While
kennels range from the very basic to the ultra-modern, keep in mind
that the frills are meant mainly for owners. What is important is
general safety and
the friendliness and competence of the staff.
What to Look For in a Kennel
Visit the kennel before you
decide to board your dog. Most kennels welcome these visits, and
it gives you a chance to see their facilities and ask specific
questions. Your questions should be answered with confidence and
to your satisfaction, so that you will feel comfortable leaving your
pet when you are away. Make sure that the kennel staff
have a basic knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare so that they will
instantly know if your dog is feeling unwell. Proper supervision is the key to a
good facility. Pets should be checked frequently during the day
by someone who is trained to recognize the signs of illness and
distress. Experience and practical knowledge are required to
detect or interpret such symptoms as lethargy (“I thought he was just
sleeping”), severe intestinal disorders (friends or acquaintances
rarely check the backyard for bloody stool),
urinary problems (it is almost impossible to detect blood in the urine
when a pet urinates on grass), loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or
discharge from the eyes or nose. All of these signs can be
significant.
Competent pet care personnel are trained to recognize and evaluate such
signs and to seek veterinary assistance when needed. Therefore,
you
should try to evaluate the competence of the facility’s personnel. Some kennels have veterinarians
either on the premises or working nearby. Find out how sudden
illness is addressed. The kennel's veterinarian may be the one
contacted for treatment,
or it might be your regular veterinarian. If you have a specific
preference, discuss this with the kennel owner. Remember that it
is customary
for you to be financially responsible for any veterinary care required
for
your pet while being boarded.
If your dog is on medication
that is given several times a day, make sure that the kennel personnel
are able to administer it appropriately. Some kennels may not be
able
to give medication as often as your pet requires. If your pet is taking medication,
advise the business operator of the nature of the problem. Many
facilities will not accept animals requiring excessive medication (more
than three
times per day, or nighttime medication, for example) or animals
requiring
potentially dangerous medication (diabetes shots, for example).
Ask
if there is an additional charge for administering the medication.
The kennel should be clean
inside and out and the runs and cages should look and smell clean.
Proper sanitation is one of the most important aspects of
preventing the spread of contagious diseases. Animals that are
currently boarding should be
clean and appear well cared for. Take a look at the area where
the dogs are exercised, it should be clean with the waste material
removed on a regular basis, leaving the area relatively free of fecal
material.
When you are on a trip, your
pet may decide to try to “find” you. Because of this tendency and
because very few homes are designed with pet security in mind, pets can
escape from inexperienced individuals you may have asked to watch your
pet.
Boarding facilities, on the other hand, are designed to prevent
this
type of accident. During your facility visit, look for sturdy,
well-maintained
fencing, gates and dividers between runs. If your dog is a climber,
digger
or some other type of “escape artist,” tell the facility operator so
that
extra precautions, such as wirecovered runs or locks on gates, can be
taken.
Observe fencing height and security in all outdoor play yards.
You
should notify the boarding operators if your dog is a jumper so they
can
ensure proper indoor and outdoor safety is maintained for your pet.
Exercise is important for
each animal, but how much and how often depends on the individual dog's
need and the ability of the kennel to offer these services. Discuss
this
with the kennel. Dogs
should have enough space to enable them to break into a run.
Exercise
time will depend upon the facility’s layout. In some facilities,
dogs
are allowed free access to their own individual exercise runs during
the
day. In such facilities, you may want to make arrangements to
limit
your dog’s exercise time if there is any reason he or she should not be
allowed to exercise at will (an older dog with a heart condition or a
“hyper”
dog that tends to run weight off, for example). Other facilities
use a “time-sharing” method for scheduling exercise. In such
facilities, make sure that the time allowed and the frequency of
exercise periods are adequate for your dog. Find out how often dogs are
walked, and if they are allowed to run free in an enclosed area.
Some kennels will give dogs extra walks or exercise time, but
often at an additional
charge.
Indoors, the boarding
facility should have adequate cage and run sizes, with larger cages for
bigger dogs. Natural light from windows is great, but if not available,
indoor lighting should adequate. The air should circulate well and not
smell stagnant. Proper ventilation will significantly decrease
the risk of disease transmission.
Inquire about the
following:
1. Water: At boarding facilities, individual containers filled
with clean drinking water should be available to each animal.
Water should be checked and changed frequently and all containers
should be disinfected at least once daily.
2. Food: Feeding procedures vary in each pet care facility.
Some facilities supply preferred brands of food, which they serve
to all boarders; however, they usually allow you to bring your pet’s
favorite food if you wish. Other facilities maintain a stock of the
most popular brands and feed whatever you request. Still others
require that you bring your pet’s food with you when you check
in. Determining the business’s policy
and if there are any additional charges for special feeding
arrangements.
3. Temperature
Control: The facility should be able to maintain temperatures
within healthful,
comfortable limits for your pet. If you have an older pet or a
pet
that requires warmer or cooler accommodations than are normally
provided,
determine if special arrangements can be made.
4. Protection from the Elements:
In all types of pet care facilities, exercise areas should provide
shelter from wind, rain, snow and direct sunlight. Outdoor
activities and
exposure should be limited when conditions are extreme. Check for
shade
and shelter, which should always be provided in extremely hot or cold
environments.
