Cheap Pet Insurance

November 12th, 2009 by Jen Newton

Whether your animal friend is a loyal dog, or perhaps a finicky cat that requires special care, it can be difficult locating a good place for them to stay when you head out for vacation. If you don’t have the luxury of acquaintances or relatives who can visit your pet at home every day, you will have to find a suitable pet boarding facility.

Deciding which boarding facility to go with is not a snap decision. You should not make this call based solely on what is closest to home. Perhaps you have some friends who know of a place that is good. In any event, we’ll go over some things you need to look for. Remember, your pet will be in an unfamiliar environment and attention to their needs will be crucial.

Don’t board your pet anywhere until you have personally visited and observed the conditions there. Some boarding facilities are filthy, poorly run, and represent a health hazard for your pet. Take some time to check out the cleanliness and general appearance of the operation.

Do not leave your pet at any facility which does not mandate proof of current vaccinations. This should include a worm check.

Occasionally, veterinary hospitals set up an in-house pet boarding facility for the convenience of their customers. On the surface, one would consider this to be the best option, since it would be near medical care should it be needed. However, there are other things to think about here.

Look at it this way. How would your cat enjoy staying in a hospital environment? Vet hospitals are designed to care for sick pets, with the surroundings to match. Your cat is not likely to get much thought or individual attention in a place like this.

The major focus of a vet clinic is treating and managing care for sick and injured animals. The assistants and other staff usually have their hands full at all times trying to stay on top of things. How likely is your pet to get really good care and attention in an environment like this?

While checking out various facilities, observe whether the pets are being watched while outdoors. In some places, animals are simply let out to play and are loosely supervised. This is not good. Check the fence wire and gates to make sure they are strong and designed to securely contain the animals.

If you are thinking of boarding a cat at a place that also keeps dogs, make sure these two are kept apart. Each one stresses the other, and it is not a good environment for either. Make sure to find out how often any pet you leave will be fed, exercised, and attended to. There should be a routine or schedule of these activities.

Finally, the one intangible you need to look at. How do the people working at the pet boarding facility work with the pets? This is not an easy job and requires a special person with lots of patience and desire. If the workers seem hurried and stressed with their job, this is probably not the best managed environment for your pet.

Take enough time to visit different places and evaluate your options. Pick the one you feel will best serve your pet’s needs while you are away.

Helping your pets stay healthy and happy plays a big role in being a kind and responsible pet owner. Stay on top of the latest healthy pet news and pet products.