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.
All in all, picking a place to board your pet is a serious decision. Unless you know someone personally or have decent referrals, it's hard to know where to go. The best choice is a place where you know your pet will be well taken care of and content. Since many house pets tend to do poorly in strange surroundings, finding a place that will meet their needs and keep them reasonably happy is especially challenging.
The best thing to do is visit any boarding facility you're considering. Ask for a quick tour and keep your eyes open. Observe how the pets are treated, check the cleanliness, and in general get a feel for how well the pets and the facility are maintained. Are the floors nasty? Is there a bad odor over and above what you'd expect?
Make sure that the boarding operation requires all pets to have up to date vaccinations. A worm check should also be required.
Some veterinarians offer a pet boarding facility as part of their practice. One thing may come as a surprise to you, however. A veterinary hospital might be a less than ideal choice for boarding your pet, unless they have a dedicated staff and facility just for performing this service.
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.
Veterinary clinics in general are not set up to do a good job of boarding pets. Their staff is dedicated primarily to attending sick animals, and they are often highly stressed and overworked. Your healthy pet boarding in such a facility is more likely to just be left sitting in a small cage for extended periods.
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.
If you are thinking of boarding a cat at a place that also keeps dogs, make sure these two are kept apart. Each one stresses the other, and it is not a good environment for either. Make sure to find out how often any pet you leave will be fed, exercised, and attended to. There should be a routine or schedule of these activities.
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. - 29956
All in all, picking a place to board your pet is a serious decision. Unless you know someone personally or have decent referrals, it's hard to know where to go. The best choice is a place where you know your pet will be well taken care of and content. Since many house pets tend to do poorly in strange surroundings, finding a place that will meet their needs and keep them reasonably happy is especially challenging.
The best thing to do is visit any boarding facility you're considering. Ask for a quick tour and keep your eyes open. Observe how the pets are treated, check the cleanliness, and in general get a feel for how well the pets and the facility are maintained. Are the floors nasty? Is there a bad odor over and above what you'd expect?
Make sure that the boarding operation requires all pets to have up to date vaccinations. A worm check should also be required.
Some veterinarians offer a pet boarding facility as part of their practice. One thing may come as a surprise to you, however. A veterinary hospital might be a less than ideal choice for boarding your pet, unless they have a dedicated staff and facility just for performing this service.
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.
Veterinary clinics in general are not set up to do a good job of boarding pets. Their staff is dedicated primarily to attending sick animals, and they are often highly stressed and overworked. Your healthy pet boarding in such a facility is more likely to just be left sitting in a small cage for extended periods.
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.
If you are thinking of boarding a cat at a place that also keeps dogs, make sure these two are kept apart. Each one stresses the other, and it is not a good environment for either. Make sure to find out how often any pet you leave will be fed, exercised, and attended to. There should be a routine or schedule of these activities.
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. - 29956
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Choosing a reputable pet boarding facility is one excellent way to be a responsible pet owner. Learn more and get the inside scoop on keeping your pets healthy and happy!
