Pet Sitting & Boarding in Melbourne

It's less stressful for many pets and keeps them in a familiar environment, but 'safer' depends on the person — an insured, referenced in-home sitter beats a poor kennel, and a well-run licensed kennel beats an unvetted stranger. Judge the individual, not just the format.

Kennels house your pet in a licensed facility with other animals; home boarding places them in a sitter's own home; a live-in or drop-in sitter keeps your pet in your house. Anxious, elderly or unsocial pets usually do better at home; sociable dogs often enjoy a good kennel or daycare.

A professional sitter or boarder has your vet's details, written authority to seek treatment up to an agreed limit, insurance, and an emergency contact plan. Confirm all of this in writing before you travel — verbal assurances aren't enough.

Ask about insurance, licensing where it applies, how many animals they take, their emergency-vet plan, whether dogs are ever left unsupervised, vaccination requirements, and ask for references or reviews. A meet-and-greet before booking is standard.

In Melbourne, ask your vet and local pet groups, check platform reviews, then do a meet-and-greet and a short trial stay before a long booking. Insurance, references and a calm rapport with your pet matter more than the lowest nightly rate.

Kennel boarding typically runs AUD 40-85 a night, in-home overnight sitting AUD 60-150, and daycare AUD 35-70 a day, with holiday premiums.