“Throughout the United States and Canada, there are approximately 9,000 boarding kennels offering their services to more than 30,000,000 pet owners annually. Boarding kennels are businesses designed and operated specifically to care for pets, as distinguished from breeding kennels, which are devoted to producing puppies; training kennels, which take in dogs for hunting, protection, and other types of specialized training; and veterinary hospitals, which are designed to care for sick and injured animals. Most boarding kennels provide a variety of pet services such as boarding, grooming, training classes, pet supply sales, and pet shipping. Although the vast majority of boarded pets are dogs and cats, many kennels also offer boarding for horses, birds, reptiles and exotic pets.”
It can be a daunting task to find the right kennel to board your precious pet. Below are five tips to help you successfully begin the search:
- Call and visit a few local kennels. Bring your pet with you, solicit his/her input.
- Ask questions about what’s available to your pet during their stay at the kennel – are they walked, social time, snacks, veterinary services, training, grooming, bathing, etc.
- Ask about the boarding contract and paperwork (shot records, vet records) necessary to board at the kennel of your choice; make sure you have what’s necessary beforehand.
- Keep in mind the kennels hours of operation in making your drop off and pick up planning.
- Keep your check in to the kennel as brief as possible to reduce separation anxiety brought on by long emotional farewells. Always return and pick your pet up on time.
A very thorough article on boarding your pet from Pet MD is available from this link:http://www.the-animal-inn.com/boarding.htm
I prefer to pet-sit in your home, as that is where your dog(s) will feel most comfortable and will not have to adjust to a new environment. This is a newer concept in L.A., but it's what the professionals in New York have been doing for years!
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