Tips for Finding the Best Pet Boarding Facility
When you have pets, leaving town for a few days can be traumatic. Sometime cats can be left alone for a week or so, but in many cases your pet needs to have personal attention and care during the time you’re away. The key to a happy ending is finding a pet boarding facility that is clean and staffed with people who truly care about animals.
Deciding which boarding facility to go with is not a snap decision. You should not make this call based solely on what is closest to home. Perhaps you have some friends who know of a place that is good. In any event, we’ll go over some things you need to look for. Remember, your pet will be in an unfamiliar environment and attention to their needs will be crucial.
Before hiring a given facility, go visit and get a feel for it in person. It is important not to neglect this step. Look around. Is the facility clean? Is there a foul odor in the air over and above the norm? Do the animals boarding there appear to be happy and healthy? Are they kept in sanitary cages?
Do not leave your pet at any facility which does not mandate proof of current vaccinations. This should include a worm check.
It’s pretty common for veterinarians to provide a pet boarding facility as an add-on to their practice. You would think this would be the best choice, but don’t count on it. The boarding is sometime just an afterthought that isn’t given a lot of attention.
Consider this from your pet’s perspective. If you were a cat or dog, how would you feel hanging out in a human hospital for a few days? Hospitals are what they are. They are places for sick and recovering pets. Your pet is probably will not have much fun staying in a veterinary hospital while you are away, nor are they likely to get the care and exercise they need.
Most vet clinics are ill equipped to provide boarding services. The staff in those facilities is typically going to spend most of their time taking care of sick pets, and those awaiting or going through surgery. It is a pretty good bet, if your pet is boarding at such a facility, he will be cared for only after all the pet “patients” have been taken care of.
As you go about evaluating animal boarding facilities, take a look at the routine they follow when allowing the pets outdoors to exercise and run around. The pets should be supervised by a human at all times. Look at the quality and construction of the fencing to make sure it is secure and doesn’t have obvious holes or other damage that a pet could take advantage of and escape.
If you are boarding a cat, they should be contained in an area that is separated well from the dogs. Few things can stress out a normal cat worse than around the clock barking and howling! If you will be boarding a dog, be certain to find out how he will be cared for. How often will he be fed? Will he have regular outdoor play time? Will they give him his own healthy dog food that you bring from home?
One last thing to consider when visiting and evaluating a pet boarding facility – watch the staff and see how they interact with the animals. To do this job well, one must love animals and have a tremendous amount of patience with them. Not everyone is gifted with this ability. If the people working directly with the pets are impatient and unfriendly with them while you’re there, think of how they must act when you leave.
Take enough time to visit different places and evaluate your options. Pick the one you feel will best serve your pet’s needs while you are away.
Choosing a good pet boarding facility is one great way to be a responsible pet owner. Find out more and get the inside scoop on keeping your pets healthy and happy!
categories: pet boarding,kennel,veterinarian,veterinary hospital,pets,animals,cats,dogs,home,family
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