PET SITTERS in LOWER WESTCHESTER (Yonkers, Scarsdale: house, neighborhood, living in)

[newroc]

I need a Pet Sitter for my Maltese when I go on holiday soon. Any help? What's your experience with Pet Sitting services in the area? Where do you leave your pets when you go on holiday? Do you have good experiences, bad experiences with this kind of service? Let me know. I'm sure all pet owners would appreciate honest opinions. Please no adds, just want to know from real people about their experiences.

[karen824]

When we lived in lower Westchester (we moved upstate at the end of June) we used Ludworth Kennels in Hastings whenever we needed a place to leave our dog for a few days. The owner, Tom, is great with dogs. The kennel isn't fancy; it's on Jackson Avenue and consists of a red barn (where they keep the larger dogs) and a house with a small kennel attached for smaller dogs. I had visited a couple of other kennels which were more "corporate" but settled on Ludworth because my friend had been using them for years for her two dogs, and highly recommended them. My dog loved Tom and did well there. They also will groom your dog if you like.
I would occasionally also leave my dog with our vet (Central Animal Hospital on Ardsley Road in Scarsdale), but I preferred Ludworth, as I felt my dog got more attention and exercise. Your dog is safe at the vet's, of course, but may spend a lot of time in a cage, without much exercise.
Unfortunately I've never used a pet sitter so can't comment on that, but unless you find one with sterling credentials and references, I would be wary about giving a stranger access to your home.

[alans wife]

Karen, I have to disagree with you about Ludworth kennels. We left our elderly cat there two years ago. Within hours of her being there, one of the doors was left open and she was gone. We had already left on vacation. They notified my son about her disappearence but that is all they did. My son had to notify pet rescue groups etc. He and my daughter searched the neighborhood, put up lost posters etc. I called Ludworth daily to see what they were doing about it and they really didn't seem concerned about it. Luckily the cat had an ID on. Two weeks later a women in Yonkers found her starving in her yard. She spent six days in the hospital and the doctors didn't think she would make it. After forced feedings, IV's, antibiotics and more intensive care at home somehow she survived. We spent nearly 2K on medical bills. We never received any kind of apology from Ludworth. I would never recommend them to anyone.

[karen824]

Wow, I am so sorry to hear about what happened with your cat. I certainly would feel differently now about recommending them or using them again, if we were still living in the area. Perhaps we were just lucky in the times we left our dogs with them--and as I said, I had a friend who used them for years for her two dogs, and never had any problems. I guess accidents can always happen, but it sounds like this one was avoidable, and their response was certainly not what it should have been.
I am glad that your cat is OK now!

[newroc]

I used the services of Little Dogs Holiday Home, their web page is Little Dogs Holiday Home
I think they are great. Left my Maltese there for the Thanksgiving Holiday and my dog was so happy she didn't want to come home. I don't know about Pet Sitters, I really never trusted them to be in my home.