5 Questions To Ask When Picking A Kennel -1

Along with the excitement of a family get-a-way or a business trips comes the stress about the welfare of your four legged companion. The solution lies in selecting the right boarding kennel by asking yourself the right questions before you do so. Animal experts have enlisted the right questions you should ask to identify what's most important to you and to decide on the option for your pet and your needs.

5 questions you should ask yourself before choosing the right kennel:

1) Where can I find a quality kennel for my pet?

The best person to ask is your pet's vet since he/she comes across a number of pet lovers every day and would be glad to suggest a few kennels to you in your locality.  Other dog lovers that you may meet at the dog park could also be able to give you a few recommendations. You could also go online to pet care websites like Care.com, to find local kennels or pet sitting services.

2) Should the kennel be certified?

It is not mandatory for a kennel to be certified and some may not bother to do it as the voluntary process for certification that is established by the Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) is neither cheap nor easy. Also kennels that are certified are evaluated by 250 standards in 17 areas of pet care facility operation. You could ask to see a kennel’s Voluntary Facilities Accreditation (VFA) certificate.

3) Should I tour the kennel?

It is imperative that you tour the facilities and make sure that the area is quiet and odor free; also it should be well lit with living and playing areas looking and smelling fresh and free of waste and urine. It should be attended to by diligent staff.

The kennel should not be overcrowded and the ratio of staff to dog must be not greater than1:10, indicating that the pet will get individual attention. The animals should have proper bedding and water and must look content and stress-free. Some kennels also have high tech facilities like web cams that help you check on your pet on the computer when you go on vacation or business trip.

Have your important queries like how the kennel would attend to emergencies and the regular routine of the kennel answered during the tour. Never leave your pet in a kennel that does not allow an impromptu tour.  

4) What type of staff should I look for? 

Kennel staffs do not need necessarily need any certification in animal behavior or training. However it is very important that they are attentive and have a good attitude; they should be able to tell you details of every dog and cat in their care. The kennel assistant should cordially welcome each animal and take down meticulous notes about your pet's diet and exercise needs, medications and any other pertinent information. Also they should be patient, friendly and genuinely concerned for your pet's welfare.

5) What are the hours of a kennel?

It would be reasonable to ask for the staffing hours of a kennel as most kennels are not manned 24 hours in a day. It's very important to know whether or not someone will be on the premises at all times, or would be checking in on the animals every hour or so throughout the night. You would also like to ensure that the kennel is open during the hours you will need to drop off or pick up your pet.

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