If you cannot get your pet a pet sitter or want a professional to take care of your dog, the best option is to send him to a boarding facility. In the said boarding facility, your pet is expected to receive daily feedings, exercise, and care from the facility’s trained staff.
The rates for a dog boarding facility can range within $15 to $30 a night. The prices can get higher depending on the added services, size of the pet, and the boarding facility’s location. When you shop for a facility for your dog, make sure to ask for the boarding school’s price list since some schools may charge you extra for personal care such as walking the dog on a leash and administering medication.
According to Dr Kimberly May of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), when visiting a boarding facility, inquire about services such as entry requirements, sleeping accommodations, vaccination requirements, meals, baths, and exercise times. Make sure to also ask about the kennel’s policies and ways of taking care of the animals. Take time also to ask where they keep the animals.
Be wary of the common red flags
The most obvious red flags that you should be wary about are high noise levels and filthy kennels. Another red flag is pet carers who seem to be uncaring or aggressive towards animals. Another warning is a facility that is not positive with your request for a kennel tour. Tours that need to be scheduled can be a yellow or red flag. If the facility is not willing to take tours on a walk-in basis, what can they possibly be hiding? You are there to look around and see how they go through their day-to-day activities. This means that you will be observing what is already established. There is no need for them to stage a tour to show you that it is the best kennel you can ever send your dog to. Tour the dog boarding facility early in the morning. This is your best chance to see it at its worst and busiest.
Paperwork required
In most kennels, the required paperwork includes your pet’s medical information, pet age, your contact information, your dog’s vaccination records, feeding instructions, emergency contacts, medication, and boarding contract.
The moment you have already decided on a boarding facility, bring your pet over and see how he reacts in the kennel. Through this, you can find out how your pet will handle this new environment, and you can remedy any concerns before you leave the facility.
To keep your pet at ease, bring him a familiar toy or something that will remind him of your home if you can bring something that smells like you, the better. This can help your dog feel more familiar in a new environment.
Be positive
Be excited about your dog. Show your enthusiasm and talk positively about how your dog is going on his vacation. Your pet will surely reflect your emotions. This simple act can help the dog feel more at ease as he separates from you.
Boarding facilities offer different options for checking your pet while you are not with him. These options may include real-time updates through the kennel’s official website, live webcams, emailed photos, or social media pages. There are even kennels that allow you to access your pet 24/7 through a webcam. Some pet owners feel like they are sending their family member or child away to a boarding school when they are sent to a kennel. If you are one of these pet owners, you will have peace of mind if you know in your heart that you sent him to the best boarding school you can ever find. So, take time to choose your pet’s kennel and let him have fun while you are away.
