Whether your animal friend is a loyal dog, or perhaps a finicky cat that requires special care, it can be difficult locating a good place for them to stay when you head out for vacation. If you don't have the luxury of acquaintances or relatives who can visit your pet at home every day, you will have to find a suitable pet boarding facility.
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?
When checking out a facility, ask if they require current vaccinations. They should. If they don't, keep shopping until you find one that does.
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.
Look at it this way. How would your cat enjoy staying in a hospital environment? Vet hospitals are designed to care for sick pets, with the surroundings to match. Your cat is not likely to get much thought or individual attention in a place like this.
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.
While checking out various facilities, observe whether the pets are being watched while outdoors. In some places, animals are simply let out to play and are loosely supervised. This is not good. Check the fence wire and gates to make sure they are strong and designed to securely contain the animals.
A couple of notes regarding boarding cats and dogs. Cats should be kept in a separate area from dogs. Having barking dogs nearby will stress your cat out totally and is not recommended. For all animals, check to see what sort of schedule they will be on. How often will they be fed? Will there be frequent exercise and play time? Can you provide your pet's own food for them?
Before you leave your animal at any pet boarding facility, observe how the people working there handle the pets. Do they seem to love the animals, and show compassion and patience? This isn't the easiest job, and not everyone is suited for it. Take your gut feeling into account here - will they be good to your pet?
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.
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?
When checking out a facility, ask if they require current vaccinations. They should. If they don't, keep shopping until you find one that does.
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.
Look at it this way. How would your cat enjoy staying in a hospital environment? Vet hospitals are designed to care for sick pets, with the surroundings to match. Your cat is not likely to get much thought or individual attention in a place like this.
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.
While checking out various facilities, observe whether the pets are being watched while outdoors. In some places, animals are simply let out to play and are loosely supervised. This is not good. Check the fence wire and gates to make sure they are strong and designed to securely contain the animals.
A couple of notes regarding boarding cats and dogs. Cats should be kept in a separate area from dogs. Having barking dogs nearby will stress your cat out totally and is not recommended. For all animals, check to see what sort of schedule they will be on. How often will they be fed? Will there be frequent exercise and play time? Can you provide your pet's own food for them?
Before you leave your animal at any pet boarding facility, observe how the people working there handle the pets. Do they seem to love the animals, and show compassion and patience? This isn't the easiest job, and not everyone is suited for it. Take your gut feeling into account here - will they be good to your pet?
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.
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