My mum stays over, and if she can't, i pay the nephew to stay over.
Have payed a house sitter before, but he has a real job now he used to just sit on my comp smoking weed for £20 for 24 hours. Well worth it.
Harder for me as just not dogs but pigs, ferrets, chickens, ducks and 7 fish tanks also need looking after.
If you know some one you trust, who is out of work, a house sitter is my preferred choice.