Advice & Info on Choosing a Boarding Kennel With the holiday season rapidly approaching, many pet owners will be searching for the appropriate boarding facility for their pets while they are away. It is important however not to rush in the pursuit of a suitable kennel for your pet. Instead, it is for the sake of your pet’s comfort and safety, and for your own peace of mind, that you need to leave plenty of time for planning, searching and booking the best kennel for your pet. So how can you start the search for a pet boarding facility in your area? Well nowadays, online directories combined with ratings & reviews make a convenient first step towards filtering the number of well-regarded kennels to a handful, which you can then focus on to choose among them the most appropriate. Before selecting a boarding facility, it is important to be aware of the basics. Whether it is home boarding, kennels or catteries that you are searching for, there are certain qualities to look for when choosing between different kennels. Certification According to The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, all dog and cat boarding premises much be licensed by the local authority. Having such a license will, among other benefits, at least ensure that the owners of these boarding facilities will not, for example, accommodate more pets than allowed for by the license. If you visit the boarding facility in person you should be able to see the license displayed prominently. Cost From the list kennels that you narrowed down, contact the kennels to find out about the fees they charge for both the basic service and any additional services they may be offering, such as dog grooming, training and agility classes. Also, do they have pick up and drop off service or do you have to do it yourself? Visit in person If your narrowed-down list of boarding kennels are based in your area it is then worth visiting their premises in person to inspect their facilities first-hand (note that some may require an appointment to be made prior to the visit). This will not only help you decide on the appropriate kennel for your pet, but will also give you the peace of mind knowing where your pet will be staying at while you are away. If it is not feasible for you to visit and inspect the facilities in person, then ask them to send you some photos and/or a video of their facilities and the exact spot where your pet will be staying. Staff Friendliness From talking to staff, find out if they are friendly and likely to care for your pet. Also establish how long they have been in business as this will likely affect the experience they have in dealing with pets. Facility Inspection The key to inspecting kennels is to find out whether or not your dog will have adequate indoor or outdoor room for exercise. If the kennels provide dog walking services, find out how regular they are and how long they last for. Also check if such services will result in additional charges on top of the standard boarding fees. Other things to be on the look out for when visiting the boarding facility is to ensure that the place is hygienic, tidy, well lit, well ventilated and temperature-controlled . The facilities should also be safe and the cages of adequate size and comfort. Feeding Arrangements Be sure to ask about the feeding arrangements and the type the food offered. If your pet has special dietary requirements then you need to let the kennel know in advance. Some kennels allow owners to provide their own pet food and treats, which may suit you better and may at least be familiar to your pet whilst staying in a different environment. Sufficient clean water should also be available for your pet at all times. Vaccination It is unlikely that your pet will be the only one housed in the facility, so find out if other pets have proper vaccination. If they ask you for your pet’s vaccination papers, then it is likely that this is a standard procedure in place. Finally, once you have made your choice, it might be worth taking your pet with you on a tour to the chosen facility so that they can have a chance to get familiar with the environment before your departure. If you feel that you have selected the right kennel for your pet, then do consider using the same facility in the future as the familiarity with the kennel will make your pet’s stay less potentially stressful next time round. | 
