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Today, more and more concerned pet owners are choosing to board their dogs at boarding kennels.

Kennel operators who belong to the American Boarding Kennels Association are professional pet-care providers who make a public commitment to quality pet care and who subscribe to the ABKA Code of Ethics arid the Bill of Rights for Boarded Pets. Their kennels often offer a variety of pet care services such as day care, pet-sitting, special exercise programs, cat boarding, grooming, retail sales, training, pet shipping, etc.

 What are the advantages of boarding your dog?
The vast majority of dogs adapt well and enjoy their stay at the kennel. For some dogs—puppies which have not had their immunizations, extremely old dogs with chronic illnesses, very aggressive dogs, dogs which require medication more than twice a day—you might consider boarding with your veterinarian, or asking your kennel to provide in-home care. Keep in mind, however, that “pet-checking” in your home, even when it is performed by a trained ABKA profes­sional, does not offer the same level of trained supervision that boarding does. Furthermore, when you are not at home with your dog his behavior might differ significantly from his nor-mal behavior. For instance he might try to “escape” to find you, or, he might become destruc­tive or aggressive toward the visiting pet-checker.

 You should definitely consider boarding your dog rather than taking him on vacation with you. Many motels will not accept dogs, and some that do charge extra and become very upset if your dog annoys their other guests. Pets can become ill as a result of traveling because of the frequent changes in water, etc. Marty dogs suffer heat prostration while locked in the car as master goes sightseeing, eating or shopping. The national parks have an abundance of lost dogs which somehow got away from their owners and couldn’t be found before master had to leave for home. Another serious risk is exposure to various parasites and diseases such as heartworm, ticks, hookworms, fleas, mange, etc.

 Selecting a Boarding Kennel
Stop by a kennel and visit with the owner get acquainted with the people who will be caring for your dog. Ask questions; take nothing for granted. Are toys or bedding welcome? How will Rover be exercised? What will you feed Rover? Talk about safety features. Discuss frankly any qualms you may have about boarding. They will appreciate your frankness and interest.

The experienced personnel at an ABKA kennel are trained to recognize the warning signs of potential health problems and will contact a veterinarian if they feel it is called for. Many times it is easier for kennel personnel to detect problems than it is for the owner of the dog. A good exam-pie is blood in the urine, a warning sign that deserves attention, can more easily be detected in the kennel than at home, because the dog is exer­cised in a specific area which is cleaned regularly.

It is not, however, part of the kennel’s job to diagnose or to prescribe. If Rover does require veterinary aid while he is in the kennel, you should be aware that you—the pet’s owner is finan­cially responsible for such aid. Discuss, before boarding, any medication or special care Rover might need. Many kennels offer specialized play programs such as Playschool, Nature walks, etc.

During boarding it is possible that dogs might step in their stools or urine and become dirty. This can happen in the cleanest of kennels! Also, some of the finest disinfectants available for sanitizing are not always the most pleasant smelling, and the odor may cling to your dog’s coat. Bathing and/or grooming may be a welcome solution. Advise the kennel owner if you want your dog to have a bath on the day he goes home.

Make certain you understand the rate struc­ture for all services and hours of operation. The fee for boarding includes the care of your pet, as well as the peace of mind that goes with knowing that Rover is safe and with someone you can trust.

One standard of measuring the kennel owner’s interest in his profession is his member-ship in the American Boarding Kennels Association You can be certain ABKA members are trying to keep current on the latest developments within the industry, and that they truly care Their membership certificate will be proudly displayed

A Working Partnership
When you have selected your • kennel, keep in mind that successful boarding is the result of the partnership between you and the kennel operator, working together for the best interest of your dog. As a responsible pet owner there are a few things you must attend to before bringing Rover in to board Make certain all immunizations are cur rent Your kennel operator will be happy to discuss the kennel’s immunization requirements with you Your pet should be free of internal arid external parasites and not have been exposed to any contagious diseases. Do not feed Rover for at least 4 hours prior to kenneling to minimize the possibil­ity of stomach upset Boarding at a kennel is the best alternative, but separation from master and/or being in strange surroundings can produce stress in your dog, and stress can result in lowered resistance to disease and sometimes even temporary changes in behavior Be sure to inform the kennel proprietor of any special idiosyncrasies or medical problems Rover may have (history of epilepsy or fear of thunder, etc) that may aid him in keeping Rover healthy and happy

Dogs should be prepared psychologically for boarding. It’s best, of course, to begin with a pup as soon as the immunization program is complete. (Puppies usually learn very quickly to enjoy boarding.) Some kennels offer “day-care” services enabling you to leave your dog for a few hours at a time. This is an excellent way to introduce your dog to boarding. After just a few visits Rover accepts a kennel as a normal way of life.

