Holidays: how to have your pet looked after without breaking the bank?

Summer is vacation time for us humans, but not always for our pets . Every year, 200,000 pets are abandoned in France during the holidays, according to Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard on her social media accounts on Friday. And sometimes, it's because they haven't found a simple and affordable care solution.

Dog boarding or dog sitting is convenient, of course, but it's not cheap; you'll have to pay at least thirty euros per day. Fortunately, there are free, and rather nice, alternatives.

Like solidarity platforms: passionate volunteers offer to welcome your pet into their homes. These are people who love animals but, due to lack of space or time, are unable to have one year-round. They will be happy to look after yours for a weekend or a longer stay.

Some examples of websites: empruntemontoutou , pasbete.com or Mon Bibou . Cats, dogs, rodents, some can even look after your fish.

But it's true that it's not easy to trust a stranger. So, you can choose the profile: volunteers indicate their habits, their accommodations, and their experience. The profiles are verified, and you can meet the person beforehand to see if your pet is comfortable. Don't hesitate to exchange contact information to ask for news during your stay. And give the contact information of a person to contact in case of emergency if you are abroad or unreachable.

And if you prefer to leave your pet at home, there's also a home care method: house sitting. In this case, a person comes to look after your pet at your home. For example, the website Maison Gardee connects retirees and owners. You go on vacation, your pet stays at home, and the people offer to water your plants—all for free.

On the plus side, retirees are more available, so you can call on them at the last minute, and they're less likely to throw parties at your house. Plus, it's also a great way to prevent burglaries. In short, there are plenty of inexpensive options for pet care.