Looking for a Home Away from Home

Planning, packing, and traveling during a vacation take up enough of your family’s time. For families with four-legged kids, the process has a few extra steps. The search for a quality boarding facility for your dog may take as much care and attention as the search for a hotel with a beachfront view.

Ira Roth, D.V.M., had a private veterinary practice in Albany, Ga., for 23 years. Currently, he is the community practice director at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary medicine. His experience as a veterinarian who also boarded dogs at his business did not make it any easier for him to leave his dog at a kennel when he had to leave town.

“I can remember [leaving] my own dog the first time, it was traumatic for me,” Dr. Roth said.

When a dog is a member of the family, leaving her in the care of just anyone isn’t an option. Taking the right steps to find good boarding for your dogs can make separation easier for everyone.

Preparing for Your Trip

Finding a good kennel or doggy daycare may seem like a daunting task, but doing a little research will make the process much easier.

1) Ask for recommendations.

Roth advises calling other pet owners for recommendations. You know people whose judgment you can trust, and those experienced with kennels will have good information. Getting guidance from people who want to take care of their pets as much as you do will be helpful.

2) Get acquainted with the locations.

“Come up with a list of questions because any prospective boarding client needs to know where they’re taking their pet for boarding,” said Donnie Langley, who is the hospital manager for Village Vets in Decatur, Ga.

Knowing what you want to ask before contacting the kennel will reduce the chance you might forget something important. It will also reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises when you drop your pet off or come back to pick her up. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Find out what kinds of services the kennel provides, what the hours of operation are, what kind of area your dog will be spending the day in, and what the staff will do in an emergency.

One of the big differences between locations will be where your pet sleeps. Some places use cages, but other facilities use runs. Runs are enclosed areas, significantly bigger than cages, and can be several feet long and wide. They allow for more mobility for larger dogs.

The boarding facility will be more than a place for your dog to sleep, so find out what other care services are provided.

Amanda Rodriguez is the owner of Pawtropolis, a boarding facility in Athens, Ga., that also offers daycare services.

“Look for places that allow your dogs to have different kinds of activity,” Rodriguez said. She said that places providing mental stimulation to keep your dog occupied throughout the day will keep your pet happier.

Additionally, if you have a special needs dog, make sure the facility can accommodate your pet’s needs. Find out if they have staff capable of administering medicine and if they can deliver a specialized diet, or will allow you to bring your own food. Ask what procedures they have in place for medical emergencies and check that they will contact you in such an event.

There’s no reason for you to accept substandard conditions or leave your dog with people you don’t feel that you can trust. Remember, you’re searching for a home away from home for your pet.

3) Visit, if possible.

Visiting a facility beforehand allows you to check out the facility in person and inspect it in ways that you can’t over the phone.

“We always operated at my place under the assumption that anyone could walk in at any time,” Roth said. His veterinary practice in Albany also provided boarding facilities for his clients, and worked to always be presentable.

“Let your senses kind of be the guide,” for visiting the facility, Rodriguez said.

See how much light is let into the area, how airy it is, what the temperature is like, and how it smells. Rodriguez suggests that the best facilities will have lots of light and windows so the rooms feel well-ventilated.

“The worst mistake owners make is being so scared about bringing their dog to a kennel that they only do it once a year,” Rodriguez said.

She recommends testing out a location with a one-night stay, or using the daycare service, in order to acclimate both yourself and your pet to the facility and staff. When you go away for longer trips, you and your dog will have a routine established and your pet will be used to the surroundings.

Roth makes a similar recommendation, adding that it will help a client’s own peace of mind to know that their pet does well in a kennel and that they have been left with familiar people.

Dropping Your Pet Off

1) Make sure your records are in order.

Most kennels will require records of your pet’s vaccinations before you arrive. Talk to your veterinarian beforehand to see about getting copies of your pet’s records or having copies faxed to the kennel.

2) Keep in good spirits.

No matter how familiar you may be with the facility, saying goodbye to your pet will still be an emotional experience. Rodriguez advises clients not to express fear or depression when dropping their pets off, because their animals will pick up on their emotional cues. She tells people to go into the experience with an upbeat attitude.

“Act like, ‘Wow, this is fun, let’s go!’ so that you’re leaving the dog with very positive energy,” she said.

The silver lining in dropping your pet off, of course, is that every moment afterwards is another step closer to retrieving them and bringing them home again.

Pet Sitting as an Alternative

For some people, kennels are just not an option. It may be preference or personal circumstances, but there are alternatives to kennels. If there is a pet sitter in your area this may be the right option for you.

Pet sitting offers the benefit of allowing your pet to stay in familiar surroundings. Many pet sitters will offer services looking after the house as well as your dogs as well, creating the outward appearance that someone is at home. If you trust the pet sitter this is a security boost while you are away.

Melinda Walker, who has run Athens Pet Sitter in Athens, Ga. since 2006, graduated from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

“Look for somebody who treats it like a business,” Walker advised people who are interviewing pet sitters. “We let [clients] know that it’s not something we do on the side to make money.”

She said to make sure that you hire someone who acts professionally, and to ask for a history of the business as well as contacts for references. You should make certain that you can trust the person you hire before you give them access to your home.

Coming Home

At the end of your trip, you may be leaving a relaxing vacation, but returning to pick up your dog will be a reward all in its own.

Check your pet’s mood, weight, and health when you pick her up from the kennel or come back to your house, and let the kennel or pet sitter know if you have had a bad experience. You may get an explanation and the facility will know how they could improve a weakness in their service. You may also learn if your pet is not suited to staying in a kennel for extended periods.

If all turns out for the best, though, the research you did to find a kennel for your dog will have paid off, and you will find your pet relaxed and happy to see you again. If that’s the case, you will know a good place to look after your pet the next time you leave town. In the meantime you can enjoy being at home with your dog again.