If your pet is almost like one your children then you don’t want to leave them with just any old person.
You want a clean, well maintained, and loving environment where they will be comfortable until you return. You will rest easier knowing they are being watched over and your pet’s anxiety about your absence will be lessened.
Consulting friends and acquaintances can be a great first step in finding the correct boarding service. Veterinarian offices in Long Beach also often offer boarding services, which are especially ideal for pets with health or behavioral issues. Finally, this site will equip with you many good listings of well-qualified and highly recommended boarding service providers located in Long Beach.
It is best to make a list of several boarding facilities that look promising, and then give them each a call to get some basic information. You will want to find out what types of pets they board and how many staff they have on site.
You should also inquire about their connections with nearby vets in case of emergency. Ask them about procedures and routines for the care of the animals as well. What types of exercise schedules do they give the pets? What about feeding schedules? How much personal attention does each pet get per day?
You should also inquire about their affiliations with national and local Kennel and Boarding associations. It is best to keep a list of each kennel you call along with some notes on the details of each one, so that you can review them later and decide on the right one.
Once you have decided on a kennel, you should arrange a visit to the facility. Ask them to give you a tour of the grounds and get to know the staff. Make some observations about the general conditions.
You will want to notice how clean the kennel is and what types of cages or pens are used. Hopefully each animal is in a separate pen with solid walls on either side. You should also be able to get an idea about how happy and content the animals seem and observe how the staff interacts with them.
Next you will want to find out about spefific regulations and plicies the kennel may have. A good kennel will require animals to be vaccinated and treated for fleas and ticks before admission. Some provide food while others allow you to bring your own if your animal eats a particular variety. You should also find out if you need to provide leashes, pet beds, and other personal items for the pet.
Now that you have decided on the right facility, it is time to make appointments, ensure that they have the space for your pet for the dates of your absence and be sure they haven’t double-booked.
Get permission to bring your pet to the facility ahead of time to walk them around the grounds and get them used to the strange surroundings. Then spend some time giving the pet lots of extra attention before you go. This will ease the pet’s anxiety as well as your own worries.