Monday, August 20, 2012

Tips on selecting San Antonio Dog Boarding Kennels

Dog Kennels in San Antonio

Are you going out of town? A boarding kennel can give your pet quality care—and can give you peace of mind.

Your pet depends on you to take good care of him/her—even when you have to be out of town. Friends and neighbors may not have the experience or time to properly look after your pet, particularly for longer trips. Leave pet care to the professionals, such as a pet sitter or boarding kennel.

(All information supplied by the Humane Society of the United States)

A dog boarding facility specializing in care and overnight boarding allows your pet to:
  •     Avoid the stress of a long car or airplane ride to your destination.
  •     Stay where he's welcome (unlike many hotels).
  •     Receive more attention and supervision than he would if home alone most of the day.
  •     Be monitored by staff trained to spot health problems.
  •     Be secure in a kennel designed to foil canine and feline escape artists.

Potential drawbacks to using a boarding kennel include:

  •     The stress related to staying in an unfamiliar environment.
  •     The proximity to other pets, who may expose your pet to health problems.
  •     The difficulty of finding a kennel that accepts pets other than dogs and cats.
  •     The inconvenience of the drive over, which can be especially hard on a pet easily stressed by car travel.

How to find a good kennel

Ask a friend, neighbor, veterinarian, animal shelter, or dog trainer for a recommendation. You can also check the Yellow Pages under "Kennels & Pet Boarding." Once you have names, it's important to do a little background check.

Find out whether your state requires boarding kennel inspections. If it does, make sure the kennel you are considering displays a license or certificate showing that the kennel meets mandated standards.

After selecting a few kennels, confirm that they can accommodate your pet for specific dates and can address your pet's special needs (if any). If you're satisfied, schedule a visit.
What to look for

On your visit, ask to see all the places your pet may be taken. Pay particular attention to the following:

  •     Does the facility look and smell clean?
  •     Is there sufficient ventilation and light?
  •     Is a comfortable temperature maintained?
  •     Does the staff seem knowledgeable and caring?
  •     Are pets required to be current on their vaccinations, including the vaccine for canine kennel cough (Bordetella)? (Such a requirement helps protect your animal and others.)
  •     Does each dog have his own adequately sized indoor-outdoor run or an indoor run and a schedule for exercise?
  •     Are outdoor runs and exercise areas protected from wind, rain, and snow?
  •     Are resting boards and bedding provided to allow dogs to rest off the concrete floor?
  •     Are cats housed away from dogs?
  •     Is there enough space for cats to move around comfortably?
  •     Is there enough space between the litter box and food bowls?
  •     How often are pets fed?
  •     Can the owner bring a pet's special food?
  •     What veterinary services are available?
  •     Are other services available such as grooming, training, bathing?
  •     How are rates calculated?

Prepare your pet

Be sure your pet knows basic commands and is well socialized around other people and pets; if your pet has an aggression problem or is otherwise unruly, she may not be a good candidate for boarding. Before taking your animal to the kennel, make sure she is current on vaccinations.

It's also a good idea to accustom your pet to longer kennel stays by first boarding her during a short trip, such as a weekend excursion. This allows you to work out any problems before boarding your pet for an extended period.

Before you head for the kennel, double-check that you have your pet's medications and special food (if any), your veterinarian's phone number, and contact information for you and a local backup.

When you arrive with your pet at the boarding facility, remind the staff about any medical or behavior problems your pet has, such as a history of epilepsy or fear of thunder. After the check-in process, hand your pet to a staff member, say good-bye, and leave. Avoid long, emotional partings, which may upset your pet. Finally, have a good trip, knowing that your pet is in good hands and will be happy to see you when you return.

Click HERE for the best San Antonio Dog Boarding Facilities



 

Monday, July 9, 2012

For Dog Lovers...


We all love dogs.  Here is a beautiful perspective on our relationship with them...


Friends for Life Animal Rescue and Adoption Organization (in Houston) Executive Director, Salise, wrote this:
On Zeus:

Brene Brown wrote that the truest measure of courage is vulnerability. The sheer, raw courage it takes to offer your heart again and again knowing that it will be broken is mind-blowing. We animal people love these tiny, fragile beings who outnumber us and whom we will almost always outlive. We struggle against odds, to save them—even to save waves of them sometimes.

