getting ready to go out of town

[Luci]

so i leave in a few hours to phoenix (yay!)

my roommate will be taking care of gizmo. i trust her and it kinda helps that she works at a vet clinic that happens to have an exotic vet. shes watched him before, but tomorrow shes taking an overnight trip so im having another friend stop by to check on him.

ive made a list of food, water, bath, playtime, allowed treats, etc. but i always feel like im missing something. what do you all usually tell your chin-sitters?

 

[Stackie]

I don't allow my chin-sitters to let them out for playtime. Way too many things can happen during playtime if you don't have a persistent chinnie mom supervising!

I usually just tell them to make sure they have fresh food, water, and hay at all times. Give them a couple sticks so they have toys to chew. I also tell them to check on the a/c to make sure it's working correctly and to note the temp reading on my temperature gauge in the room. That's about it. I put away treats and everything else that isn't "necessary".

 

[Sandi]

Ditto everything Stacie said! They don't really need the playtime while you're gone and why risk something happening to Gizmo when you are not near. When they do go in to add food and water make sure to tell them to triple check that the cage is locked. I left my mom as my chin-sitter and she got distracted with my niece and didn't close the cage door all the way, so my boys had free run of my house for 18 hours.

 

[tunes]

Definitely leave out the playtime. They could forget to close a door, your chin could get somewhere they can't get them out, he could get stepped on. It would be much better to just leave him confined to his cage until you get back.

He'll survive, trust me. He might be a bit cranky at you, but that will pass.

 

[Luci]

he just seems like he has a permanent stink eye if he doesnt get out!

but i def understand. my roommate sat with him in my room last time she chin-sat. i trust her, but i think i'll ask to omit playtime. the reason why i showed her how playtime is, is because gizmo loves to dart out of his cage while being fed. so if he makes an escape, then i'll just ask that she watch until he goes back in. but no intentional playtime.

thanks guys!

 

[Snoepgoed123]

even though hes not getting intentional play time, I would instruct the other person how to get him back in if he manages to escape, be it with a treat or a dustbath.