BOARDING?  WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR PET WHILE YOU ARE ON VACATION?

Is traveling with your pet is inconvenient or impossible or for some other reason has boarding of the family pet become necessary for a period of time? The following information is designed to assist you in making an informed decision when choosing a boarding kennel. It is a list of questions that you will want to consider prior to making a final decision about where to leave your pet. We assume your primary concern is that your pet will be well cared for in your absence. 

You will want to consider the following questions when determining whether or not you want to leave your dog at a particular boarding kennel:

1. Is the facility generally open for inspection during regular business hours? Any facility that will not allow you to inspect its premises should be avoided.

2. What is the general appearance of the kennel and grounds? Is it clean, neat, and pleasant or dirty, in disarray and unpleasant?

2. Are the staff experienced in working with dogs?

3. Do the kennels smell clean and look neat?

4. How often is each kennel cleaned?

5. What is the floor surface? Is the flooring conducive to quick, easy, and efficient cleaning?

6. What is the kennel’s policy about boarding dogs together? To insure your dog’s safety, make sure that your dog will be kept in a run by itself and that no other animals will be put in with it.

7. Are vaccinations are required? They should be - most kennels require parvo, distemper, rabies and bordetella AT A MINIMUM.

8. What is the kennel’s policy should your pet become ill while boarding?

9. Do they have a veterinarian on call?

10. Are they (the kennel and the on call vet) willing to contact and work with your veterinarian?

11. What is their policy "after hours" concerning veterinary care and do they use an emergency service?

12. Who is responsible for administering medications prescribed by your vet?

13. Does the kennel provide any special services for young and/or senior animals that may require extra attention.

14. Can you bring your dog’s own food? If not, do they use a premium food? Can you leave treats or toys for your pet and will the staff insure that your pet gets them?

15. Is water available all the time? It should be. Make a point to notice the water in the each kennels as you tour the premises. Does it look fresh? Is the water fresh and the bowl clean?

16. What is the cost each day and anticipated total cost and what does that cost include? All kennels expect payment in full for services rendered when you pick-up your dog.

17. Are additional services provided with boarding, like a free grooming on the day of pickup?

Once you have asked all the relevant questions and made a decision about what kennel is best for your pet, there are several additional issues that you will want to address, for instance:

1. If you have left special feeding, treat or medical instructions, make sure that you leave adequate supplies for duration of the dog’s planned stay plus some. That way, should you be held up for any reason, your dog can be properly cared for.

2. Make reservations as far in advance as possible. The best kennels reach capacity quickly, especially on holiday weekends, so you will want to call ahead to insure that they can accommodate your pet.

3. You should provide the kennel with information on how to contact you should an emergency occur. You will also want to provide an alternative contact so that if you are unavailable, the contact can either make decisions for you or insure that you are contacted at the earliest possible time.

4. If you have made arrangements for the kennel to work with your vet, contact your vet and make arrangements with your vet to work with the kennel.

5. Warning: If you choose to leave items for your pet, be aware that dogs that NEVER destroy their toys or blankets at home MAY do so in a kenneling situation. No matter how responsible employees of the kennel are and no matter how well socialized your pet may be and how much it may APPEAR to enjoy going to the kennel, it WILL experience some stress as a result of being separated from its family and familiar surroundings. That stress may cause it to exhibit destructive behavior and result in the destruction of items that it would not normally destroy.

6. If you are unable to pick up your pet as scheduled, make sure to give the kennel a courtesy call and tell them when you can be expected to pick up the pet.