The psychological preparation of a dog for boarding—and also for helping him develop a healthy personality—also includes getting him used to new people and experiences (socializa­tion). This is probably the most easily accom­plished by taking him through obedience classes and occasionally boarding him. Naturally, a dog who is relaxed about boarding is more likely to board well, (A pet owner sometimes needs reminding that is not beneficial to lament over his dog in the kennel office upon leaving him, nor should he bring out the suitcases at home the day before the trip—both of these things cause his dog to be unnecessarily upset.)

Understanding the Kennel Environment
It is important to understand the possible effects of stress on a dog and to do everything possible to minimize stress both prior to and immediately after boarding. Sometimes temporary behavior changes can occur as a result of unfamiliar sur­roundings... While boarding, dear sweet Rover tears up the bed he has slept in for years. Or “Killer,” that rowdy scourge of the neighborhood, turns into a little lamb. Eating habits change under stress, and a dog assimilates his food differ­ently. Some will eat like canaries at home and like vultures at a kennel. They may put on a few pounds. Others can lose weight though eating well or lose weight by not eating enough. Kennel life can be very exciting, and some dogs lose weight because they run the weight off as they charge around barking at other dogs and having a wonderful time. These dogs often leave the ken­nel exhausted but happy, and sleep a lot the first couple of days they are home.

All of the preparation by the pet owner merely points out that successful boarding depends not only upon the kennel, but also upon how well the owner prepares his dog for the experience.

Now that Rover is Home Again
When Rover is picked up he will be very excited to see you. (Dogs do not have a sense of time so he would be just as happy to see you if you left him 5 minutes or 5 days.) Do not feed him (though he will act hungry once he gets back on his familiar turf) for at least 3 hours, and then be very careful not to overfeed him. Also, excitement might cause Rover to pant a lot, and become thirsty. Give him a few ice cubes to tide him over until feeding time. Again, in his happy, excited state, excessive food and water consumption can create problems.

The vast majority of dogs view their stay at the kennel as a vacation. Relax and enjoy your trip. To learn more about the American Boarding Kennels Association and its programs, visit us on the web at www.ABKA.com.

How Do You Arrange for Placing Your Cat in a Kennel?

Stop by your local ABKA kennel and visit with the owner. Get acquainted with the people who will be caring for your cat. Ask questions; take nothing for granted. Find out if toys or bedding are welcome. Find out about the diet which the kennel provides. If there is a special diet which you would like your cat to adhere to, most kennels will allow you to provide such food and will see to it that your cat is fed only what you request. Discuss safety features. Boarding cats requires good security to prevent escapes. Discuss frankly any qualms you may have about boarding your cat. The kennel will appreciate your frankness and your interest.

The experienced personnel at an American Boarding Kennels Association kennel are trained to recognize the warning signs of potential health problems, and will contact a veterinarian if they feel it is called for. Many times it is easier for kennel personnel to detect problems than it is for the owner of the cat. For example, urinary problems (a warning sign that deserves attention) can more easily be detected in the kennel then at home, because the cat is closely supervised.

Yet, it is not part of the kennel's job to diagnose or to prescribe. If kitty requires veterinary aid while he is in the kennel, you should be aware that you are financially responsible for such aid. Discuss, before boarding, any medication or any special care that kitty might need. Most kennels offer a certain amount of individual care (playing with, talking to, petting) but you must be reasonable. Asking the kennel owner to allow kitty privileges which might result in an escape is not fair to either the kennel or your cat.

Make certain that you understand the rate structure for all services and hours of operation. The fee for boarding includes not only the care of your cat but also peace of mind that comes from knowing kitty is safe and with someone you can trust. One standard for measuring the kennel owner's interest in this profession is their membership in the American Boarding Kennels Association. You can be certain that ABKA members are trying to keep current on the latest developments within the industry and that they truly care about your pet. Their membership certificate and ABKA Code of Ethics will be proudly displayed.

