If we go for just a weekend we leave Edwina alone with enough food and water. Longer than that we hire someone to take care of her. We boarded her the first vacation we went on after she joined us and we just think she is happier with a sitter. We have had people actually stay in the house (my preference -- she doesn't like to sleep alone ) or come by once a day. We are going on a trip in a few weeks. My niece, who is a college student in Chicago, will stay on weekends and my stepson will come by every day that she isn't here. He does his laundry, watches HBO, etc. and spends at least an hour with her while he is here.

When I was in college, house sitting was an easy way of earning extra money!