When you have pets, leaving town for a few days can be traumatic. Sometime cats can be left alone for a week or so, but in many cases your pet needs to have personal attention and care during the time you're away. The key to a happy ending is finding a pet boarding facility that is clean and staffed with people who truly care about animals.
Deciding which boarding facility to go with is not a snap decision. You should not make this call based solely on what is closest to home. Perhaps you have some friends who know of a place that is good. In any event, we'll go over some things you need to look for. Remember, your pet will be in an unfamiliar environment and attention to their needs will be crucial.
Before hiring a given facility, go visit and get a feel for it in person. It is important not to neglect this step. Look around. Is the facility clean? Is there a foul odor in the air over and above the norm? Do the animals boarding there appear to be happy and healthy? Are they kept in sanitary cages?
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 you are visiting different facilities, see if the animals are monitored and kept safe and secure while exercising or playing outdoors. They should not be left in any enclosed area without supervision for long periods of time. Observe all fencing and make sure it looks secure, with no holes or "easy to dig out" places at the bottom.
A couple of notes regarding boarding cats and dogs. Cats should be kept in a separate area from dogs. Having barking dogs nearby will stress your cat out totally and is not recommended. For all animals, check to see what sort of schedule they will be on. How often will they be fed? Will there be frequent exercise and play time? Can you provide your pet's own food for them?
One last thing to consider when visiting and evaluating a pet boarding facility - watch the staff and see how they interact with the animals. To do this job well, one must love animals and have a tremendous amount of patience with them. Not everyone is gifted with this ability. If the people working directly with the pets are impatient and unfriendly with them while you're there, think of how they must act when you leave.
Choosing the best place to board your pets is important. Don't neglect to do your homework thoroughly on this.
Deciding which boarding facility to go with is not a snap decision. You should not make this call based solely on what is closest to home. Perhaps you have some friends who know of a place that is good. In any event, we'll go over some things you need to look for. Remember, your pet will be in an unfamiliar environment and attention to their needs will be crucial.
Before hiring a given facility, go visit and get a feel for it in person. It is important not to neglect this step. Look around. Is the facility clean? Is there a foul odor in the air over and above the norm? Do the animals boarding there appear to be happy and healthy? Are they kept in sanitary cages?
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 you are visiting different facilities, see if the animals are monitored and kept safe and secure while exercising or playing outdoors. They should not be left in any enclosed area without supervision for long periods of time. Observe all fencing and make sure it looks secure, with no holes or "easy to dig out" places at the bottom.
A couple of notes regarding boarding cats and dogs. Cats should be kept in a separate area from dogs. Having barking dogs nearby will stress your cat out totally and is not recommended. For all animals, check to see what sort of schedule they will be on. How often will they be fed? Will there be frequent exercise and play time? Can you provide your pet's own food for them?
One last thing to consider when visiting and evaluating a pet boarding facility - watch the staff and see how they interact with the animals. To do this job well, one must love animals and have a tremendous amount of patience with them. Not everyone is gifted with this ability. If the people working directly with the pets are impatient and unfriendly with them while you're there, think of how they must act when you leave.
Choosing the best place to board your pets is important. Don't neglect to do your homework thoroughly on this.
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