Finding a Doggie Daycare/Boarding Facility

Anyone who has had to travel without bringing their beloved dog or cat knows that leaving a pet overnight can be a significant source of worry. While a growing number of hotels, and restaurants with outdoor areas accept or even cater to people traveling with pets, there are times when it just isn’t possible or isn’t in the best interest of your pets to bring them with you, and you may need to consider boarding. Finding a reputable boarding kennel or other arrangement where your dog or cat will receive proper care will give you peace of mind that comes from knowing that your beloved family member is being well cared for in your absence.

Regardless of whether you will be boarding your pets at a kennel or will be leaving them with a private individual, finding the right caretaker will take a little advanced planning and time. What follows are some key considerations to help you make the best decision for your pet and you.

Why it’s Important to Carefully Choose a Boarding Arrangement

Being proactive in finding a reputable caretaker for your pet is important, especially since there are few Massachusetts laws regulating the pet boarding industry, and those laws that do exist tend to offer only minimal protection for animals being boarded.

In Massachusetts, commercial boarding kennels are governed by state statutes and, in some communities, local ordinances and by-laws. Although boarding kennels must be licensed by the municipality in which the facility is located, state law does not provide clear and meaningful guidance regarding the basic operation of these businesses. While state law requires kennels to be kept in a “sanitary and humane manner,” this phrase is not defined in the statutes, and the law governing kennels fails to provide meaningful standards for animal care and supervision, qualifications and training of kennel owners and staff, physical facility requirements, insurance, and other important matters. Although cities and towns may enact ordinances and by-laws to provide additional regulations of boarding kennels within their communities, these local laws tend not to provide significant additional oversight over these facilities and vary from community to community.

Given the lack of meaningful regulation of boarding kennels in Massachusetts, the MSPCA is working to strengthen the laws governing the operation of boarding kennels. The Massachusetts Legislature is currently considering several proposed laws, including “Ollie’s Law,” named in honor of a 7-month-old Labradoodle puppy who died two months after he was injured in a dog fight at an East Longmeadow dog daycare facility. If enacted, these new laws will require the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to adopt meaningful rules and regulations for boarding kennels (including home-based kennels) and dog daycare facilities. The new rules and regulations would address a range of needs including staff qualifications and professional development, minimum housing and care requirements, indoor and outdoor physical facility requirements, emergency response training, utilities, and insurance.

While many boarding facilities and individual caregivers no doubt provide exceptional care for the animals they’ve been entrusted with, tragically, there are numerous examples of pet parents returning home from their travels only to discover that their dog or cat did not receive the care they had expected, or worse, that their pet was hurt or even killed. 

Furthermore, with the increasing popularity of websites and apps connecting people with individuals willing to care for their animals while they’re away, we are now experiencing what some have described as the “Uberization” of pet care. Again, sadly, over the years, there have been numerous instances of people entrusting their beloved dog or cat to a pet sitter, only to find out that their animal had gone missing, became ill, was injured, or had died.

Notwithstanding these tragic examples, fortunately, with a little advanced planning and preparation, a pet parent can improve the chances that they will find a reputable caretaker and that their animal will be in good hands while they are away.

A good place to begin your search for a boarding kennel is by seeking recommendations from friends and neighbors who also have pets. Your groomer or other pet professional may also refer you to a particular kennel. While recommendations from others will be helpful, it is also appropriate to call the local Better Business Bureau to ask if any complaints have been lodged against these facilities. Google and Yelp searches may also provide some insight into a specific kennel’s reputation. You should also make sure the facility has a kennel license from the city or town.

Before deciding who to entrust with caring for your animal while you are away, it is extremely important that you make a careful inquiry into any potential boarding arrangement, and that you both call and visit any boarding kennel you are considering.

Make a phone call. The first step is to contact the kennel to ensure it will be able to accommodate your dog or cat. This is especially critical if you plan to board your pet during busy times, such as holidays or summer vacation periods. Additionally, if your dog or cat requires special handling or accommodations (because, for example, your pet is a young puppy, is a giant breed dog, is on medication, or follows a special feeding schedule), you will want to inquire whether this facility can accept him or her. Finally, during this initial phone call, before committing to board your animal, you will want to make an appointment to visit the facility.

Take a visit. Be sure to personally visit a potential boarding kennel before arranging to board your pet. During this visit, you will make observations and ask questions to ensure it will be suitable for both you and your pet. At this initial visit, you should ask to see all parts of the facility, including where your dog or cat will be housed, exercise and play areas, and the food preparation area. (If the facility does not permit visitors to enter its housing area, it may cite animal stress or animal health as its rationale; however, even in this situation, the operator should still offer you some type of viewing window through which you may observe where your animal will be staying.)

