Boarding FAQ

All boarding pets must complete a temperament assessment prior to boarding.

The assessment times are Monday – Friday by appointment only.

 

I’m boarding my pet for the first time. What should I expect?

• Your pet will adjust quickly to our facility, our staff and routines. Feeding, cleaning, exercise, and staff monitoring are all scheduled events that bring order and structure to the off-leash boarding experience. You can do a lot to help prepare your pet for this environment in the days before your pet is to be boarded. First, establish a routine schedule of meal times and limit feeding to a maximum of twice daily. We will feed either in the morning or afternoon or both based upon your request. Also, we routinely quiet the facility down after closing hours (after 7 PM) to give the pets adequate rest and comfort. It’s best if your evening schedule, in the week before boarding, is stable and consistent, and getting the pet(s) into a comfortable “wind down” to their day by 8 PM to 9 PM will enable them to adjust quickly to the kennel, once boarded.

 

What are your rates?

• Our rates are $38.00 per dog, per day. This is an all-inclusive price which will include participation in daily daycare activities during the week and up to 6 hours of playtime on Saturday and Sunday.

 

How long can my dog board at Paws N Pals? Do you discount for long-term boarding?

• Boarding can be indefinite, although it is suggested that any pet not be boarded over 90 days to prevent any long-lasting affects to the pets’ behavior. A long-term boarder is required to pre-pay. There is a 10% discount for every 30-day stay, but these visits must be prepaid, and we must have a credit card on file so that we can charge the boarding expense every 30 days.

 

What requirements are there for boarding?

• We require the following vaccinations for dogs: DHLPP, Rabies, Bordetella, H3N2 Canine Influenza and H3N8 (Recommended). Vaccination, and a current Fecal within 6 months. We require that animals be well-behaved and not a nuisance or a danger to our staff. We require all pets be spayed or neutered at or by 6 months of age, no exceptions.

 

Can I come to your facility to inspect it before boarding?

• Absolutely! Our tours are done by appointment only Monday through Friday. Tours are available without an appointment on Saturday and Sunday 8:00 to 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm respectively. We encourage all parents to schedule one prior to their pet’s boarding. We also recommend a trial overnight experience for our concerned parent’s peace-of-mind.

 

My dog is on a special diet. Can I bring in my own food?

• If your pet requires a special diet, we encourage you to bring their food when boarding. Our trained staff will follow your instructions to make sure your pet follows a regular diet. By pre-bagging each meal in a separate bag labeled with your pets’ name, your pet will receive the exact amount of food that you feed him or her at home.

 

Can all my pets stay together in the same area?

• Due to the sleeping porch condo sizes we house all pets independently, unless they are small (less than 20lbs). Our sleeping porch condos are 3-foot-wide, 3-foot-tall and 28 inches deep. Keep in mind your pets are only housed here at night, during the day they will be participating in the daily daycare activities.

 

Do you board aggressive dogs?

• No, all dogs must be social with other dogs and with people.

 

What is your minimum age for boarding a dog?

• The primary concern is the welfare of our guests. For this reason, our minimum boarding age for dogs is 4 months. It is generally recommended that puppies get their first round of “adult” shots at 12 weeks (including rabies and canine influenza H3N2) and the second round at 16 weeks. Additionally, in any kennel environment, a young pup could possibly be exposed to air-borne viruses it could not fight off. Our recommendation is to board puppies at your veterinarian’s office until they have reached our minimum age requirement.

 

What makes Paws N Pals a safe choice for my pet?

• Paws N Pals only employs safety-minded, intelligent staff members and all our management team is certified in Pet CPR and First Aid. In the event of an emergency with your pet, we will first follow your instructions and then decide whether a visit to an emergency vet is needed. Management is on call around-the-clock in case of an emergency. We also have procedures in place in case of natural disasters or accidental emergencies.

 

What types of exercise options are available?

• Our facility is designed to give your pet the most exercise possible. Monday through Friday they will participate in our off-leash play from approximately 6:00 AM until 7:00 PM, then on Saturday and Sunday your pets will receive 6 hours of off-leash play each day as well.

 

Why should I board my dog?

• Boarding your dog is a great option to ensure that your pet receives quality, specialized care when you are not able to provide it. Boarding allows you to feel good about your trip without having to worry about your dog being unhappy, bored and alone. At Paws N Pals, every pet is treated like our own and we love seeing the smiling faces of the pets and their owners upon each return visit.

 

My pets like to have toys with them. Can they have their favorite toys while boarding with Paws N Pals?

• Your pets may have one or two toys to play with during their stay. If you bring toys from home, be sure to mark them with permanent ink with your last name. Your pet’s toys will stay with them in their condos and we do our best to return all toys, but we are not responsible if a toy is lost or destroyed. You can also bring in your pets’ personal blanket if you would like, keep in mind our sleeping porch condos will not accommodate large beds. Pets can be highly possessive of their personal bedding and feel more comfortable in their surroundings when they have it.

 

My pet is so thirsty when she comes home from a boarding visit? Doesn’t she get water when she’s with you? Or, why won’t she drink when she’s being boarded?

• Pets will frequently become very thirsty from the excitement and stress of seeing their family and loved ones when they’re picked up. It’s natural and you should expect your pet to be a bit dehydrated from all the excitement at our facility. While in our care, pets are monitored carefully for their consumption of fresh water, which is continuously checked and refreshed throughout the day. And, just like the excitement of coming home, when they first are checked-in and settled in their kennel, they will tend to become very thirsty. We watch this carefully and are sure to provide plenty of fresh water upon check-in to get the pet fully hydrated. After the first 30 minutes or so, they settle into the new routine, get comfortable, and establish regular eating and drinking habits.

 

My pet lost weight during their boarding visit. Was my pet fed while boarded there? Is my pet sick?

• It is natural for a pet to lose weight while being boarded. Most of the weight loss is due to excitement of being with other guests or the exercise they receive being part of our off-leash boarding. Pets that participate in social boarding get constant activity which is not the norm to their more sedentary lifestyle at home. Therefore, they burn more calories during their boarding visit. In addition, some pets are just too anxious to eat their food at each feeding and may also lose a pound or two for this reason.