People who have pets at home and are frequent travellers are often forced to leave their pets at some friend's place, who they believe will take proper care of it.

Though people often do this as a way to show they care, no doubt it affects them economically, says an entrepreneur who has come up with the idea of "pet guest houses."

"I started this facility in June last year and I provide shelter and 'lodgings' to dogs, guinea pigs and fishes as of now," says Vizal Atheya of such a shelter situated at Gurgaon near the capital.

There is no specified time period and pet owners can keep their pets for as long as they are out of town, he says.

Atheya, however, adds that since his venture is a new one, he has only been keeping puppies and dogs of small and medium breeds.

Another young entrepreneur Mayank Chaturvedi says that they even provide 'pick and drop' facilities in a bid to attract more pet owners to keep their pets at his 'guest house'. Chaturvedi's company offer to come and pick up pets from the owner's place in a vehicles that are specially designed for them.

Chaturvedi says special packages and "festive offers" are also available for owners who have to leave their pets during the festival or vacation seasons.

"The facility is totally affordable for middle-class pet owners also," he says.

Atheya also holds special sessions with dogs to see whether the pet can adapt to the conditions at the guest house while his owners are away.

"Before taking a dog to the shelter, I conduct special sittings both with the pet and its owner to observe their behaviour and temperament. And I also try to attract his attention by doing several things so that it also become familiar with the place before arriving for the boarding," says Atheya.

The entrepreneur, however, both agreed that there might be temperamental or health problems with the pet while its owner is on vacation.

Also, veterinarians conduct check ups once a day says Chaturvedi.

But Atheya says he employs a different method altogether.

"I take the phone numbers and contact details of the client’s vet. If the pet falls sick, we take them to the doctor recommended by its owner," he says.

A client of one of the pet guest houses who had gone to visit his in-laws in Assam this winter said he was totally satisfied with way his dog was cared for.

"My dog was treated like a VIP," says Ankit Desai who had kept his Pomeranian Junior at the guest house while he and his wife had gone for more than 15 days on vacation.

"This is a good accommodation an I will definitely recommend it to my friends," says a pleased-looking Desai.

"Though I missed my dog and kept wondering how he was keeping all these days, I was surprised to find him enjoying himself and feeling totally at home," he says.