Is your pet’s home away from home a nightmare? Recognizing signs of a poor pet boarding facility
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Traveling can be thrilling, but it often involves a frantic rush around the house to make sure everything is set. The last concern you want while away is your pets’ safety. While there are excellent pet boarding options available, not all facilities prioritize your pets’ well-being. This article highlights the warning signs of a poor boarding service and provides information on selecting the ideal pet boarding facility.
Staff Refuses Tours Through The Boarding Facility
- If the staff refuses to let you tour the facility before booking, it’s a cause for concern. Whether you discovered the pet daycare online or through a recommendation, a brief tour is essential before making a reservation for your pet.
Consider it a red flag if the staff seems hesitant to accommodate a tour. Arriving unannounced is the right approach to assessing any facility, as it prevents the staff from preparing in advance. This allows you to gauge the facility’s cleanliness and observe how the staff handles unexpected visits.
Poor Sanitation at a Pet Boarding Facility
- The odor of a pet boarding facility can indicate its cleanliness standards. While occasional accidents are inevitable, persistent foul smells suggest a lack of sanitation protocols. Airborne faecal and urine particulates create unpleasant odours and also pose health risks, potentially spreading contagious diseases among pets.
Inquiring about the facility’s cleaning procedures, including the types of products used, disinfection methods, and cleaning frequency, is essential to ensuring your pet’s safety and hygienic environment.
Untrained Staff Members
- Unlike animal shelters that often rely on volunteers, pet boarding facilities should have trained staff to ensure proper care for pets. Inquire about the training provided to the facility’s staff members.
Given the responsibility of caring for pets, it’s crucial to ensure that the staff is adequately prepared for the task. While certifications in animal behavior are not mandatory for pet daycare staff, prioritizing facilities that have well-trained staff is essential for your pet’s well-being.
Absence of Overnight Pet Supervision
- Leaving pets alone overnight at a boarding facility can pose significant risks, especially in emergencies like electrical fires or floods. Without on-site staff during nighttime hours, pets may be vulnerable to accidents or emergencies.
The primary reason for boarding pets is to ensure their safety and well-being, making 24/7 staff availability essential. Opt for boarding facilities that provide round-the-clock supervision to ensure your pets are always attended to and safe, even during nighttime hours.
The Facility Neglect Vaccination Records
Overlooking vaccination records can lead to significant health risks for pets in a boarding facility. Illnesses such as kennel cough and ringworm can quickly spread in close quarters. A reputable boarding facility should request vaccination records to safeguard the health of all pets.
If a facility fails to ask for your pet’s vaccination record, it indicates a lack of attention to health protocols. Consider choosing a different boarding facility that prioritizes the well-being of all animals in their care.
Risk of Escaping
- While outdoor time is essential for pets, inadequate fencing at a boarding facility creates a risk of escape. Breeds like German shepherds and greyhounds can leap up to six feet, potentially overcoming low barriers.
Ensure the facility has double fences or covered enclosures to prevent escapes. Additionally, inspect for gaps in the fencing that small pets could escape through. Choosing a facility with secure fencing minimizes the risk of your beloved pet wandering off.
You can only enjoy your vacation better when you are satisfied that your pet is safe and in the right hands. Autumn Trails Veterinary Center offers veterinarians safe, convenient, and affordable boarding. If you have further questions, give us a call at (434) 971-9800. We can help you plan your pet’s stay.
