For pet parents, picking the right pet boarding facility can be almost as difficult as picking the right day care for a child. After all, your pets can’t tell you if they love a place or hate it, so you have to be their eyes and ears while picking a boarding facility. What makes that even more difficult is that a boarding kennel that is great for some pets won’t necessarily be the right pick for other pets. What’s a pet owner to do? At K9 Pet Resorts in Fanwood, New Jersey, we are committed to helping people find the best care options for their pets, even if that means they pick a facility other than ours. Here are our tips for helping you find a great pet boarding facility:
- Is the facility clean? Obviously, pets in unfamiliar environments mean accidents can and will happen, but accidents should be cleaned up promptly and, while the facility might smell like “dog” or “cat” it shouldn’t smell like feces or urine.
- What’s the temperature like? Your indoor pet is used to a temperature-controlled environment, so you want to make sure that the boarding facility is room-temperature.
- Do you like the staff? Even though some pet-people are not people-people, if the staff doesn’t seem patient, knowledgeable, and kind to you, don’t leave your pet there?
- Will cats be housed separately from dogs? Even dog-friendly cats can get anxious around a bunch of new dogs, and some dogs are cat-aggressive. For your feline’s comfort, you want to make sure that cats and dogs are kept separately.
- Are the kennels or cages large enough for your pet?
- Is there an exercise area for the pets? If so, what is the exercise schedule?
- Will your pet have the opportunity to socialize with other pets? If they are given socialization opportunities, what is the protocol for a pet who is intimidated in group-play scenarios?
- How does the kennel handle dietary needs or restrictions?
- Is the kennel affiliated with a veterinarian? If not, what is the protocol for emergency vet care?
- Are all pets required to be current on their vaccinations, and, if so, what vaccinations are required?
