Use These Animal Boarding Tips Before Boarding Your Pet

Do you have pets? Do you leave them at home or at a boarding facility when you travel? At the start of 2020, PETA released a series of animal boarding tips that it is encouraging all pet owners to consider the next time they travel. And they come at an important time. In a press release, PETA wrote that the tips come “just after the group obtained public records from the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealing 19 violations of boarding- and grooming-related regulations—and the deaths of two dogs and one cat—at four PetsHotel locations.” PetsHotel, it notes, is an animal boarding service offered by the PetSmart chain of stores.

The next time you go away, PETA says, you should remember that the “the safest and least stressful place for a dog or cat is…at home with a trusted caregiver.” And if that’s not possible, you should follow these animal boarding tips:

• Ask friends and relatives for recommendations, read online customer reviews, and check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against the facility.
• Take a tour of all areas of the facility to ensure that it’s clean and well-staffed, the outdoor dog areas are securely fenced, the cats are kept in a soundproofed area separate from dogs, and the cat condos are spacious, with levels to climb and hide in. If the facility doesn’t have webcams that allow you to check on your animal anytime you like, do not leave your animal there.
• Ask questions: How often are the litterboxes cleaned and the animals given fresh water and food? How frequently are dogs taken for outdoor walks? Is there a staff member on the premises at all times? What veterinary hospital do they work with, and how quickly can they respond in emergencies?

For more help on the subject from PETA, see the accompanying post here.

More animal boarding tips and pet help

• Traveling with Pets Guide
• This Is the First Website You Should Visit Before Traveling With a Pet
• How to Fly Your Pet Safely With Pet Airways
• 7 Best U.S. Airports for Pets
• This Pet Product Will Help Keep Your Little One Clean While Traveling
• A Fun Idea for People Who Travel With Pets

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