If you are planning to board your pet while you are away on holiday, there are a few things you need to check before you go. One of the first things you need to look into is that your pet is up to date with their vaccinations. If they are due for boosters, make sure this is done weeks in advance of booking them into the kennels or cattery. Check with the boarding place as to their policies regarding vaccinations to ensure they are done in good time.
Choose a good boarding facility for your pet. Some of the factors that you should look into before boarding your pet with a facility include:
- Size of the housing for individual animals and groups
- Do the pets have adequate natural light?
- Are the kennels overcrowded and noisy?
- Are they allowed out to exercise during the day?
- How many animals are boarded at any time? Less animals, the quieter and calmer it is likely to be
- Do the kennels smell hygienic or is there a bad smell?
- Is there enough ventilation?
- Are the staff and owners polite and friendly?
- Are the facilities recommended by others?
- Did they inform you of their policies regarding vaccination? Unvaccinated animals can result in spread of disease and vaccination is a legal requirement.
- Find out if you provide your own food or if they provide the meals for the animals.
- Can they give your dog a special diet if you provide the food (if needed)?
- Can they administer medication of this is required?
- What support structure do they have in place in case of an emergency?
If your pet has health problems or needs a special diet, you need to inform the kennel prior to booking. Some places do not have the ability or facilities to deal with pets that have health conditions. If they are able to administer medication ensure that you note the name of the medication, dosage and frequency for each medication to avoid errors. Ensure you send enough medication to allow for accidental spills or extended stays. The kennel should also be able to reach you while you are away in the event that your pet may need to see a vet while you are away.
The best facilities will be calm and relaxed and have well trained helpful staff. They should have a high standard of hygiene and effective methods in place for dealing with emergencies.
Book a consultation if you need to have vaccinations done prior to your pet going into boarding facilities.
There are a number of good boarding facilities in the areas. For your convenience, here are two of the facilities available in the area: