When choosing a boarding facility, ensuring your pet’s safety and comfort should be your top priority. While we are advocates for in-home pet sitting because of all its benefits for both pets and their parents, here are the key factors you should consider when choosing the right boarding facility for your pet. The right choice can mean the difference between enjoying your trip and potentially having a nightmare experience while far away!
1. Age, Health, and Behavior Requirements
Before booking a boarding stay, verify that your pet meets the facility’s requirements as follows:
- Age: Many boarding facilities require pets to be at least 16 weeks old and fully vaccinated before they can stay. Puppies and kittens may need additional care, so check if the facility accommodates young pets.
- Health: Ensure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations such as rabies, distemper, bordetella (for dogs), and feline leukemia (for cats). Some facilities may also require flea and tick prevention treatments or a recent vet check-up.
- Behavior: Facilities often have guidelines for pet behavior. Dogs should be socialized, while cats should be comfortable in confined spaces like kennels or private rooms. If your pet has special needs, is reactive toward strangers, or has anxiety, discuss these with the staff beforehand to ensure your pet will have a positive experience.
Last week, I delved into this topic a bit further. Check it out here.
2. Reviews and References
Researching a boarding facility’s reputation can provide valuable insights into the quality of care they offer. Do your due diligence to ensure your pet’s safety and well-being:
- Online Reviews: Check platforms like Google or Facebook for feedback from other pet parents. Look for consistent positive comments about cleanliness, staff attentiveness, and overall experience.
- References: If you have access to references from friends, family, or your veterinarian, ask about their experiences with the facility. Personal recommendations can be especially helpful in choosing a trusted provider.
3. Meeting Socialization & Activity Needs
Dogs
For dogs that thrive on interaction, choose a facility with opportunities for socialization:
- Group play sessions for well-socialized dogs
- Separate areas for shy or older pets who prefer quiet time
- Staff-supervised activities to ensure safety during interactions
- Ample daily exercise and enrichment activities to ensure your dog’s needs for movement and mental stimulation are met
Cats
Cats typically prefer solitude but may benefit from enrichment activities like toys or climbing structures in private spaces. Ensure the facility accommodates your pet’s temperament and preferences.
4. Medication Administration
If your pet requires medication or special care, confirm that the staff is trained to handle these needs:
- Ask about their process for administering medications (oral, topical, or injections)
- Ensure they have protocols to prevent errors and accidents
- Provide clear instructions and ensure they follow your veterinarian’s recommendations
5. Personalized Care Options
Every pet is unique, so choose a facility that offers customizable services like these:
- Tailors feeding schedules based on your pet’s routine
- Allows comfort items like blankets or toys from home to reduce stress
- Provides updates during their stay (photos or reports) to give you peace of mind
How PCPSI Can Help With Boarding
As professional in-home pet sitters, we believe that the safest, most comfortable option for pets and their families is in-home pet care. That said, in some cases, in-home pet sitting does not provide enough interaction and supervision. This usually applies to high and special needs pets including:
- Young puppies and kittens
- Geriatric cats and dogs
- Special needs pets with mobility issues, cognitive decline, or other longterm health concerns
- Highly social dogs and those with separation anxiety that need more constant interaction and engagement
It may also apply to long vacations and trips, usually over 10 days to 2 weeks.
In the case that your pet requires more one-on-one attention than we can offer in 4 pet sitting visits per day, our team is happy to coordinate our pet taxi service with your boarding facility. With this alternative, your pets receive constant supervision, interaction, and attention from a boarding facility or veterinary clinic during your trip. We can then bring them home in time for you get home from your travels. With this plan, your pet gets the interaction he or she needs and you get the convenience of having your pet transported on your behalf.
The Best Care for Dallas Pets
Finding the right boarding facility takes time and research, but it’s worth it to ensure your pet’s happiness and safety while you’re away. By verifying age and health requirements, checking reviews, and ensuring the facility can meet your pet’s socialization, activity, and medication needs, you’ll make an informed decision that benefits both you and your beloved companion. Your pet deserves the best care possible—choose the care option that best suits their needs and allows you to enjoy your time away!
Park Cities Pet Sitter proudly provides cat sitting, dog sitting, and dog walking services in Bluffview, Deep Ellum, Downtown, Highland Park, Knox Henderson, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Lower Greenville, Medical District, North Dallas, Oak Lawn, Northwest Dallas, Northeast Dallas, Old East Dallas, Preston Hollow, Turtle Creek, University Park, Victory Park.
To learn more about our services, please visit our FAQs and contact us at 214-828-0192 and [email protected]. You may also register via our client portal here. Existing clients, please submit reservations via this link.
To joining our team as a pet care provider, please click here.
If you are outside our greater Dallas service area, visit Pet Sitters International and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters to find a pet sitter near you.
