Boarding Your Pet for the Holidays

With a season of holidays coming up, many people are planning trips to visit families and friends, and looking forward

"I am not amused," this dog seems to be saying. Boarding a pet is hard on everyone!

to joyous celebrations. Often, though, one member of the family doesn’t get to join in on the party – the family pet. Some people will just load up the dog bed or cat carrier, and take them with, others have friends who are staying put and can care for their pets, but for others, boarding is the only option.

Fortunately, we are blessed with better pet boarding facilities now than ever before. Your pet can enjoy what amounts to a 5-star vacation while you’re away if you choose the right facility! Choosing a boarding facility should be undertaken with care, because not all are created equal. Your beloved pet is going to spend a lot of time there, and you want him to be happy and comfortable, and not overly stressed by the separation. It is important to begin the search now, as many pet boarding facilities, usually the best ones, book up for the holidays well in advance. If you’re at a loss on how to pick the place that would be best for your furry friend, here’s a few tips to help you choose a good one.

Visit the boarding facilities available in your community in person so you can tour the facility, compare services, and experience the way the staff interacts with the animals. Check out the facility’s cleanliness, the layout, and how attentive the staff seems to be to the animals. If the place seems dirty and stinky, don’t even waste your time — your pet deserves better than that!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Here’s a few to get you started:

1. What is the staff to animal ratio? According to the BBB, an optimal ratio is 1 staff member to every 10 to 15 dogs. Cats probably can deal with a larger ratio, but they still need love and interaction, so use your best judgment and find out how much human interaction they get.
2. What does the boarding facility do if there is a medical emergency? Do they use in-house medical staff, take the injured animal to your personal veterinarian, or utilize a third-party veterinarian that provides care for their facility?
3. What vaccinations do they require the pets they board be current on? Most facilities require all the standards, plus Bordetella (Kennel Cough), which is usually only given to animals who are frequently boarded. If you are new to boarding your pet, consult your veterinarian well in advance to make sure all of your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Bordatella vaccines should be administered at least 4 days prior to boarding, and must have been administered within the previous year.
4. How often are the kennels cleaned and the animals exercised? Find out how they are exercised as well. If you’re boarding a dog, are they taken on leash walks? Do they have outside play time? Do they get to play with other dogs? Is the play time merely “supervised” or does the staff interact and play with the dogs? How much time do they get to spend outside playing with staff or other dogs, and how much time are they kept kenneled? If you’re boarding a cat, is there a play area for the cats where staff interacts with and plays with them? How much time is spent interacting with the cats?
5. When and how are the pets fed? Can you request specific foods or provide your own? Most facilities are happy to let you provide the food your pet is accustomed to, but don’t just assume they will.
6. If your pet is on special medications, can they accommodate his needs? Some animals suffer badly from separation anxiety, so you may wish to bring some anti-anxiety supplements to be administered to your pet.

"But I don't wanna!" Make sure the staff at the facility you choose for your cat spends time playing with and interacting with all the animals.

When you visit a boarding facility, use your common sense. Once again, if the place is smelly, seems understaffed, or the accommodations just seem unpleasant, walk away. There are plenty of great boarding facilities out there, and your pet deserves nothing less than a comfortable, fun, clean, and safe place to stay. Make sure you make reservations well in advance. The best places fill up fast.

Finally, before you drop your pet off, don’t make a big fuss. If you get emotional, your pet is going to get upset, and it will be a difficult parting for everyone. Along the same lines, pampering your pooch or kitty the days before you drop him off may seem like a good idea, but it’s just going to make the separation all the harder. You should also consider carefully before leaving her favorite toy or bed with her. Things get shuffled around when the kennels and cages are cleaned, and things do get lost.

Boarding a beloved dog or cat can be traumatizing for everyone involved, but it doesn’t have to be. Find the right boarding facility, and you’ll better enjoy your holiday knowing your pet is happy and well cared for, enjoying a holiday of his or her own.