We invest our spirits and our hopes in them. We let them into the core of us. We let ourselves need them—see them as bedrock. But they are not bedrock. They are fleeting and fragile. Imposing ourselves on their timetable is like trying to hold back the next phase of the moon—the cycles are older than we are as a species. The rhythm is untouchable by anything we believe or need. Whether we throw rocks at it or land on it, the moon remains the same. But if we are wise and very present we will not miss the deep orange smile of a harvest full moon or the wisp of a white crescent. Animals move and breathe in a world we can only briefly intersect. For a precious time, two worlds overlap. If we are wise and very present, we will not miss it. But unlike watching the moon, we risk everything to be there.

There is a lesson for the taking about loving without reserve or regret. Everything we care about is transient and our task is to love anyway. We rush into loving them like firefighters into a burning building. Firefighters will tell you that heroes do not deliberate. They rush in. They commit. But in our equation it is we, the courageous heroes risking it all who in the end are truly saved. Honor the courage in us it takes to be so vulnerable. Honor the resolve it takes to hold our hearts open like blinking into the noon sun. Every impulse is to close off—protect. But that leaves just dark.

And though there is a moment the line of the x axis intersects the line of the y axis, each has its own unique trajectory. It is arrogance to think that one may re-plot the course of the other beyond that single instant of intersection. That single plot point may be a moment, a week, a month or years. But never forget that it is not ours to control or to live beyond. We move in our experience with these marvelous beings within this tiny plot point in their greater journey.

The magnificent characteristic of animal lovers is our willingness to live in their time. We know from the beginning that it will never match ours. But we rush in. We bolt up the stairs, toward the fire and toward the light.

We are heroes but they are our saviors.
  We thank you Salise for writing such a poignant perspective on our relationship with animals...

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Tips on Dog Boarding

Dog Boarding Tips
Prices and services for kennels vary, but whether you choose your vet's office or a lavish "bed-and-biscuit" resort with complementary grooming and aromatherapy, keep these considerations in mind.
  •     Trust your senses (as well as your common sense) when visiting a kennel as a possible "vacation" spot for your dog.
  •     Make sure that the whole kennel, outdoor and indoor runs included, is clean and orderly.
  •     Make sure there are no offensive odors. There should be adequate ventilation. A well-run kennel should not stink of doggy odors.
  •     Make sure the temperature is adequate, not too warm and not too cold.
  •     Ask to see the outdoor running area. It should be close to spotless and made of gravel or concrete.
  •     Ask how frequently the areas are cleaned.
  •     All responsible kennel owners and operators will ask you about your dog's vaccinations and will require proof of certain shots.
  •     All responsible kennel owners and operators will show you each area in which the dogs are kept.
  •     The outdoor runs – and the whole kennel should be very secure. Many dogs will attempt to break out, so talk to the kennel owners about this if you're worried.


Some last tips...

Bring along your dog's bed or favorite toys. When you leave, be positive and upbeat. Tell your dog "Here we are, Fido--it's your summer vacation. Good boy/girl!!" Do not apologize to your dog, he will sense your discomfort and become upset himself. Keep the goodbyes short and sweet.You may return and find that your dog enjoyed his "vacation" just as much as you did!

Good luck!  Keep checking back as we compile a list with the best dog boarders in San Antonio TX!
 

Thursday, July 5, 2012

San Antonio Dog and Puppy - Boarding.. just like home!

My own life-size play toy! 

Nothing can compare to a kiss from your baby or puppy, or the love you give them.  However, I have been busy searching, and there are a few unique boarding homes in San Antonio that will be a home away from home for your dog or puppy.  They even come with their very own kisses.  Check back soon for San Antonio's best dog boarding homes with all exclusive pictures and reviews!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Dog Boarding in San Antonio TX

Dog Boarding in San Antonio

Welcome San Antonio!  This is our first blog post.  Do you want the best for your dog?  We do.  We have had lots of trouble finding a really good dog boarding place in San Antonio, especially in the summer months because of the heat.  So we are doing something about it!  Our goal is to bring you information, pics, and reviews of all the Doggy Boarding Hotels in San Antonio TX.  Bookmark us now and keep checking back as we showcase and interview all the dog boarding places in San Antonio TX.
Pet boarding in San Antonio
Buddy takes a break from the heat...