The Dirty, Dangerous Truth About Boarding Kennels
I think of boarding kennels as doggy hotels that should be treated as professionally and as sanitarily as possible. Unfortunately, their standards are often anything but hotel quality. There are several things to look out for when selecting the right 'hotel' for you, as well as certain questions to ask. I'll walk you through the red, yellow, and green flags to prepare you for vacation day, confident in your choice of temporary guardianship.
Flags
Heed their warnings.
These are not exhaustive lists, merely examples.
Red Flags
A. The very first flag that will hit you immediately upon entering the facility? Odor. What a boarding facility smells like is your first hint at how well the guests are treated while there.
B. They do not offer tours or make you schedule one. If they don't allow you to pop on in, they likely have something to hide. That should make you suspicious. Why can't you just show up during business hours to tour the facility if nothing is being hidden?
C. Mop buckets full of cleaning chemicals are just hanging out where the dogs have access. If there are mop buckets with cleaner sitting around in the play areas or anywhere that dogs are off-leash, that's a huge red flag. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. I have heard far too many horror stories of pets lost after drinking from buckets in kennel facilities.
