|
1. Were the kennels clean? Poorly designed kennels are often constructed using unsuitable materials. The floors and walls of a kennels should be easy to clean and prevent liquids from soaking into the base material. Untreated wooden structures like Wendy houses may look homely and appealing but they are not necessarily safe, hard wearing, pest resistant or hygienic in this type of environment. We use solid wooden kennels in some of our garden catteries and I know from experience that these require constant upkeep in terms of loose nails, wood rot & damp. Dog urine is particularly acidic and during our wet season a wooden structure becomes very difficult to keep dry or bacteria free. If kennels routinely utilise a high pressure water cleaning system - as they should to control bacteria and other diseases, this then cannot be applied within any wooden structure which is why these units ‘more often than not’ smell! 2. Were the kennels excessively noisy? Excessive noise contributes to increased stress. To some extent this can be effectively managed by way of providing enough stimulation to reduce boredom, controlling the number of occupants, providing a clear outside view of surroundings and limiting unnecessary traffic through the kennels. By encouraging owners to bring in their pets favourite toys, own bedding and treats we encourage pets to rest comfortably surrounded by ‘things’ that are familiar. 3. Was our staff welcoming, friendly & polite? Helpful, kind and attentive staff will leave owners feeling far more relaxed about leaving their pets in someone else’s care. For this reason we welcome questions from concerned owners and encourage new customers to view our facilities before confirming any booking. 4. Were you shown where your dog would be staying? There is no reason we can think of as to why you should not be shown where your pet will be accommodated! What is there to hide? It’s never going to be quite like home but any kennel worth considering must primarily be clean, secure and offer shelter from the elements. 5. Did they require proof of vaccination? Vaccinations are a legal requirement to help prevent the spread of disease. Although some veterinary practices may suggest that older dogs or cats need only be vaccinated only every two or three years we insist on annual vaccines - unless your veterinarian specifically gives us the go-ahead. The kennel cough vaccine is not mandatory but is highly recommended as is de-worming particularly over our peak boarding periods. 6. Were there obvious signs of overcrowding? If you see dogs or cats being accommodated together in unreasonably large numbers or in confined haphazard cages this is an indication of over-crowding. In this situation you need to ask yourself what happens in terms of monitoring my dog’s specific feeding requirements, bullying and access to own-bedding. All kennels, with owner consent, offer shared accommodation over high season periods but even so there are limits to what can be considered acceptable in this circumstance! 7. How were your pets when you collected them? If your dog or cat indicates unusually compromised behaviour i.e. signs of nervousness, withdrawal, loss of appetite etc. please contact the boarding facility concerned and enquire further. It’s not uncommon, particularly with small pampered dogs or cats to have them pine initially in a kennel environment, particularly as first time boarders. Most pets settle into the kennel routine fairly quickly but there are those who just never seem to come out of their shell. Whether or not pets are eating is the first good indication of how well they have adjusted – but even so a certain amount of weight loss in certain breeds is not that uncommon! At Waterfall Kennels we go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that pets are eating – even if it means roast chicken as an appetiser. However - in this instance we will monitor a dog or cats weight very carefully and advise the owner, or their emergency contact immediately before seeking veterinary treatment.
|