Exercise and Playtime:

• How much opportunity will your animal be provided for exercise or play? Will this take place indoors or outdoors?
• Do outdoor play areas offer protection from wind, rain, snow, and direct sunlight?
• Are dogs allowed free access to their own individual exercise runs?
• If your dog is restricted from too much exercise (for example, if he or she is an older dog with a heart condition), will kennel personnel limit your dog’s exercise time?
• Will your dog play, socialize, or have any other contact with other animals?  If so, what is the caretaker’s policy for deciding which dogs can be together?  (Does the provider temperament test the dogs? Does the provider separate dogs by size, age, and temperament?) How many dogs will be together at one time?  Will staff be present and actively monitoring the dogs at all times, and what is the ratio of dogs to staff in these situations? Are smaller dogs and larger dogs kept separate?
•  If there are adjoining dog runs, are there solid barriers between them?

Veterinary Emergencies: 

• Should your dog or cat become injured or ill while being boarded, who is responsible for seeking medical attention for your pet?
• Where will the animal be taken for medical care? Is there a veterinarian on the premises, or will your pet’s veterinarian be used, and what if there is an emergency during “off” hours?

Animal Health:

• What are the immunization requirements for animals being boarded?  According to the ABKA, “[d]ogs should be immunized against rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHLPP), and bordetella. Cats should be vaccinated against rabies, panleukopenia or distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, calici virus, and pneumonitis (FVRCPP).”
• Are pets also screened for fleas and ticks?
• If your dog or cat requires medication, will kennel personnel be able to properly administer it to your pet?

Safety: 

• What types of cleaning products does the facility use and are they safe for pets?
• When was the facility last inspected by the local fire department?
• Does the kennel have a fire safety or abatement program? (and if it does, how often is it inspected?)
• In case of a fire, flood, gas leak, or other emergency, what plans does the facility have for evacuation?  Is the animal housing area easily accessible to emergency responders?  Is there emergency lighting?
• How will the facility respond if there is a loss of power, especially when heating and cooling systems are in operation? Does the facility have an emergency generator?

Security:

• Has the kennel taken measures to prevent animals from escaping and running away? Are there sturdy, well-maintained fences and gates? (If your dog is a climber, digger, or “escape artist,” make sure the operator is aware of this and ensure that extra precautions (e.g., covered runs, locks on gates, etc.) will be taken.  If you are boarding a cat, ensure that he or she will always be kept in a covered facility.)
• What general security measures are in place?
• Is there video surveillance of the premises?

Additional Considerations When Boarding Your Pet with an Individual

If you are considering boarding your dog or cat with a private individual, for example, by using a website or app, be especially diligent in your vetting process. While many people offering overnight pet sitting love animals and have some experience caring for their own pets, this does not guarantee they will provide proper care for your pet  It is worth remembering that essentially anyone can advertise their services online and some of these individuals do not have the proper experience, skills, background, personality, and/or housing situation to ensure your pet’s good care and safety.

Many of the considerations for boarding kennels discussed above will also be relevant to pet sitters offering overnight care in their home. You will want to visit the home where your animal will be staying, paying attention to the same things (as relevant) you would if you were visiting a commercial boarding kennel. It is also important to arrange for a “meet and greet” to ensure the person interacts well with your dog or cat—that they are comfortable with your pet and that your pet is comfortable with them. And just as you would interview the operator of a boarding kennel, you will want to interview the person who will be caring for your pet in your absence. In addition to some of the considerations mentioned with respect to boarding kennels, you should specifically note and ask about the following:

• What kind of experience do you have caring for animals and boarding other people’s pets? How many repeat customers do you have? 
• Do you have any kind of specialized training or certifications related to animal care or pet sitting?
• Are you a member of the local Chamber of Commerce or any professional organizations, such as Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, and do you have any certifications from these organizations?
• Can you provide a list of client references? (And then be sure to check those references.)
• Will other people be present at your home and will any of them have a role in caring for my pet? (You will want to meet them, as well.)
• Can you provide proof of a recent criminal history background check?
• Do you have bonding and liability insurance, and does it include care, custody, or control coverage?  (Ask for proof of coverage.)
• If required by your city, do you have the proper business license or permit?
• Do you have any other pets in your home?
• Do you have a fenced yard?
• What are your procedures for dealing with pet medical emergencies?
• Do you have a plan for inclement weather and other emergencies?
• What forms of medication are you able to administer?
• Describe a routine day and night my pet will experience while staying with you.
• How often and in what ways will you communicate with me while I am away?
• What will you do with my dog or cat if you need to leave your home to go to work or run an errand?
• If you become ill or otherwise unable to care for my pet, who will ensure that my pet is still being cared for?
• What are your house rules (e.g., Are dogs allowed on furniture?)?