fellow UW Alum Hello.
I can certainly sympathize with not wanting to be away, especially if the animal does get into life-terminating difficulty but what can we do???
There are Pet resorts around this area (No. Virginia) too but as you probably all know about everything tries to be "upscale" around this area.
Every time we go away I worry a little bit even when the two boys are at the kennel and every time we come home I wonder why I was worried...sigh!

No one said anything about grades or anything related to academics. My suggestion was to ask the staff at a local university, who might be more likely to go out of town for various reasons, if they know of a reputable house/pet SITTER. Meaning, someone who has done it before and has a reputation for being reliable, when it comes to respecting and taking care of someone else's home and pet(s).

I suggested college students because as a college student I, myself, was always glad to work for some extra bucks.

My veterinarian's office has a bulletin board where pet-sitters post their business cards. One of his assistants does pet-sitting, so I have her stop in every evening to feed my cats when I travel. She likes my big screen television, so that means she'll spend some time watching television and the cats will have some company for a little while, besides being fed. I also like the thought that she would be able to recognize medical problems, and I always leave written instructions giving her permission to take them for treatment if needed.

Good idea, DP.

I dont feel comfortable to have a stranger in my house taking care of my pets.. For my peace of mind,I rather take them to my vet while I am in vacation, at least I know that they are safe and well taken care.. What happens if the cat sneak outsite? There goes another stray...

Maitaitom - I live in Toluca Lake which as you know is next door to Burbank. What is the name of the cat hotel you take your pets to? Lately I haven't had the best of luck with cat sitters.

Thanks

Well I guess I owe BrimhamRocks an apology for misunderstanding his post but I'm still not convinced that a college instructor/professor could without any doubt whatsoever safely vouch for a student's behavior other than what was seen in the classroom.

(BR flutters HER eyelashes at Intrepid)

It was just a suggestion, as are all the other replies to daph's original question. I think that it would be difficult for ANYONE to safely vouch for another's behavior, except in reference to what they have personally witnessed in a classroom/work environment/etc.

Even choosing a pet resort or kennel carries a risk, because if you have never used them before, you are relying on the word of others and advertisements. Until you have actually contracted with a business for any kind of service, and then use and are satisfied with that business PERSONALLY, it's all just a matter of faith, really.

Again, my point was to ask about reputable sitters, meaning ones that the staff have used PERSONALLY and can recommend because they PERSONALLY had a positive experience with that person.

Good luck, daph, whatever you decide.

Madison,

It's called:
The Cat Hotel
1807 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506 
(818) 845-0222

We've taken our cats there on about six or seven occasions and have had a good experience. You can call them and they'll let you come over and take a look at the place. It's always locked which I like, and they let the cats out pf their cage to play periodically throughout the day.

I am so relieved to read that there are people like us. We have one house dog, four cats who stay indoors and a pot-bellied pig. We pay someone to stay in the house when we vacation. My husband's mother used to watch the house and animals for us. She said it was a vacation because we have all the modern conveniences. Alas, she can no longer house sit for us. We asked and asked people who we knew and finally found an older student who was going back to college and needed some money. It adds $50.00 per day to our trip, but it is worth it. This way our house is not left vacant to encourage thieves and the animals are well taken care of. I like the idea of contacting veterinarians; I never thought of that one. I can recommend older college students; our sitter is careful with the animals and this way they are not more traumatized by having to leave their house. Our pig has a routine that if changed, makes her very unhappy. She actually became depressed when my husband's mother died last year because she would go to her house and visit with her grandmother every day in the morning. My husband's mother lived very close by so that Penny, our pig, could walk to her house. The sitter tells us that the cats don't seem to mind us leaving, but the pig and dog do. I can't imagine putting them in a local kennel in that the kennels here are just a cage and run with a person who comes around and feeds them. I do know that when we get home, all of the animals just crowd the room wanting attention from us. The day we can't get a good sitter, is the day we quit travelling.

Good grief, I had no idea people are wanting pet and house sitters so badly and having trouble finding them. I'm a youngish retired federal law enforcement officer, female, honest, reliable, good with animals, particularly cats. I live between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., willing to travel into northern CA. I'm leaving for the winter in less than two months, but maybe in the spring, I can help some folks out.

Jennit--I had to laugh at your "Pet Resort," since that's what our children (both married with families) call our house! When they travel we get to keep their dogs. (Our daughter and husband have a golden retriever and black lab, and son's family had a yellow lab) Those dogs love it here--they get to run free in the woods, swim in the river, then come into the air conditioning to sleep it all off.
And in return, when we travel they keep our little Crawdad pup.
Byrd

P.S. And sometimes we get to have the grandchildren, too!

Your vet should have business cards for people who offer cat sitting services. They will come to your house but not stay overnight. This got pretty expensive for me as my indoor girl needs to be fed 2 times/day instead of just leaving food out. One of the staff at vets office may be willing to do that too.

I try to visit So Cal at least once a year and would be happy to sit in your house if timing could be worked out. Obviously, I could visit more often if I didn't have to impose on my friend in Burbank. She has someone come in to walk her dogs but I don't know if he does cats - or if that is even your area. You can email me at [email protected] if you want me to get that info for you or if you want more personal info on me and my trustworthiness. Good luck!

I feel so guilty now. When on a very extended trip, I rented my apartment out to a friend on a friend, he paid me!

Byrd:

That's funny that your kids call your place the "Pet Resort." I used to bring my pets to my Mom's house when I traveled . . . but that was back when I only had one dog and one cat. Now I have two dogs (one of them a 100+ pound Alaskan Malamute) and three cats, which is a little too overwhelming for her. Now they go to the official "Pet Resort" and really seem to like it (At least I think they do. They don't seem any worse for the wear anyway. All are still fat and happy upon pick-up!).

Jennie