Facts to Consider

Keep in mind that cats react much differently in a strange environment than dogs do. Cats are instinctively solitary animals. They do not run in packs as dogs do. Therefore, when confronted with strange surroundings, a cat's normal response is to withdraw physically and mentally into a protected, solitary state. For this reason, cats enjoy the "protected" feeling they get from being caged while in a kennel.

While it is true that most dogs want to run around and get acquainted, your cat will probably want to sit in the corner of his cage and stare, until he feels comfortable in the new environment. Human contact does not normally accelerate this period of acclimatizing. It has to take place at the cat's own speed. A common reaction of cat owners to the idea of caging is "kitty loves to run around." Perhaps he does at home, but while he is in unfamiliar surroundings his cage gives him the feeling of safety.

"But what about exercise?" Here again, the difference between a cat and a dog must be understood. Dogs need space in which to get their necessary exercise, whereas cats exercise isometric ally. This means that if a cat has enough room to stretch, he can exercise every muscle in his body. When your cat is in strange surroundings, around strange cats, he will undoubtedly much prefer "safety" to "space."

Immunization

Fortunately, within the last several years, there have been significant advances in immunization programs for cats. In past years, there were a number of contagious airborne viruses which caused serious respiratory problems in cats. These viruses could not be controlled by any means except complete isolation of all cats from each other. However, thanks to recent advances made by the veterinary pharmaceutical companies, there are now effective vaccines available to prevent such diseases.

Most kennels have strict policies regarding the immunization programs for these diseases. You should be aware of the kennel policy and discuss it with your veterinarian prior to boarding your cat. In fairness to the kennel, you should also make sure that your cat is not exposed to any contagious cat diseases prior to boarding.

Stress is a Factor

Any animal in strange surroundings suffers from stress. This means that his normal immune process is affected, as well as his eating and digestive habits. Your ABKA kennel will do everything possible to minimize the effects of stress on your cat. For this reason, it is a good procedure for them to allow your cat to adjust to the kennel environment at his own rate. However, you can help to minimize the effects of stress by trying to make the boarding experience as pleasant as possible for your cat. Remember that the more often your cat boards, the more adjusted he will be to the kennel environment, and the easier the boarding process becomes for him. Therefore, several short periods of boarding prior to a lengthy vacation will probably do more to help your cat adjust to boarding than will anything else.

For a variety of reasons, more people are discovering the delight of living with cats. In urban areas, apartment dwellers find that cats offer companionship, without the need for frequent exercise periods outdoors. In rural areas, cats still fulfill their function as rodent catchers for many households. If you are a cat owner, you are undoubtedly very attached to your furry roommate. However, there will be times when you will have to make arrangements for his care when you are traveling on business, vacations, or when out-of-town guests (who are allergic to cats) stay with you. Therefore, it would be good to examine some of the facts about cat care which will help you to understand the advantages of boarding your cat with an ABKA kennel.

What Options are Available?

It is important to remember that cats do not usually travel well. They do not usually enjoy it, nor do they adapt well to travel. Many people who try to take kitty along with them on their vacation end up spending most of their vacation time searching for their escaped pet.

Leaving your cat with friends is just as unsatisfactory. Cats must go through an adjustment period in a new environment and this means that they will not look upon your friend's house as "home" for quite awhile. Therefore, your cat may try to escape from the strange house at every opportunity or hide as a fear reaction. Most cat owners recognize that it is not fair to impose this kind of responsibility on their friends, nor is it a safe arrangement for their pets.

Having a kennel care for your pets in your absence is, therefore, the best alternative. Obviously, the most satisfactory way of arranging for such care is to entrust your cat to an ABKA kennel, where the security arrangements are adequate to insure that your cat will not escape, and where the personnel are trained in observing and handling the problems which might arise in your absence.

Welcoming Kitty Home

After you pick kitty up from the kennel, be sure to keep him locked in at home for a few days before allowing him to roam. Just as he had to adjust to the kennel, he will also have to adjust to being home again. Allow him to find that "at home" feeling again before letting him out of the house.

Copyright © 1998 - American Boarding Kennels Association: A Nonprofit Corporation dedicated to the betterment of the Boarding Kennels Industry. Remember, your ABKA kennel owner is in the business of boarding because we love animals. Westbury Pet Care Center wants pet boarding to be a pleasant experience for both you and your pet. Give us a call!