If taking your animal on holiday with you is not appropriate you should consider your other options including putting your pet in one of the many boarding kennels around Australia. With a good boarding kennel you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your animal is being fed, exercised and cared for regularly. While there is often a stigma attached to boarding kennels, there are some great kennels around Australia that genuinely care for your pets. |  |
The best way to select a boarding kennel is through word of mouth, - talk to your friends and vet for recommendations. It is highly recommended that you pay a visit to the kennel prior to leaving your dog there. You can either schedule an appointment with the kennel or show up unannounced - this may give you a more realistic insight into the conditions.
The following list is some things to look for when visiting a prospective kennel:
* Are there food and water bowls in every kennel? The water bowl in particular should be full with fresh water
* Check if the staff seem kind and knowledgeable and are relaxed in showing you around the facility
* Do the other dogs appear to be content and comfortable? Note if the dogs seem distressed or unclean
* Does the kennel require that pets must be fully vaccinated before their stay? This assists in protecting your pet from picking up any nasties during their kennel stay
* Is the boarding kennel clean and tidy? The kennels should be clean, well-ventilated, the grounds should be free of dog faeces and there should be no visible sign of fleas or ticks.
* Observe the size of the kennels, there should be adequate room for your animal to comfortably sleep and play
The following list is a few questions to ask the kennel operators during your visit:
* Can I bring my pet in for a trial stay?
* How do they treat fleas, ticks etc?
* How often are the dogs bathed?
* How often are the dogs walked/exercised? Where do they do this, and for how long?
* How often do they clean the kennels?
* Should I bring some toys for my dog? Will I get these back?
* What are the dogs fed? Should we bring food for the dog? How often are they fed?
* What veterinary services do they provide if your pet was to fall ill?
* Where will the animals sleep? Where will they play?
Pet Sitting
There is also the option of having a person pet-sit in your home or having someone visit your house twice a day to feed and change the animal's water (generally only suitable for cats).
Obviously keeping your pet in it's familiar environment is preferable, however, you would have to ensure the person was responsible, trustworthy and would be home for approximately the same amount of time you would be if you were home.
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