In Spain there are twice as many pets as there are children (15 million pets compared to 6.6 million children under 15 years of age)
With the summerthe holidays are coming. And with these, the plans to leave home, travel or make a getaway. And in Spain, where there are already twice as many pets as there are children (Spanish households add up to 15 million pets compared to 6.6 million children under 15 years of age), more and more people are faced with having to face problems before making plans. a basic question: what to do with the pets.
In a country where there are already more pets than children, more and more are turning to the elderly to leave their furry ones on vacation
There are those who decide to travel with their dog or with your cat, but many others opt to look for alternatives. Leave them in a kennel? Hire someone to come take care of them? Ask that friend who is very good with pets a favor? The most common option just as when one considers what to do with the children in summer, it is, if possible, leave them with the grandparents.
Thus, these days it is common for mothers and fathers to become pet sitters for their children Adults. some do at ease. Others, more for commitment and resignedly.
Of the first group is Emilia Godas, neighbor of Cabrils (Maresme). When her daughter and her family go on vacation, Emilia stays with IV, a schnauzer black haired miniature “Taking care of the dog is like taking care of another grandchild. I am very excited that he comes, he has a great time,” says this woman who notes, with satisfaction, that the animal is well adapted: “Here he has his things. He is used to staying once in a while. He knows how far he has to sleep.”
“Taking care of the dog is like taking care of another grandchild. I’m very excited about it.” Emilia Godas
In addition to the company that the dog keeps her, Emilia is also moved by the desire to help her daughter and “pay her back”. “Before, we would leave our dog with my daughter. Now, she takes care of my turtles when I’m gone.”Explain.
Eager to help
Concepcion Alia Share your desire to help. He also welcomes into his home dalia little maltese puppy elderly. “Staying with Dalí is not something that is imposed on me, I offer myself. If I can save my son and his partner some homework, all the better. They work too much & rdquor ;, she points out.
Keeping the dog is his way of contributing. “They helped me a lot at the time: my parents took care of my children while I worked and I want to give that back, contribute a little of what I received,” she argues. Staying with Dalí does not require much effort. She has another dog and the two get along very well. For her, feeling useful is nice. “This being an old ass like me has a lot of limitations, but I like being able to help others,” she says.
Take away iron from the tasks involved in taking care of an animal. “The only thing I have to do is be alert when I see them go outside, take care of their needs and feed them, which is practically the same for one or two,” says Concepción. “I insist on keeping them longer, but my son is afraid that I will fall. It is easier for them to fall, who are walking at full speed through the house, than me, when the animal is there, I go dragging with my feet “, he describes humorously. Dalí is blind and he keeps touching Concepción’s heels with his head to find out where he is.
Fear of dying or getting sick
To the group of the resigned belongs Montserrat Montesinos, who, despite objections, cannot resist helping his daughter. take care of a 20 year old catbut the feline he doesn’t always make it easy. “Every time I stay with him something happens”, he points out, although he adds, by way of consolation: “At least he does not hide when I arrive, because he knows me.” “Sometimes it’s out of sight and I’m worried it might slip out of the apartment or inadvertently lock it up,” she adds.
Unlike Concepción and Emilia, Montserrat does not welcome the pet into her home, but she is the one who goes to her daughter’s house to supervise the cat. “It’s very hot and going back and forth to his house is very tiring for me, but the cat is very old and I don’t know how he would react to mine, which is younger.” So she puts exhaustion aside: “I’m already psyched up, and I don’t mind doing it.”
In favor of the cat, he confesses that “it is very calm and very easy to take care of”. But he does not hide his fears: “I It is scary that he will die while I take care of him. Or get sick and have to take him to the vet. I have the carrier ready, but I don’t know if it would let itself in.” Montserrat speaks from experience, because she has already been through situations like the ones she describes. “The other cat that my daughter had before, Frodo, died just when she was vacation. She was a very old cat, she got sick and we had to put her down,” she says. “It’s not nice to be alone, with someone else’s animal, in a situation like this, she’s very sad,” she adds.
Both Emilia and Concepción and Montserrat, having pets themselves, understand the importance of leaving them in the care of someone you trust. “When you have an animal and you go on vacation, as you love them, you need to be completely sure that the people you leave them with will take good care of them,” argues Emilia.