booked a holiday but now not able to go

rustyboy21

It is a difficult one and we went through similar when Rusty was alive. We went on holiday and came back and that day he was rushed into the vets with Parvo even though he was inoculated against it. we nearly lost him. After that we didn't go abroad and took him on UK holidays with us for the remaining 3 years.


OP are you going anywhere that has daily flights available with a LCC? Could you get someone from the vets as suggested above to look after him and if he worsens, you could book flights home? At least you wouldn't be losing your holiday and the only additional costs would be the return flights if that need became necessary. You may find he is ok whilst you are away and you at least have your holiday.

ali-t

Thanks rusty boy. I'll look at flights and see how quickly we could get home if need be. Thomas cook have flights twice a week from Glasgow to Tunisia but I'll look elsewhere too and have a plan b in place.

ferf1223

duchy wrote: »

Might be worth working out if paying a pet sitter rather than kennels would be an option when comparing it to losing the whole cost of the holiday.

I agree that this might be an option to consider? I know we only have cats and a dog is a different thing with different needs, but having someone come in to check on them/feed them/play with them for a short time each day vs putting them in a cattery is the best travel-related thing we have discovered.

I understand if the dog may have some medical behavioral issues but maybe it is worth looking into at least...I suppose that leaving him would be a difficult thing for you regardless as you would be worried about him all the time...so maybe that's not really an option, thinking about it.

I don't think I could say for sure what we would do unless we were faced with the situation (and I hope we never are), but I can understand why someone might decide to scrap a holiday for a sick pet if there were no suitable alternatives for their care.

vegasvisitor

ali-t wrote: »

Thanks rusty boy. I'll look at flights and see how quickly we could get home if need be. Thomas cook have flights twice a week from Glasgow to Tunisia but I'll look elsewhere too and have a plan b in place.

If you are in the Aberdeen area by chance and may consider a pet sitter pm me. It's not me, but I may know someone.

danandjens_worldtravels

Consider a pet sitter. I am in New Zealand and a little far away for you I think, but its very common here. We regularly house/pet sit for a couple, and recently were asked to do 10 days for a family who have a 3 legged labrador that hates to be in kennels and their Dalmatian.

Its not onerous to us and we don't charge (although some people do), for us the benefit is a warmer home for a few weeks (our current house is pretty chilly in the winter) and the regular one we do makes us lovely food while she is away so we get to eat really well.

Coupled with a plan b - quick return option it could work out well for you - ask around!

suki1964

ali-t wrote: »

He has an intestinal disease that was diagnosed a month or so ago. It is terminal but is currently being managed by medication and still has a very good quality of life i.e. out for walks, playing, eating etc but he has the potential to go downhill very quickly. He could have 2 weeks or could have a year with a great quality of life. We just don't know and the vets can't put a timescale on it.


I won't put him in kennels if it wont be a pleasant experience for him and if his health is likely to suffer he won't be going but he is no where near being PTS yet.


Duchy thanks for the thought but he isn't insured. Cheapest premiums for him were £50 a month so I stopped it a few years ago as it is more economical to pay the vet bills as they arise than pay £600pa plus the excess for everything he goes to the vet for.


The dog is an important part of the family so won't suffer and won't be put at risk of harm or upset. I was hoping that someone might have ideas about how to salvage some of the cost of the holiday.


I will get in touch with the tour operator and see if changing the dates would be possible.


Has anyone tried selling a holiday on gumtree or ebay - is it worth the hassle?

I'm sorry if my post offended in any way, it wasn't meant

ATM I'm having to weigh up medication and treatment for my own darling lad, it's hard

Obviously when there are only sketchy details on the first post it's hard to advise


I hope your lad has a comfortable ending.

And I hope you get something sorted xx

ali-t

suki1964 wrote: »

I'm sorry if my post offended in any way, it wasn't meant

ATM I'm having to weigh up medication and treatment for my own darling lad, it's hard

Obviously when there are only sketchy details on the first post it's hard to advise


I hope your lad has a comfortable ending.

And I hope you get something sorted xx

No offence taken. The sketchy details initially were because I was looking for tips on how to get some money back for the holiday rather than wanting advice about the dog.

Thanks for all the pet sitter suggestions and I'm not trying to be difficult but he's not the kind of dog that would suit. He is a rottie with strong guarding traits and wary of strangers. Having a stranger in his home is a recipe for disaster, especially if he isn't feeling great.

I looked into plane fares home last night and for 2 of us it is ranging from £800-£1600 depending on the day of the flight so not really a possibility.

The conclusion seems to be there is no way to claw any money back for the holiday and if he goes downhill at all over the next 2 weeks I won't be putting him in kennels. Got to be philosophical about these things and sometimes !!!! happens. Thanks for all the input,much appreciated

littlereddevil

Looks like if you don't want to go you will just have to write the holiday off.