What to Look for When Touring a Pet Boarding Facility
Before deciding on the right pet boarding accommodations for your furry friend, it’s important to consider the various factors that make the facility right for you. That’s why the team at Pet Palace has compiled some of the key things you should look for when touring a pet boarding facility, as well as some questions you should have answered before making your final decision.
4 Essentials When Choosing a Pet Boarding Facility
1. Cleanliness
When assessing the cleanliness of a pet boarding building, you want to ensure that the area is not only tidy but also sanitized. This includes making sure the facility is free of the sharp and stinging scent of ammonia, as well as the moisture or mugginess that could potentially promote the growth of mold or bacteria.
Additionally, check for the following during your initial visit:
- Nonporous surfaces – Facilities that contain raw wood, cracked linoleum, or unsealed concrete are known to harbor bacteria and can be more difficult to clean. Look for surfaces that include epoxy-coated concrete, stainless steel, and tempered glass, as these are safer.
- Disinfectant choices – It’s important to ask your potential dog or cat boarding facility what cleaning agents they use to sanitize their rooms and common areas. Make sure they are using veterinary-grade disinfectants, such as Rescue or Virkon, that have been proven to be effective against parvovirus.
- Dishwashing and laundry – If the facility provides bedding for your furry friend, ensure that it is laundered with hot water after each use. Also, make sure food and water bowls are consistently cleaned after each use to decrease the spread of bacteria.
- Waste pickup – Check out the indoor and outdoor potty areas and make sure that any waste is cleaned up after, as this is a great way to further assess the cleanliness of the pet boarding facility.
Overall, you’ll want to make sure that the interior and exterior of the building are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, ensuring the optimal health of your pet for their stay.
2. Safety and Security
Finding a secure facility with properly trained staff to handle emergencies is the best way to make sure your pet is in the best hands while you’re away. This includes having proper locking mechanisms on interior and exterior doors, as well as professional-grade fencing around the facility that is at least six to eight feet high. In some cases, dig guards could also be necessary to prevent dogs from creating a tunnel that could lead them off the property.
Along with stringent security measures, a properly trained staff should be in place for any type of emergency scenario. Examples of their training could include:
- Pet CPR
- First aid
- Fire safety
Employees should also be able to assess alarming pet behaviors that could quickly escalate to large-scale issues if not addressed. This can include heat stroke, fighting, and more.
3. Exercise and Socialization
Exercise and socialization can be essential for creating a comfortable environment for your companion. Pet facilities should ensure they are:
- Maintaining staff-to-dog ratios – It is recommended that for every 10 to 15 dogs, one attentive staff member is available for oversight. This helps maintain proper supervision during sanctioned play times.
- Ensuring size and temperament matching – Dogs should be grouped by size, especially during play time. For example, chihuahuas should be paired with yorkies, and golden retrievers should be paired with German shepherds.
- Providing rest periods – Just like exercise, nap time is essential for keeping your furry friend properly rested. With that in mind, to avoid over-exhaustion and possible aggression, one to two hours of downtime is recommended while your companion is boarded at a pet facility.
For those who are looking for cat boarding accommodations, socialization can also be an essential factor in whether the business is right for you. Because of this, make sure that the employees at the pet boarding facility are aware of the socialization level of your feline, and that they are prepared to provide them with the amount of love and attention that they need to fully enjoy their stay.
4. Medical Protocols
When you have a dog or cat with pre-existing health conditions, you will need to find a boarding facility that can accommodate their needs. So, whether they require a daily supplement or a life-saving prescription, be sure that you and the facility’s employees are on the same page regarding medical administration.
For less crucial medical needs, make sure that the facility’s employees are pulling the medication and confirming the dosage prior to administration. Plus, once the medications are taken, make sure that the employees are logging each dose with a timestamp to maintain accountability and prevent errors.
In the case where your pet requires injections, check with the boarding facility that there is a staff member trained in injections, and make sure medications will be stored securely at their recommended temperature.
Choose Pet Palace for Your Pet Boarding Needs
At Pet Palace, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional pet boarding accommodations for your furry friend while you’re away. So, whether you’re gone for the weekend or traveling for an extended trip, know that your companion is in the best hands with our loving staff.
Just some of the benefits of choosing our pet boarding facility include:
- We provide your dog or cat with plenty of exercise, personal attention, and play time
- Our facilities include 5-star accommodations, such as quality bedding, fun toys, and more
- Our passionate staff is trained to ensure that your companion will receive the best care while you’re away
- We have cameras for dog or cat parents who want to check on their pet while they’re on vacation
Beyond Our Dog and Cat Boarding Services
Our team is proud to supply a vast array of offerings outside of our dog and cat boarding, including:
Schedule Your Next Stay with Us
If you’ve been searching for a high-quality facility to board your pet, please reach out to our passionate team to learn more about how we can best assist you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Categories: Cat Boarding, Dog Boarding, Pet Boarding