Pet ownership is on the rise generally, and having a pet can be a particular comfort when you’re living in a new country. You might have jumped through lots of bureaucratic hoops to bring your pet to Denmark or carefully chosen an adopted pet after you arrived here. But something you might not have considered is who will look after it when you’re travelling. Not only are you likely to be away from home more often as an international; you’ve also lost those trusted people and facilities that you relied on for pet care in your previous home.
Don’t worry! We’ve got you and your furry family members covered! Below, we’ll go through the different options.
First, do you want your pet looked after in your own home or elsewhere?
Want your pet looked after away from your home?
Boarding facilities
Boarding facilities (known as Hundepension & Kattepension in Denmark) can be more expensive than having your pet cared for at home. However, they offer many benefits.
Advantages:
- Peace of mind knowing your pet is in a safe place with staff on site to care for them
- Company and socialisation for your pet, rather than them being alone in your house. If your pet is not used to being left alone for long periods or will be anxious in this situation, this is particularly important.
- Spacious (even luxurious!), comfortable facilities for your pet to live in.
- You can bring your pet’s own toys and food if you prefer.
- Professional staff caring for your pet that you can trust.
- Good nutrition and general care including exercise and toys to play with. Some facilities offer individual dog walking and cat play sessions, often for add-on fees.
- Many boarding facilities offer one-night stays over New Year’s Eve for reasonable fees so your pet can escape the often stressful bombardment of fireworks in your area!
What to be aware of:
Pet boarding facilities in Denmark may differ from what you are used to in your previous country:
- You will need to provide proof of vaccination.
- If your dog or cat is not neutered or spayed and will be in heat while in the boarding facility, be sure to tell the staff. Your pet may require a birth control pill or injection to be administered for the duration of their stay. Some facilities charge additional fees for unneutered pets!
- It is unusual for boarding facilities to offer collection and delivery services so you will need to make the journeys yourself with your pet.
- If you cancel your booking, you may be charged a fee. If you cancel at very short notice, the fee can be as much as the total fee you would have paid.
What does it cost?
Prices vary depending on where you live in Denmark and your needs. Expect a kattepension to charge from 120 kr per day per cat. Many facilities offer extras for add-on costs such as heated beds or larger cages for cats that like to climb. For dogs, expect hundepension rates to start at around 250 kr per day. Again, add-ons including baths and private walks on a lead are usually available.
How do I find a good boarding facility?
The website Dansk Dyrepension offers information and contact details for a range of boarding facilities for dogs and cats across Denmark and is a good starting point to find one near you. In addition, sites such as Pawshake and Gudog which connect pet sitters with owners also list boarding facilities with reviews from users.
You could also seek recommendations from friends, neighbours or local groups on social media.
Want your pet cared for in your own home?
There are different options. You could hire a professional pet sitter to stay in your home or visit on a daily basis to feed your pets and walk your dog. You might also have a willing friend or neighbour who can come in each day to feed and walk your pet and provide them with some company. However, it can be difficult to know where to start looking for the right person to do this.
Third party pet care sites
There is an app for everything in Denmark, and pet care is no exception! There are a range of third party websites and apps that take some of the work and risk out of finding a pet sitter. With these sites, you simply set up a profile, enter the details for the care you need and are connected with a list of approved providers. You need to arrange the pet care yourself by contacting individual providers.
Some of these sites, such as Pawshake and Gudog, are free whereas others, such as TrustedHousesitters, charge an annual membership fee. Each individual care provider listed on the site sets their own prices for their services.
Advantages of third party sites:
- One-stop shop connecting you with professional providers in your area. Takes the work out of searching for a sitter.
- Peace of mind knowing that carers listed on the site have been vetted.
- Filter searches by your exact needs for your pet.
- Meet the sitter beforehand to check they are a good match for your pet.
- Book and pay online.
- You are covered in the event that something goes wrong while you are away.
- Sites also offer a range of other services including dog walkers which might be useful when you are at home.
What does it cost?
Expect to pay from 150 kr per day for a sitter who visits your home. If you want the sitter to stay in your home with your pet, fees start at around 250 kr per day. In the Copenhagen area, costs are likely to be considerably higher.
https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/
Privately arranged pet sitters
If you don’t want to use a third party site or would simply rather employ someone local to care for your pet, local social media groups are a good place to start looking for a suitable carer. Your area will probably have Facebook or similar groups where local service providers advertise. If you live in a larger place, there may even be particular social media groups for internationals in the area.
Your local newspaper or adverts in the local vet or other shops can also lead you to the right carer for your pet.
You may also find details locally of “pet matchmaking”, where you pair up with other local pet owners and take care of each other’s pets while you are away!
Advantages of private pet sitters:
- Less costly than boarding services or using third party sites.
- More likely to find a carer who lives very near you, reducing hassle delivering and collecting your pet.
- If you live in a remote area, this may be your easiest option for pet care.
- You may even find someone prepared to house-sit as well as care for your pets.
- Easier to build a long-term relationship with the carer so you can use their services in future.
- Gives work opportunities to local people. This can be a particularly good way for older teenagers who are animal lovers to earn money.
- With “pet matchmaking” you may even be able to find free care for your pet, in exchange for taking care of someone else’s furry friend when they’re away and possibly bringing them a small gift back from your holiday!
What does it cost?
Prices vary depending on age and experience of the sitter, the duties they are carrying out and where you live in Denmark. A private house sitter caring for your pets might expect to be paid around 200 kr per day, whereas someone visiting a couple of times daily to feed your cat might expect around 100 kr.
Final thoughts
There are lots of options out there for you and your pet, so you can find what’s right for your situation. Then you can enjoy a worry-free vacation knowing your furry family members are well cared for and maybe even having a luxurious break of their own!
If you have any other solutions that have worked for you, get in touch with us! We’d love to hear from you!
Last Week in Denmark has not received any payment from any of the providers mentioned in this article. Providers are given for information only and not as recommendations.
