Monday, November 10, 2008
Home away from home
Photos by Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times
Above, a Boston terrier named Clyde gets comfy in a grassy play area behind About Pets while Brighton, a Yorkshire terrier, plays with a ball.
Victoria Radford, CEO of About Pets Center in Salem, holds Madison, a Yorkshire terrier dressed in a Virginia Tech outfit.
Paddington, a Pekingese, runs in the play area behind About Pets Center.
With branches of our family tree growing all over the country, my husband and I start making our holiday travel plans while our dogs are still playing in the summer sun. Who goes where for Thanksgiving, we wonder, and who comes here for Christmas?
So when we have to hit the road, we have to decide what to do with our three dogs.
Taking the time to find the right place to board your pets can give you peace of mind when you are already dealing with holiday stress. With that in mind, here are some tips from a few area kennel operators if you need to find accommodations for your critters.
Call early: If you need to board your pet for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you may want to move finding a kennel to the top of your to-do list.
"Make your reservations as early as possible," advised Brian Tupes, president of About Pets Center in Salem. While there is still space available at About Pets, he said he has regular clients with reservations for the holiday season as far as two years in advance.
Try before you fly: The Humane Society of the United States advises pet owners to ask friends, neighbors and veterinarians for recommendations when looking for pet boarding.
The Humane Society also advises you to visit the kennel to make sure it's clean and will fit the needs of your pet.
Scott and Lara Price opened Peaceful Haven kennel near the Jefferson National Forest in Fincastle in October. They recommend that new clients slowly introduce their pooches to a new environment.
"Bring your dog with you when you come for the first visit," Lara said, and then bring your pooch back for doggy day care before the first overnight stay.
Sara Scott owns and operates two kennels in Salem. Klub Kanine caters exclusively to dogs under 25 pounds, while bigger pooches are housed next door at Barkley and Rover. A trial visit is required to leave your dog at either kennel because the dogs play in supervised social groups.
"A lot of times when you put strange dogs together, there can be problems," Sara said. "Ultimately we want to know they won't be stressed."
Home away from home: You want to choose a kennel that most closely resemble life at home, where your pet will feel at ease.
Sara said sorting out her guests by size helps keep everyone safe and happy.
"Small dog owners feel more comfortable coming into a lobby without big dogs," she said.
Doggy guests are indoors for most of the day at both Barkley and Rover and Klub Kanine. About Pets Center has a fenced acre of land that includes a pool and waterfall that's well suited for more outdoorsy dogs.
Scott said one of the reasons he and his wife opened Peaceful Haven is to fill a void he found for boarding large dogs. Peaceful Haven's indoor kennels measure 5-by-5-feet and the runs are 15 to 20 feet long, perfect for plus-size pooches.
Dogs can have unlimited access to their outdoor runs from their indoor kennel at Peaceful Haven. The outdoor runs are enclosed in a double fence system that Scott said ensures safety for diggers and climbers.
Look at several boarding places before you pick the one that best suits your pet.
"It's amazing that here in Roanoke, which is not a big town, pet parents have so many good choices," Sara said.
What to bring and what will it cost: Make sure you understand what is included in the fees quoted before you leave your pet. And make sure you know what to bring with you, including food, bedding and vet records.
Brian recommends that clients bring the food their pet eats every day. This will help your pet avoid getting an upset tummy from a sudden change in diet while they are also dealing with the stress of being away from home.
Bedding is usually included for an overnight stay, but Scott and Lara suggest you bring your dog's own bed or blankets to Peaceful Haven. Scott pointed out that most dogs, like most people, prefer to sleep with a familiar pillow, and the scents from home will soothe your pet.
While having some of the comforts of home may help some dogs feel less anxious about their stay at the kennel, you may want to leave the special teddy bear at home.
"Don't bring their favorite toy," Brian advised. "Because it might get chewed up."
Dogs also tend to become possessive about toys, which could cause a playground fight.
Grooming and nail clipping are offered at most kennels for an additional fee. Again, be sure to understand what is included in the boarding fee and how much the extras will cost so you won't have a surprise when it comes time to settle the bill.
Don't forget the paperwork: Before you take your pet to her holiday hotel, you will need copies of vaccination records. Most kennels require proof of current vaccinations, including bordetella, which protects your pet from kennel cough, a contagious respiratory infection.
"I highly recommend your pet be current with heartworm and flea medication, too," Sara said.
If your pet is on prescription medication, you will want to make sure to bring that with you and go over any instructions with the kennel staff before you leave.
The Humane Society also recommends you leave your vet's name and phone number, and find out where your pet will be treated in case of an emergency illness or injury.
Feline at-home care: We usually leave our two cats at home when we are only going to be away for a few days. We put out several bowls of food and water and an extra litter pan, and have our neighbor stop by and check on them.
About Pets Center will board kitties. Some vet offices will also take in guest felines. But if your cats are like mine, they would much rather be at home.
Pet sitters are a good option if you don't have a neighbor who can ensure that your cat isn't starving, trapped in a closet, hosting wild parties or redecorating your living room in your absence.
Sara said she recently started a pet sitting service, Urban Pets, to help clients with kitties and dogs that do not tolerate boarding.
When we have used pet sitters in the past, they came recommended to us by co-workers. If you know of a great pet sitter, post a comment and share your recommendations on The Happy Wag blog at roanoke.com.
