has anyone ever left there pet(s) at a kennel or a boarding service?

Question

was it a good or bad experience

and where did you leave them

live in chicago

Answer 1

I work part time at a boarding kennel.. The dogs are having fun, as we allow them 10 hours per day out to play..they are always happy to come back..the owner can hardly hold them! They are so excited to come back to play with the other dogs, and staff..

Answer 2

Yes, for a 2 week vacation in Chicago. Had a great experience, but you need to check the kennel out carefully. Just dont pick one out of the phone book, make a visit to the kennel. Do they allow outdoor exercise? Are the kennel stalls clean? Is there an on staff vet or do they use emergency service (mucho money)? Do they require kennel cough vac? Do they require proof of vac?

Answer 3

I worked at a kennel in a vet's office several years ago. PLEASE ask to see the kennel before relinquishing your dog. If you're not comfortable with what you see, go somehere else.

During the summer or popular vacation times, the vet never turned down any animal. He had us stuff dogs in the smallest space possible and kept dogs together if they didn't fight. They were fed once a day and taken out to use the bathroom once a day. Before the owners picked their dogs up, we'd give them a bath and blow dry to hide the stench it was living in.

Not all vets or kennels are like this, but for some, it is all about the money. So go back there and look for yourself what your dog will have to go through.

Answer 4

I have had both experiences. I hate to leave my dog behind, I always feel like I am letting him down somehow, but there are times when I just can't take him with me.

Best advice is to check out several kennels first. Call them for rates of course, but also go there and see what it is like. There are some wonderful kennels where that folks actually care about the pets and there are some nasty, unclean places that are best avoided.

Answer 5

you need to do some research and go check on these kennels before you put your pet's there, check to see if they would treat you pet the way you feel his needs need to be met.only you know how your pet is used to being treated. talk to the care-person who will be watching your pet.notice how they are with there animals . a good kennel person will be willing to work with you so that your happy with your decision. i worked at a rescue kennel and it also would board dogs, i advise you to find out how many dogs there caring for and most of all how many people do they have on as staff. the less staff when there are many dogs to care for leaves little time for special needs as far as comforting . i always tried to meat all the dogs needs, but when you have a 100 dogs and only 1 full time on staff its not easy. so always make sure there are enough people on staff to meet your needs as well as the other pets.

Answer 6

Boarding your pet can be traumatic enough for the animal even in a good boarding place.
Make sure you are checking out the boarding places first, ask LOTS of questions, and walk around, how are the other animals doing?
The best thing to do is to ask your vet to recommend a place. If the vet you use doesn't have their own boarding, they will at least have a few businesses they trust that they can refer you too.

I've had both good and bad experiences, but only good since I've started using the place my vet told me about.

Answer 7

It was a good experience. My vet's office has a kennel service as well so I felt extra comfortable leaving them there because they were familiar with the staff and since it was at the vet, if anything were to go wrong with my pet, the vet was right there to take care of it.
Some kennels will give you a free day before your actual trip away, to let your dog get used to the place, and see that you will come back for him/her.
Ask your vet to recommend some places in your area.
One of my dogs got a little diarrhea once I got back, but I was told that was normal. Once I got back the dogs stress level went down and he stomach muscles weren't as tense. The vet told me to give her a little pepto and she was fine.

Answer 8

Yes. Mine has been good, I have heard or bad ones. Check them out like you would day care for you kids. Drop in unannounced , how are the animals being treated is there an area that they can run in, is there clean water, how do the other dogs act when they see the owner or employees? Get reference and follow thru with calling, ask them how they first heard of this kennel. Ask your vet if she recommends one.

Answer 9

When I've had to leave my pets for boarding for any length of time I ALWAYS take them to my Vet....
I know they're in good hands and the price is about the same as a kennel

Answer 10

i used to leave my dog in whenever i traveled. it was never bad, he always came home clean and happy to see me.
i now work at a kennel as a playpal, i spend 5-7 hrs a day walking and playing with the dogs and cats. they get feed, they get clean bedding, they get treats, they get their medicines if they are on any. it just depends on where you take them. make sure u reasearch the place BEFORE you drop ur pet off. go in and see theboarding area. it should not have a super strong smell, now there will b a smell anytime u have 10+ dogs in an area together, but it should not be so bad that u cant be in the room.
good luck, and make sure u take a blanket, bedding or something ur dog has at home with him to the kennel so he has a little bit of home in there with him. also its generally ok to take in special treats or food for ur dog as well. this is ur dogs vacation as well as urs, make sure its not a bad one.