Pros and cons of boarding your pets with kennels
If you own pets and are planning to go away on holiday, you are probably wondering what you should do with them.
There are some holiday destinations that are pet-friendly, but not many! Taking your pet on holiday also means long drives for Fluffy, and he might not be used to this. You know your pet best, so before you make a decision, consider the following…
If you book your dog into a boarding kennel, you can rest assured that your pet will be looked after properly. Your pets will be fed properly and they will be given shelter. If your pet has a medical problem or injury, the kennels staff will take him to the vet to be attended to. Their cages are sterilised before they arrive and the cages are cleaned daily. They also get a chance to run around to meet other dogs.
However, if you have an aggressive dog, especially one that jumps fences, he might not be allowed to stay at the kennels. As much as they want to help you, they have to think of their safety and the safety of other dogs.
Although it is compulsory for all boarding animals to bring proof of vaccinations, there is still a risk of diseases that cannot be prevented by vaccines. If you are planning to leave your dog for a while, you are advised to dip him with a strong dip that will keep fleas and ticks away. The kennels do dip the dogs once a week. However, there are some pets that don’t like to be dipped by non-family members. Some pets also have sensitive skin and require special dip.
Also, if your dogs get easily stressed, you should leave his calming pills with the kennels staff. Over December, there are thunderstorms and fireworks, and this could make Fluffy anxious, especially if he is in a strange place. Some dogs will bark continuously when their owner leaves them at the kennels. However, this will only last a day or two and all animals will settle in once they have adapted to the new environment.
There is a charge of R30 a day which is payable on arrival at the kennels. This is the price at the Ladysmith Animal Anti-Cruelty League, but prices may vary for the rest of the country. When you arrive, you will also have to fill out a compulsory form, stating that when you leave your animal at the boarding kennels, you do so at your own risk.
