If you’re planning the type of trip away that your pet cannot join, you will need to find someone to look after them – here’s how to find pet-setting services or the more traditional boarding kennels in France.
Many of France’s campsites or hotels do accept dogs, while short-term apartment rentals like Airbnb might, depending on the policy of the owner.
But if you can’t take your pet with you, then you will be looking for someone to take care of them while you are away – and there are plenty of professional options for this.
Pet boarding/kennels
The most common solution is the pension animale – boarding kennels found across France. These facilities, often in rural areas, provide structured care with dedicated sleeping areas, exercise time and regular feeding schedules.
In these types of places, you can be confident that your pet is being cared for by someone with the appropriate qualifications and that the facility operates under established health and hygiene protocols, since they have to be licensed and inspected.
Specific rules are in place to ensure the health and welfare of the animals in care, particularly regarding the space each animal is entitled to, their freedom of movement, and their interactions with other pets.
In order to use these, it is mandatory that vaccinations are up to date and it’s also important that your pet be comfortable around other animals. Other specific requirements may be determined by the boarding facility manager.
How to find – There are many websites you can find across the country that can locate a kennel near you, but your vet is also likely to be a good source of recommendations.
For example, chien.com is an easy resource to use. It has a dedicated section for pensions animales and lets you filter by region or city. It currently lists over 2,600 kennels, ranging from small family-run facilities to large professional centres.
Pet sitters
There are also pet-sitting options available to suit everyone’s budget or needs – they come in two basic models; your pet goes to stay at the sitter’s home; or your pet stays in your home and the sitter visits regularly.
Whichever care option you choose, it is recommended that you meet the carer before trusting your pet to them. This would be an opportunity to discuss the animals’ habits, to see their future temporary home and to check whether they will be living with other animals if applicable.
In-home pet sitting (hébergement) allows your pet to remain in its familiar surroundings. The pet sitters stays at your home and looks after your pet on a daily basis.
If you are away for a short period, the pet sitter will come to feed your pet, take it for a walk (if it’s a dog) several times a day, play with it, etc., in accordance with the arrangements you have agreed upon.
Pet sitting at the sitter’s home (garde à domicile) is more suitable for pets accustomed to human company and who do not do well alone.
Pet sitting swap is also another option, which includes a mutual exchange of favours between pet owners. The owners take turns going on holiday, allowing them to look after each other’s pets free of charge.
How to find – The website Rover.com is a popular online platform that connects pet owners with individuals offering pet care services. Rover operates as a marketplace where private sitters advertise services such as dog boarding in their own homes, pet sitting, and dog walking.
Users can search by location, compare profiles, read reviews, and book directly through the site, with sitters setting their own prices and availability.
You also have Animaute – a French pet care platform that, like Rover, focuses on connecting pet owners with sitters rather than listing traditional kennels or boarding facilities. Founded in 2009 by a veterinarian and an animal welfare specialist, it operates as a large network of certified “pet sitters” across France, offering services such as in-home pet sitting, home boarding with individuals, dog walking and cat visits.
Recommendations from other pet-owners are always good, and you might also see services advertised at your vet’s.
Prices
In France, the cost of pet care varies quite a bit depending on whether you choose a traditional kennel (pension) or a pet-sitting service, as well as the location, season, and level of care.
For kennels, on average, you can expect to pay around €15 to €35 per day for a standard kennel stay, with some more premium facilities – the ones that brand themselves as ‘dog/cat hotels’ – charging up to €40 – €60 per day if meals, individual spaces, or extra activities are included.
By contrast, pet sitting or home boarding services such as Rover or Animaute tend to be more variable in price because sitters set their own rates. In general, home boarding (where your pet stays in someone’s home) usually costs about €28 to €70 per night, depending on the city and the sitter’s experience.
In-home visits or drop-ins are cheaper, often around €10 to €25 per visit, while overnight stays in your home or the sitter’s home in larger cities like Paris are typically at the higher end of the scale.
