Preparing For
Boarding Your Pet 1. Make your reservations early: Most kennels are
booked up on holidays and during vacation times. If you wait until
the last minute to make your reservations, you may be disappointed.
As you make your reservations, verify those items which you should
bring with you to the kennel (immunization records, special food,
medication, bedding, and toys). Make arrangements for any special
services that you wish to have performed while your pet is in the
kennel (grooming, training, or shipping). As you make your reservations,
find out what type of payment arrangements are acceptable (credit
cards, personal checks, money orders).
2. Prepare your pet for boarding: Remember that pets, like
people, usually appreciate a vacation in new surroundings with new
friends. Dogs, once they become familiar with their new surroundings,
have a marvelous, exciting time, almost like kids at summer camp.
(If your dog has never been boarded before, you might consider short,
overnight stays at the kennel prior to an extended boarding stay to
help him or her get used to boarding. Every time you return your dog
is less likely to affected by "separation anxiety" and can
enjoy boarding more.) As a rule, kittens take to boarding easily and
have a wonderful time. Adult cats usually display a very nonchalant
attitude towards boarding and prefer to sit quietly and observe the
daily kennel routine. They don't seem inclined to make new feline
friends or participate in group play, but seem content to rest, eat,
make friends with the help and purr. Make sure that all immunizations
are current (and have immunization records, if your kennel requires
them). Don't overfeed your pet right before going to the kennel. The
extra food is not really necessary and the result might be an upset
stomach. Finally, because pets sense and reflect our emotions, DO
NOT allow any member of the family to stage an emotional 'farewell'
scene. Your pets can be made to feel unnecessarily anxious about the
kennel visit if they are subjected to this kind of dramatic display. 3.
Check in during business hours: Bring all agreed upon medications,
etc. Make sure that medications list the prescription number and name
of the pharmacy so the kennel can obtain a refill if your return is
unexpectedly delayed. Allow enough time in the kennel office to fill
out the necessary paperwork. The kennel needs to know such things
as: name, address, phone number, return date, additional services
requested, where you can be reached in case of an emergency, the name
of a local contact, your veterinarian's name and phone number, special
feeding instructions (if any), medication instructions, etc. If your
pet has any special problems which are not covered on the check-in
forms, such as fear of thunder, epilepsy, or deafness, point them
out to your kennel operator. All of this information helps your kennel
take better care of your pet, especially if there is any type of emergency
requiring special action. (And this is what professional care is all
about. Anyone can feed your pet, as long as nothing goes wrong. But
what you want for your pet is supervision by someone who can assess
and respond properly to emergencies). Don't be surprised if your kennel
operator asks you to leave your dog in the kennel office, rather than
allowing you to place your dog in his run. This is done so that your
dog will see you leave and will realize that you have entrusted him
or her to the care of the kennel operator. It also eliminates the
possibility of your dog getting the erroneous impression that you
are placing him in the run to "guard" it. When dogs get
that impression, they sometimes become aggressive.
4. Relax and enjoy your trip: Remember that you are leaving
your pet in the hands of capable professionals. Pets in the kennel
probably receive more care and attention than they would at home.
• Click
here for the Yellow Pages list of Indianapolis Kennels.
Evaluating
a Kennel
After finding your local kennels, you can determine the one to use
by: 1. Telephoning the kennel. Call to see if the kennel
can accommodate your pet. During peak times such as the Christmas
season and summer vacations, many kennels are booked up and cannot
accept your pet. Also, because some pets require special handling
or accommodations (very young puppies, animals on special medication
or feeding schedules, or giant breeds, for example), all kennels may
not accept them. While you are on the phone, make an appointment to
visit the kennel. 2. Making a personal visit to the kennel: A personal
visit is essential to determine whether the kennel will be satisfactory.
During your visit, observe or ask about the following:
General appearance of the kennel proper: Following
regular daily clean-up procedures, the kennel should look (and smell)
neat and clean. Kennel operators are proud of their kennels and like
to show them off, but some of them do not permit visitors in areas
where animals are housed. There are two key reasons for establishing
a "No Visitors" policy. First, some dogs react unpredictably
to strangers. (They become excessively fearful or aggressive.) As
a result, the presence of strangers in the kennel can cause such dogs
to injure themselves or develop intestinal problems. Second, visitors
do not follow the same stringent disinfecting procedures used by kennel
personnel, and can transport contagious agents (bacteria, viruses)
into the kennel. However, kennels with a "No Visitors" policy
should provide you some type of viewing window, so that you can see
where your pet will be staying.
In visiting your local kennels, you will observe that there are several
types of kennel designs currently in use. Some kennels have indoor/outdoor
runs; some have totally enclosed facilities; and some house pets inside,
but utilize outside exercise areas. Each of these designs has its
own advantages, and you should ask the kennel operator to explain
the advantages of the system in use at that kennel.
Security: When you are on a trip, your pet may decide
to try to "find" you. Because of this tendency, and because
very few homes are designed with pet security in mind, pets can escape
from inexperienced individuals who might be asked to watch your pet.
Boarding kennels, on the other hand, are designed to prevent this
kind of accident. During your kennel visit, look for sturdy, well-maintained
fencing, gates and dividers between runs. If your dog is a climber,
digger or some other type of "escape artist" tell the kennel
operator so that extra precautions can be taken (wire covered runs,
locks on gates, etc.). Cats always require covered facilities.
