How To Choose The Best Boarding Facility for Your Pet
This past holiday season did you turn down invitations to visit far away friends and family because you didn't know where to board your pet? During the rest of the year most pet owners never consider boarding their pets anywhere until the holiday season encroaches. By then it's either too late - the facility is already full; or the pet owner cannot decide which facility would be best suited for their pet.
Pet boarding has become a very lucrative business over the past years. This has lead to increased competitions amongst the pet boarding facilities, which has ultimately lead to higher quality pet care. Make a list of the pet boarding facilities in your area and schedule a tour of each one.
Accreditation
An organization that rates and accredits pet boarding facilities nationwide is the Pet Care Services Association. Various pet sitting and boarding services pay membership dues to have their facilities routinely inspected. By becoming accredited, these pet sitting and boarding services have proven their participation with the Association's rules and regulations and have received industry specific training. Look for a certificate of accreditation hanging in the lobby of the pet boarding facility.
Reputation
Find out if the facility is registered with the Better Business Bureau and research the facility online to see if it has received any negative feedback from previous pet owners. If you still like the facility but the negative feedback is holding you back, talk to the owners or managers about what you've found.
Location
Obviously the location of the boarding facility will weigh immensely on your decision. It will need to be close enough to your home so that you will be able to easily pick up and drop off your pet without having to deal with too much traffic, road construction or driving out of your way.
Safety
Make sure that the pet boarding facility is in a safe location away from heavy traffic and noises. The perimeter should be securely fenced to prevent any pet escapees. What is the sign-in process like? How are pets identified? What other security measures are in place?
Staff
As a pet owner and animal lover yourself, it is very easy to detect whether someone is an animal lover or not. Do you feel that the staff is pet friendly? Do they know about your specific breed of pet? Feel free to ask the staff if they have had any specific certification or education in pet care.
Another important question to ask is if there will be somebody on staff around the clock, or if the pets will be left unattended overnight.
If your pet injures himself whilst in their care, will the staff take your pet to a vet immediately? Or will there be a veterinarian on call?
Facilities
Any pet boarding facility that you tour should appear clean and fresh. If you are not sure about a particular facility, visit it again during a different time of day. A good facility should have adequate heating and cooling with plenty of light and ventilation.
Find out if each dog will have their own separate kennel, and if you have two or more dogs, if they will be able to stay together in a larger kennel? Each dog should have a soft, comfortable and clean bed or blanket to lie on.
Ask to see where the dogs are allowed to run around and play. Is it inside or outside? If its outside look to see if there is any shelter available from the rain and the sun. Observe the dogs currently boarding to see if they appear happy and carefree.
Remember to ask if you will be able to bring in your dog's favorite food and toys. Some establishments prefer to feed a house brand of pet food and have restrictions on the type of toys allowed in.
Photo Credit: NatalieMaynor
Pet boarding has become a very lucrative business over the past years. This has lead to increased competitions amongst the pet boarding facilities, which has ultimately lead to higher quality pet care. Make a list of the pet boarding facilities in your area and schedule a tour of each one.
Accreditation
An organization that rates and accredits pet boarding facilities nationwide is the Pet Care Services Association. Various pet sitting and boarding services pay membership dues to have their facilities routinely inspected. By becoming accredited, these pet sitting and boarding services have proven their participation with the Association's rules and regulations and have received industry specific training. Look for a certificate of accreditation hanging in the lobby of the pet boarding facility.
Reputation
Find out if the facility is registered with the Better Business Bureau and research the facility online to see if it has received any negative feedback from previous pet owners. If you still like the facility but the negative feedback is holding you back, talk to the owners or managers about what you've found.
Location
Obviously the location of the boarding facility will weigh immensely on your decision. It will need to be close enough to your home so that you will be able to easily pick up and drop off your pet without having to deal with too much traffic, road construction or driving out of your way.
Safety
Make sure that the pet boarding facility is in a safe location away from heavy traffic and noises. The perimeter should be securely fenced to prevent any pet escapees. What is the sign-in process like? How are pets identified? What other security measures are in place?
Staff
As a pet owner and animal lover yourself, it is very easy to detect whether someone is an animal lover or not. Do you feel that the staff is pet friendly? Do they know about your specific breed of pet? Feel free to ask the staff if they have had any specific certification or education in pet care.
Another important question to ask is if there will be somebody on staff around the clock, or if the pets will be left unattended overnight.
If your pet injures himself whilst in their care, will the staff take your pet to a vet immediately? Or will there be a veterinarian on call?
Facilities
Any pet boarding facility that you tour should appear clean and fresh. If you are not sure about a particular facility, visit it again during a different time of day. A good facility should have adequate heating and cooling with plenty of light and ventilation.
Find out if each dog will have their own separate kennel, and if you have two or more dogs, if they will be able to stay together in a larger kennel? Each dog should have a soft, comfortable and clean bed or blanket to lie on.
Ask to see where the dogs are allowed to run around and play. Is it inside or outside? If its outside look to see if there is any shelter available from the rain and the sun. Observe the dogs currently boarding to see if they appear happy and carefree.
Remember to ask if you will be able to bring in your dog's favorite food and toys. Some establishments prefer to feed a house brand of pet food and have restrictions on the type of toys allowed in.
Photo Credit: NatalieMaynor
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