With the summer holiday approaching here, people are starting to get ready to go away to a foreign country to spend the summer. As some of you might know I really enjoy traveling and especially going places that I haven’t been to before. So by itself I have nothing against traveling at all, nor do I dislike the summer holiday. On the contrary, I see it as a welcome break from working life .

But what I do dislike about the summer holiday season, or rather hate about it; the big animal dump! Every year there are stories on the news about animals being dumped by their owners because they don’t want to take them on holiday with them, or provide for them by taking them to an animal hotel for them to stay at. Meanwhile the owner enjoys himself sitting on his ass, sipping wine on a sandy beach in the south of France.
Let’s take dogs as an example. There are a few options when it comes to dogs and holiday;

1. You take them with you on your holiday. This is absolutely possible, all you have to do is find a hotel that allows dogs (and they exist!) and make sure the dog’s papers are valid for that country.
2. You leave your dog at an animal hotel where it get’s cared for while you are away on holiday. When your holiday is over you pick up your dog from the hotel and enjoy the time you get to spend together again.
3. You dump your dog at the animal shelter; either you leave them in front of the door or throw them over the fence. While doing so you hope that one day there will be a nice new boss for your dog so it doesn’t have to be put down.
4. You tie your dog to a tree in the woods, leave him with a bit of water and food and drive off to your favourite holiday destination. When you get back your dog was either found by people who really care about animals and brought to a shelter (or they kept your dog themselves), or it’s still tied to the tree only now it’s no longer breathing. The dog died from lack of food and water or hung himself trying to break free from the tree.

My dog always comes with me when I go on holiday. I just pick hotels where he’s allowed to go to. He’s never a hassle and when I want to go out for dinner in a restaurant, I find one where he’s allowed either inside or on the patio. If he’s not allowed inside but he can stay on the patio I just sit there and he lays under the table, usually sleeping. He doesn’t beg for food nor does he bother other costumers. He would however really appreciate it if he would get a bowl of water. Which in most cases he gets.

For me taking the dog with me on hoilday is only normal. If you really can’t take him with you, it would only be normal to send him to an animal hotel for him to stay at while you’re away.
What I really can’t stand though is if you dump your dog at the animal shelter, or worse opt for number four and tie him to a tree! That really angers me and quiet honestly you don’t deserve to have an animal at all if you treat it that way. If you decide to buy a pet (let’s stick to dogs for a second here) you have to realise the concequences of buying a dog before you get it! It doesn’t only mean having a cute puppy to show off to everyone and their uncle. It means dedicating yourself to the welfare of this animal and training it so you can take it with you to places without having to worry about misbehaving and things like that.
Your dog shouldn’t only be a trained animal though, it should become a friend, a buddy you can rely on. You don’t dump your friends or leave them behind (to die) just because you’re leaving on a holiday for a week or two do you? If you answered yes to that question you really should consider looking up the word ‘friendship’ in a dictionary or something.

If you can’t take an animal with your for whatever reason; make sure it’s provided for. Can’t afford an animal hotel? Have a friend take care of your animal(s) while you are away. Besides having a dog I have a few more animals including three horses. I can’t take them with my on my travelsso I have a friend take care of them. If there wasn’t anyone I’d trusted enough to take care of them while I’m away I won’t go. It’s as simple as that. I choose to have these animals and therefore provide for them and look after them.

When you are concidering choosing option three or four from the above list; I really hope you reconsider buying any other animals in the future. Obviously you’re not dedicated enough to take care of them and put aside some of your own ‘needs’ for that. Maybe your animals are better off with another owner to begin with. Someone who does care enough for them to provide for them under (amongst other things) the summer holiday circumstances.

And with that said; I seriously hope your (future) children are better off than your animals are, or do you leave them behind somewhere too if they get in your way of ‘freedom’?

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