Safety: Kennels areas where your pet will stay should
be free of sharp objects, harmful chemicals and objects your pet might
swallow. Primary enclosures (sleeping quarters) should provide solid
dividers between your pet and the other boarders, both for reasons
of safety and so that your pet will be able to relax and sleep without
feeling challenged by his or her neighbors. Exercise areas should
include barriers between runs high enough to prevent male dogs from
urinating into adjacent runs. Surfaces should offer good traction
even when wet. Firefighting equipment should be readily available.
Supervision: Proper supervision is the key to good
boarding. Pets should be checked frequently during the day by someone
who is trained to recognize the signs of illness and distress. Experience
and practical knowledge are required to detect or interpret such symptoms
as lethargy ("I thought he was just sleeping"), severe intestinal
disorders (friends or acquaintances rarely check the backyard for
bloody stool), urinary problems (it is almost impossible to detect
blood in urine when pets urinate on grass), loss of appetite, coughing,
sneezing, or discharges from the eyes or nose. Yet, all of these signs
can be significant. Competent kennel personnel are trained to recognize
and evaluate such signs and to seek veterinary assistance when needed.
Therefore, you should try to evaluate the competence of the kennel
personnel.
One good indication that the kennel operator is keeping abreast of
the latest developments in pet care is his or her ABKA membership.
Check for a current ABKA membership plaque on the office wall. If
your kennel operator has been awarded the CKO (Certified Kennel Operator)
designation by ABKA, it means that his or her competence and ethical
fitness have been acknowledged publicly by the Association. If the
CKO plaque has been awarded, it will be displayed proudly along with
the kennel's ABKA membership certificate. Accredited kennels will
display a certificate which attests to the fact that the kennel has
been inspected and accredited by ABKA, and has met over 200 standards
of excellence.
Sanitation: The kennel should be free of dirt, fecal
accumulation, odors and parasite infestation (flies, fleas, ticks).
There should be a strict schedule of disinfecting with effective chemicals.
Note: Since 1978, there have been worldwide outbreaks of an intestinal
disease called canine parvovirus. This disease is spread when dogs
come into contact with a contaminated surface (clothing, shoes, grass,
carpeting, etc.). New vaccines are now available to combat this disease,
but until the dog population develops immunity to the disease, it
will remain a potential problem. Several professional disinfectants,
including bleach at a 1:30 solution are effective against parvo virus.
Therefore, if there have been any reports of parvovirus disease in
your area, your kennel should be using one of these products for routine
disinfecting, in addition to requiring the immunizations.
Health care: Inquire about the following:
1. Water: Individual containers filled with clean drinking water should
be available to each animal.
2. Food: Feeding procedures vary from kennel to kennel. Some kennels
supply preferred brands of feed, which they serve to all boarders.
However, they usually allow you to bring your pet's favorite food,
if you wish. Other kennels maintain a stock of the most popular brands,
and feed whatever you request. Still others require that you bring
your pet's food when you check in. Determine the kennel's policy,
and if there are any additional charges for special feeding arrangements.
3. Veterinary services: Ask about the procedure for obtaining veterinary
service, if required. Some kennels retain a veterinarian on the premises.
Others prefer to use your pet's veterinarian so that there will be
a continuity of care. Remember that it is customary (and responsible)
for you to be financially responsible for any veterinary care required
for your pet while it is being boarded.
4. Immunization requirements: Dogs should be immunized against rabies,
distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHLPP),
and bordetella. Cats should be vaccinated against rabies, panleukopenia
or distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, calici virus, and pneumonitis
(FVRCPP).
5. Medication policies and procedures: If your pet is taking medication,
advise the kennel operator of the nature of the problem and the type
and frequency of medication. Many kennels will not accept animals
requiring excessive medication (more than three times per day, or
nighttime medication, for example) or animals requiring potentially
dangerous medication (diabetes shots, for example). Remember, it is
essential that heartworm preventative medication be continued during
boarding, if your dog is presently taking such medication. Inquire
whether the kennel provides such medication, or if you should bring
a supply. Ask if there is an additional charge for medicating.
6. Parasite control: If you live in an area in which fleas and /or
ticks are a problem, your kennel should utilize procedures for controlling
these parasites (pre-entry examinations for boarders, sprays, dips,
etc.).
3.
Check in during business hours: Bring all agreed upon medications,
etc. Make sure that medications list the prescription number and name
of the pharmacy so the kennel can obtain a refill if your return is
unexpectedly delayed. Allow enough time in the kennel office to fill
out the necessary paperwork. The kennel needs to know such things
as: name, address, phone number, return date, additional services
requested, where you can be reached in case of an emergency, the name
of a local contact, your veterinarian's name and phone number, special
feeding instructions (if any), medication instructions, etc. If your
pet has any special problems which are not covered on the check-in
forms, such as fear of thunder, epilepsy, or deafness, point them
out to your kennel operator. All of this information helps your kennel
take better care of your pet, especially if there is any type of emergency
requiring special action. (And this is what professional care is all
about. Anyone can feed your pet, as long as nothing goes wrong. But
what you want for your pet is supervision by someone who can assess
and respond properly to emergencies). Don't be surprised if your kennel
operator asks you to leave your dog in the kennel office, rather than
allowing you to place your dog in his run. This is done so that your
dog will see you leave and will realize that you have entrusted him
or her to the care of the kennel operator. It also eliminates the
possibility of your dog getting the erroneous impression that you
are placing him in the run to "guard" it. When dogs get
that impression, they sometimes become aggressive.