5. Ventilation: Good ventilation (no drafts) helps minimize the
spread of airborne bacteria and viruses.
6. Light: Lighting should be at comfortable levels during the
day.
7. Bedding: Find out
what arrangements are made for pet bedding. Some facilities
provide resting platforms, bedding or newspaper. Others require that
you bring bedding from home. Check if there are any restrictions
on owner-provided bedding (wicker beds and feather pillows, for
example, may not be accepted).
8. Sleeping Quarters: As you know from observing your pet, most
of his or her time is spent resting or sleeping. Your facility
should provide a place for this purpose (a primary enclosure). It
should be clean and dry and roomy enough for your pet to stand up
comfortably, turn around easily, and stretch out.
Find out how many
animals are routinely boarded at a single time and the number of staff
taking care of the animals. More people and fewer animals may
mean more attention for the individual animals.
Some boarding facilities
offer grooming services. Consider having your dog groomed the day
he or she is going to go home. It is always nice for your dog to
come
back from the kennel smelling clean, fresh and newly groomed.
Once you have decided on
which kennels make your reservations early: Most boarding
facilities are booked up quickly at holiday peak times. If you
wait until the last minute to make your reservations, you may be
disappointed. As you make your reservations, verify those items
which you should bring with you to
the facility, such as immunization records, special food, medication,
bedding and toys. Make arrangements for
any special services that you wish to have performed while your pet is
at the facility, such as grooming. As you make your reservations,
find out what type of payment arrangements are acceptable (credit
cards,
cash, personal checks, money orders).
Remember that pets, like
people, usually appreciate a holiday in new surroundings with new
friends. Dogs, once they become familiar with their new
surroundings, have a marvelous, exciting time—almost like kids at
summer camp. (If your dog has never been boarded before, you
might consider short, overnight stays at the facility prior to an
extended boarding stay to help him or her get used to boarding.
Every time you return, your dog is less likely to be affected by
separation anxiety and can enjoy the experience more).
Don’t overfeed your pet the
night before he or she goes to the boarding kennels. The extra food is
not really necessary and the result might be an upset stomach.
Finally, because pets sense and reflect our emotions, DO NOT allow any
member of the family to stage an emotional “farewell” scene. Your
pets can be made to feel unnecessarily anxious about the facility visit
if
they are subjected to this kind of dramatic display.
Don’t be surprised if your pet care facility operator asks you to leave
your dog in the office rather than allowing you to place your dog in
his run. This is done so that your dog will see you leave and
will realize that you have entrusted him or her to the care of the
facility staff. It also eliminates the possibility of your dog getting
the erroneous impression that you are placing him in the run to “guard”
it. When dogs get that impression, they sometimes become
aggressive.
Kennel
Requirements
A kennel may require a
health certificate from your veterinarian and proof of your dog's most
recent vaccinations.
Certain kennels have very
specific requirements regarding vaccinations. Check with the
kennel first for which vaccinations are required. The
general vaccinations needed are distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis,
parainfluenza, and parvovirus but check with the kennels in question as
to their vaccination policy prior to boarding. Sometimes, a
letter from your veterinarian will be all that is required. Other
times, additional vaccines may need to be given.
A kennel cough (bordetella) vaccination is a common vaccine required by
kennels that may not be routinely given by your veterinarian. It
is a vaccine that offers protection from bordetella bronchiseptica, a
contagious infection that causes upper respiratory signs (mainly
coughing) in dogs. The vaccine is given either subcutaneous or
intranasally (via the nose). It is usually administered yearly,
but some kennels may additionally require it shortly before boarding.
As a general rule, most
kennels require vaccinations to be given yearly. All dogs
that
are to be boarded should be healthy and free of contagious diseases.
If your dog has a medical problem that is stable or currently
under treatment, let the kennel know prior to boarding to make sure
they are comfortable boarding your dog.
If your dog has fleas or
other external or internal parasites, he or she should be treated prior
to arrival or on admission to the kennel.
What You Should Bring
to The Kennel
If your dog has a special bed
or favorite toy, ask if you can bring them with your pet.
Familiar items from home will make your pet feel more comfortable while
you are away as they contain your personal scent which will help to
relax and comfort your dog whilst you are away.
It is always a good idea to
bring your dog's own food to the kennel. Abrupt changes in food
commonly lead to diarrhea in many animals, especially when they are in
a more stressful environment (i.e. away from home). In dogs that
tend to get diarrhea when stressed, a high fiber diet while boarding
may help. If your dog is on a special diet or has special dietary
needs, make sure the kennel is aware of this, and that they follow your
specific instructions.
Try and leave the kennel
staff several contact numbers so, if needed, the appropriate people can
be contacted in the event of an emergency. Provide the number (if
possible) where you can be reached while you are away. If you are
unavailable, a friend or relative's number should be accessible. This
person should be able to make any emergency decisions if needed.
Discuss your wishes with this
person prior to your leaving. The kennel should also have your
veterinarian's number in case there are medical problems. This is
important if there are any current medical problems with your pet.
If your dog is receiving
medications at home, they should be continued while boarding.
Bring
the medications with you to the kennel, and make sure the kennel is
aware
of the specific problem that is being treated. If you feel it
necessary
provide some relevant background information about the problem.
