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Finding and Selecting a Pet Boarding Facility
Whether your animal friend is a loyal dog, or perhaps a finicky cat that requires special care, it can be difficult locating a good place for them to stay when you head out for vacation. If you don't have the luxury of acquaintances or relatives who can visit your pet at home every day, you will have to find a suitable pet boarding facility.
All in all, picking a place to board your pet is a serious decision. Unless you know someone personally or have decent referrals, it's hard to know where to go. The best choice is a place where you know your pet will be well taken care of and content. Since many house pets tend to do poorly in strange surroundings, finding a place that will meet their needs and keep them reasonably happy is especially challenging.
Don't board your pet anywhere until you have personally visited and observed the conditions there. Some boarding facilities are filthy, poorly run, and represent a health hazard for your pet. Take some time to check out the cleanliness and general appearance of the operation.
Do not leave your pet at any facility which does not mandate proof of current vaccinations. This should include a worm check.
Occasionally, veterinary hospitals set up an in-house pet boarding facility for the convenience of their customers. On the surface, one would consider this to be the best option, since it would be near medical care should it be needed. However, there are other things to think about here.
Think about how your dog would feel staying in a regular hospital. Hospitals are great for what they do - taking care of sick and injured pets. However, it can be a depressing environment for a healthy animal and they aren't likely to get more than minimal care in such a facility.
The major focus of a vet clinic is treating and managing care for sick and injured animals. The assistants and other staff usually have their hands full at all times trying to stay on top of things. How likely is your pet to get really good care and attention in an environment like this?
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.
If you are thinking of boarding a cat at a place that also keeps dogs, make sure these two are kept apart. Each one stresses the other, and it is not a good environment for either. Make sure to find out how often any pet you leave will be fed, exercised, and attended to. There should be a routine or schedule of these activities.
Before you leave your animal at any pet boarding facility, observe how the people working there handle the pets. Do they seem to love the animals, and show compassion and patience? This isn't the easiest job, and not everyone is suited for it. Take your gut feeling into account here - will they be good to your pet?
Choosing the best place to board your pets is important. Don't neglect to do your homework thoroughly on this.
About the Author Choosing a good pet boarding facility is one great way to be a responsible pet owner. Learn more and get the inside scoop on keeping your pets healthy and happy!
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