Needing the services of good kennels or catteries can be for many reasons and you will want to be sure that you have secured good pet boarding. Most loving pet owners don’t want to chose or vet a kennels or cattery - they’d rather keep their pets with them. However, sometimes needs must.

The kennel or catteries search

In searching for a suitable kennel or cattery; what is the caring owner looking for? They will want to vet kennels or catteries carefully. Obviously no one wants to return to a pet that has been traumatised. For most pets, being away from their owner in a strange place is trauma enough.

Considering the worst: can the kennels or cattery selected cope with illness or injury? Does it have an in-house vet, or access to vets via a veterinary surgery?

Keep it bright so vets can see

Kennels should be bright, clean and spacious. A night time bedding area and an outside run should be sought. Kennels may have enclosures that range in size to allow families of dogs to be kept together during their stay. If you feel your pet boarding will feel more at home with their own toys/bedding, are you welcome to supply them? Happy pets will eat, play, stay well and have fun!

Many kennels may provide for cats and other small animal boarding as well as dogs. Such a kennel might be better called a ‘kennels and cattery’, but then, if they also welcome other pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and small birds, then the name, ‘kennels, cattery, pet boarding and general animal boarding,’ doesn’t really trip off the tongue. Catteries tend towards just looking after cats.

After the questions about the facilities and dog boarding, does your chosen kennels really care for your pet as much as you? The caring owner vets any kennels or catteries carefully.

No one wants a veterinary bill!

Is a kennels a holiday for your pet? ‘Pet hotels’ do exist, but the aim should be pet boarding safely in a healthy, clean and protected environment. You don’t want to come home to a large veterinary bill.

After your pet’s health (vet/veterinary service etc.) - what conditions will they be kept while you are away? Is the kennel or pen cramped? Does your pet receive adequate attention? Can they entertain your dog? Boarding for pets is tricky to vet. Dog boarding is about more than just feeding dogs.

The kennel you choose will be for your pet - not an animal. Do the kennels or cattery have animal carers, rather than minders; providing individual care and stimulus for your pet? Knowing vets alone can’t maintain the health of your pet, are they exercised? Do they have the facilities to allow dogs to run and cats play. Can pet birds stretch their wings? Do rabbits sit still in a wire-faced hutch all day?

Animal boarding - can you have too many? Sorry, that should have been ‘hoarding’

Is the pet boarding fed to the specific requirements of the owner? Are staff qualified to administer medication if required. Is a dog boarding there walked regularly, and if so, is it an enclosed paddock, where they can roam freely, or play; whichever is their preference. Do they have puppy or kitten care available? Are they insured? Be wary of insurance that covers third parties against the actions of your pet. A good kennels or cattery ought not allow your pet to interact with non-staff - except vets...

Vet well, choose well

If you make a phone enquiry in the first instance, will they allow you to come and look at the kennels? Some may openly encourage visits to their kennels or cattery so that prospective customers may see firsthand the facilities offered. A caring owner will jump at the chance to vet a kennels or cattery for themselves. Check animal boarding guests already being kept to see if they look happy and settled. Dogs there will initially bark as you walk in, but this should settle quickly in a well run kennels as stress levels will be low.

Questions, questions, questions! But as any loving pet owner will tell you - nothing can be too good for them.