How will you know its
my dog?
Because
we remove all collars and harnesses this is a common question. Each pet
arriving is fitted with a disposable ID collar. Similar to an ID
bracelet at a hospital. This collar shows his name, breed, age, if
he/she is on medication what run assigned and identifies your pet as a
guest at our facility. We prefer this type of collar as it will "break
away" if it is hung up or if 25 lbs of pressure is applied. This ID
collar is an invaluable tool in keeping track of your pet, especially in
group play situations. It is waterproof and durable. They are on your
pet during the entire time he/she is with us. They can be removed at
home easily with a quick snip of the scissors.
Does my dog sleep
outside?
Absolutely not...each
pet has its own individual indoor outdoor run, the area he sleeps in, is
indoors...he has his own bed and bedding. And the buildings are
centrally heated and air conditioned. That is not to say we haven't
observed dogs taking an afternoon nap outdoors during the nice weather!
Will my dog get fleas?
Absolutely Not!
All pets are visually
checked when they arrive, it is very evident when dogs suffer from flea
infestation and we will treat them BEFORE they enter into our kennel.
This is done at the owners expense. We will also inform you if we found
fleas so you may treat your home before your dog goes back to that
environment. Kennels are not a very hospitable environment for fleas as
they are cleaned and disinfected daily, fleas prefer carpet and
upholstery to live in. Fleas would be more common in your own backyard,
deposited there by rabbits and squirrels who pass through.
Will you feed my dog?
Of course we
feed the dogs. We schedule twice a day feedings for those on that type
of schedule, 3 times a day for young pups. Unless otherwise requested,
your pet is fed 1 time a day in the AM.
We carry
Pedigree®
Small Bites
at
our kennel. As there are so many brands of food it is impossible to keep
all of them on hand. We recommend you bring your own food, so your pet
won't suffer the effects of a diet change. We DO NOT charge extra if you
bring your own, in fact we prefer it. Click
here
for more information and specific
instructions.
Will you feed
according to my instructions?
Bring the instructions
clearly written on a sheet of paper. We will try and adhere to your
schedule but that is not always possible, especially if you feed your
pet at 5 AM. Your instructions will be posted on your pets run and
followed as per your request. Keep in mind that pet's that board
typically lose weight. Some pets will eat without issue and still lose
weight. While we try to maintain their arrival weight it is not always
possible. As they are more active here, not lying around sleeping until
you get home you might notice a pound or two...sometimes more. Please
be advised if we feel a pet needs incentive to eat we will use
enticements!
My dog is
spoiled...will he have a hard time at the kennel?
Well... we haven't met
an unspoiled dog yet! We very rarely have a problem with our guests.
Dogs are loyal companions, but they form an attachment to the person or
persons who care for them. Within a day or so they have completely
adjusted to the routine. Don't worry, they will still recognize you when
you pick them up and we will soon be forgotten, until their next visit.
Can I have a friend or
relative stop by and visit?
Actually...we wouldn't
have a problem with that, if the dogs reacted favorably to it, but
unfortunately they don't. It usually makes an owner feel better to have
someone visit. But the pet thinks he/she is going home, and they get
"let down" when that person leaves. We find that more stressful than
anything. We recommend play time with staff members to reinforce the
relationship and to make his or her stay more pleasant. You also may
call or email us to check on your pet.
Can a friend or
relative come and take my pet out of the kennel for a walk or playtime?
No. We are
responsible for your pet's well being. You have left him/her in our
care and custody. We would not have control over where and what your
pet is doing while in the possession of someone else. Should they be
injured or worse....it would be assumed it was our responsibility,
therefore we maintain the chain of possession without interruption.
Can I bring my dog's
bed and toys?
We supply the beds and
bedding, which are custom to fit our runs. The bedding are fleece
"stadium blankets" which we prefer to use, they fit into our laundry
machines and dry quickly. The dogs seem to prefer "chew" or "busy" type
toys. Please limit the amount and do not bring toys with
squeakers in them. It gets difficult to keep track of them. We DO NOT
charge extra if you bring toys.
What about
medications?
We can and do
administer medications according to
your veterinarian's instructions.
Please note: we do not board insulin
dependant pets. We refer over to
Patterson Veterinary Hospital for all medical boarding.
I would like to visit
the kennel can I just stop by any time?
We do
give tours of the facility, however, it is at a time that is convenient
for our work schedule and our guests...usually from
10:30 to 11:00am Monday-Saturday and
5:00-5:30 pm Monday-Friday.
These
times are best, as it is after our feeding and cleaning routine and
dishes are not down. We get many requests for tours and like to
consolidate them to one time a day. In addition, it is disruptive to the
pets we have staying with us to have "strangers" walk through the
kennel, additionally we worry about those who visit other facilities who
may not be as fastidious as we are, there is a risk of transferring
disease from kennel to kennel. So we minimize the tours to the
specified time, and request that you visit our kennel FIRST.
We find
that these tour times have been tailored so that all who wish to visit
the facility can do so.
Please leave
small children and your pet at home when coming for a tour.
The above questions
are the ones we answer the most. If you have one we have not covered
please feel free to contact our office. A staff member will gladly
answer them.
