YOU MOVED TO SYDNEY BUT YOUR PET DIDN’T. NOW WHAT?
HOW TO SURVIVE LIVING AWAY FROM YOUR PET
A guide, from author Eugenia Bonocore,that tries to ease the overwhelming pain of living away from your pet. At least a little bit…
We all love our little furry babies.
We all obsess about what they do all the time.
We all snuggle and sleep with these furry leg-warmers every night.
What happens when you’re forced to live away from them for more extended periods? You get anxious, depressed, you eat your feelings. Am I right?
Life brought you to Sydney, but your pet couldn’t make the trip. I feel you. Bringing your pets with you to Australia is a big decision, and there are many steps to take even to have your pet eligible for travel.
You’re in Australia for a short time, to work or study, for example. A lot of times you do the math, and it’s just not worth putting them through the flight, bureaucracy, medical tests, and, most of all, quarantine. And did I mention the costs?
My family is currently divided. I’m in Portugal with our two cats, and my wife will be in Sydney for three years. It’s been a hard time, so I’ve come up with this list to cheer her up.
1. Look For Your Local Pet Cafe
If there’s one trend, I fully embrace it’s Cat Cafes. They’re not only a great place to be if you’re feeling a little down, but also, generally, a great place to eat for vegetarians.
Sydney leads the way with three Cat Cafes for you to choose from. There are also options for Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane residents. Just look up a place and go.
Wherever you are, there’s always a local Cat Cafe to brighten your day. Some cafes offer yoga classes, film sessions, and time with kittens.
The cats you find at these cafes are usually rescued cats that are up for adoption or permanent residents of the place.
Not only you get to spend time with fluffy creatures, but you also end up helping cats too. These cafes usually have strong ties to rescue groups and NGOs that help animals in need.
Which leads me to #2…
2. Volunteer At a Local Shelter
At first, it might seem strange for me to tell you to cure your pet-less sadness by being around other animals, especially those ones in need. You might think that seeing animals in bad shape at shelters is going to get you down. But hey, sometimes we find wonder in unusual places.
If you’re the kind of person – like me – that gets depressed by being around sick, or wounded animals, maybe this is not for you. But, as I said, the experience can have unexpected effects.
You may find that throwing yourself at something takes your mind off the things that worry you.
Mainly if you deal with pets in need every day, not only it will feel great to help, but will also put your feelings in perspective a little bit. Trust me on this one.
It’s so gratifying when you get to make a difference in an animal’s life. Sometimes all the shelters need is someone to help clean up and play with the animals. You don’t need any prior knowledge to help out. Go lend a hand.
While you’re out there helping a sick doggo, or a wounded kitten, you’ll wonder less and less what your furry babies are doing back home.
Spend more time appreciating how much you love them and the simple fact that they’re in your life.
You’ll make new pet friends and sweet memories, and can even tell your pets back home all about it.
3. Make Some $$ Out of Your Misery By Pet Sitting
Why not create a profile on a few Pet Sitting apps? You get to spend a few hours with a furry companion. On the side, you even make a few extra $$$ – that will go into buying presents for your pets, obviously.
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No matter where you are, I bet there’s a Pet Sitting app in your area. Try PetBacker, Rover, or MadPaws (a few names that come to mind). You can also do a web search for Pet Sitting Websites.
You’ll need to have some patience to create your profile, add some photos, preferably with you and your pets, so people can see how much you like pets. You’ll also need to answer a few questions about yourself, your skills, and sometimes even a quiz to get approved.
Is it a lot? Yep. But wouldn’t you expect a decent background check if someone was to babysit your pet?
You can put on your profile the kind of services you feel comfortable doing. So if you don’t feel up to take care of big dogs, for example, or assist a cat that needs injectable medication every day, you can check out those boxes.
It’s better to be very honest and real with what you’re willing to do.
Some people even pay for you to stay at their house – just like a guest – to watch their pets while they’re away. Can you think of a better vacation?
4. Go to Meetings and Groups That Share Your Interests
We’re social beings. Whether it’s pets or people, we need that connection to survive. If you’re away from your pet family and you really miss them, look for a specific pet meeting group in your area.
Use the power of social media to find a group that loves big dogs, hyper Chihuahuas, or Siamese cats. I bet you can find anything to your liking.
Try Facebook or MeetUp and find a group of people that love pets as much as you do! Hey, you can even meet someone that is going through the same thing.
Attending group meetings will do wonders for your adaptation process. You can make new friends, and most importantly, ease that pet-missing sickness you got going on.
5. If You’re A Dog Person, Go To The Park!
Do you miss your doggo really bad? Miss that unique doggo smell, and the running-like-crazy-for-no-reason attitude? Go to the park! You’re sure to find some dogs exercising with their parents. Just find the courage to approach a pup and make friends.
Chances are you’re going to make not only a canine friend but also a human one. Approach a busy pet parent and offer to play with their dog some days a week.
6. Look After Your Friendly Neighbourhood Cat Colony
Where I live, there are loads of cat colonies everywhere. These are not ideal, I know, but sometimes it’s just the best we can do.
You can make sure all the cats in the colony have shelter for the rain and cold, feed them every day or a few times a week, and always, always make sure they’re healthy and sterilised.
Wherever there are cat colonies, there are NGOs that help out with TNRs and medical care. Close to my house, there’s a colony of five cats. All very fat and happy, but a bit closer to them there’s a girl cat that doesn’t like to mingle. So I make sure I feed her and spend some time with her a few times a week.
There you go. I hope this guide inspires you to do something about this overwhelming feeling of missing your pet friend. If nothing helps, know this: you’re not alone, and how you feel is not silly. If you have a different strategy that helps, I’d love to hear about it!
About the Author
Eugenia Bonocore is a content writer for hire and proud cat parent. Pancho is a curious and energetic tuxedo boy, who’s always pestering his grumpy big sister, Punk. Together the trio writes and educate people with engaging cat stories for the web. Check them out at www.eugeniabonocore.com and on Instagram @ilgattopancho.
Have you moved to Sydney or anywhere else, away from your pet? Let us now your story.
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