Home Away From Home

As a pet sitter, I advertised my business as the "kennel alternative," but not everyone is comfortable leaving their home accessible to a pet sitter. And, not everyone has a friend or family member that is able or available to care for their pets while they're away. For these people a kennel would probably be the best answer. If you take the time to investigate the facilities in your area, you should be able to find a kennel that is clean, comfy and safe for your pet.

First things first, make a visit to several kennels within a twenty to thirty mile radius of your home. Each kennel has individual policies regarding visitors, so please be mindful. Most kennels will not allow you to walk around in the area where the animals are kept. Do not be put off by this policy it is done for a couple of very good reasons. Most importantly it is done as a consideration for their "guests." Quite often animals become skittish when they find themselves in a strange location,and visitors can inadvertently exasperate the situation. However, there should be a viewing window of some sort enabling you to see where your pet will be for most of the day.

The second reason for not allowing you to freely walk around is for health and cleanliness reasons. To a kennel owner, "cleanliness IS next to Godliness," and without realizing it, you may track in dirt or disease. The facility should have a strict cleaning routine and continued use of disinfectants and chemicals; find out what they are. An intestinal disease called canine parvo virus has been a worldwide problem since the late seventies. Dogs spread this deadly virus after coming into contact with contaminated surfaces which may include; clothing, grass, carpet, etc. To combat this problem, professional disinfectants should be used daily and all kennels should require the proper immunization.

Once satisfied the kennel is doing all they can to protect its guests from the spread of disease, your next inquiry should be regarding the health care of your pet. The basics of course include plenty of fresh clean drinking water, the choice of premium food or one of your own, an established exercise routine, and as mentioned before a strict immunization policy. Ask about veterinary care, is there a vet on premises? If not do they have a local vet on call? If you wish, can you select your own personal vet be called in cases of emergency. Any and all medications being given to your pet should be described in detail to the facility. The more information you can provide about your pet, the better.

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