I do have the wonderful neighbors across the street who would gladly come over and feed my pets if I go away. Mentally, though, I don't feel free to do so! I feel they NEED me! Little Feather, the 12 year old blind dachshund whom I rescued last year, actually gets sick with diarrhea
when I go away. I even pre-mixed their food so there would be no change in their diet the one time I did travel. She's afraid of men, and the husband was the one who fed them. (The wife went with me.) He had to clean up poop from everything she came into contact with. I think this is because she's been abandoned and mistreated so much in her life, being used for breeding primarily.
Anyway...if I do have to travel, or choose to travel, I have that source of care for them.