It goes without saying that you shouldn’t just leave your pet anywhere. Unfortunately, even the licensed boarding facilities aren’t created equal. We’ve scoured through the worst reviews and heartbreaking stories to help you keep your pets safe and teach you how to choose a boarding facility.
Check Reviews
Yes, we want you to listen to the talk on the town. Before you take your four-legged friends to a boarding facility you need to check what other people have said. Major social media platforms like Facebook often have the option to leave reviews, so read all of them - the good and the bad. The good reviews will often give you a look into the services that the facility performs well and the bad will tell you whether it is worth it to look elsewhere. You’ll also want to dig deeper than the reviews will often share to find out more about the inside of the facility.. The side people don’t usually see.
Inquire About The Space
One of the most important things when boarding is actually the facility itself. What kind of space will your pet have? Will they have the ability to go outside to relieve themselves, or will they be left waiting to be let out? It costs much more to build a facility that allows dogs the freedom to go outside when they need to, so most places don’t do it. There are many health risks that are possible when pets are not able to eliminate. Not being able to eliminate when needed causes UTI’s, constipation, diarrhea, and discomfort. Another question to ask is if siblings can board in a large run together. If the facility is large and there is a play yard, are there staff members present at all times to ensure the safety of all animals? Is the facility climate controlled? What kind of cleaning products are used? Bleach and other household cleaning products are extremely dangerous for animals.
Ask About Protocol
It is best to be leery about facilities that don’t have a veterinarian present. If your veterinarian offers to board, that is often the safest choice for your pet. At the very least you want to make sure a staff member is present at all times. You never want pets to be left to play together unsupervised nor for the pets to be left locked up for hours at a time without access to an area to use the bathroom. Make sure to ask whether the facility has a veterinarian on call if an emergency situation arises and what the protocol is for you to be contacted if the problem involves your pet.
Our pets are our best friends and we always want their best interests kept in mind. So if you can, take your pups with you and visit some of the pet-friendly eateries on the list we put together in our last blog post. No one can keep your babies as safe as you can!