`Dogs don’t tell.”
That, according to one pet-boarding facility owner, is the standard joke among some operators in the business, which the same owner characterizes as “one of the least reputable and most unscrupulous” of all industries.
What won’t dogs and other pets discuss after their experiences in some boarding facilities?
Overcrowded conditions, exposure to diseased pets and harmful cleaning agents, and poor maintenance are just a few of the indignities. All of which means that before entrusting a beloved pet to a boarding operation, it’s essential that you make sure you’ve chosen an ethical and professional one.
Taking time to inspect the interior and exterior of a facility before dropping off your dog or cat is the most crucial step, said Robert Leeds, executive director of the American Pet Boarding Association, a 6-year-old, 200-member national group based in north suburban Wheeling.
Much can be revealed about a boarding operation just by viewing the grounds and building exterior, he added. “When you approach a facility, if the outside looks like a dump, you shouldn’t expect anything different inside,” said Leeds, the owner of American Pet Motels, a 24-year-old Prairie View boarding facility.
“It doesn’t have to be brand new, but it should be clean and well-kept,” he said. “If it isn’t, you know the people probably aren’t going to take care of the animals correctly.”
Signs of poor maintenance include animal waste around the yard, overgrown grass and rusting chain link fences–the last of which can be poisonous to dogs, said Leeds.
“It’s also important that the kennel be surrounded by a 6-foot high fence and that there be a double-door entry and exit system into the animal quarters,” he reported. “Without those double doors, dogs can escape too easily.”
When meeting with the facility’s owner or manager, ask to inspect the part of the interior where the pets are kept. Some facilities will tell prospective customers that their policies prohibit them from providing access to those areas.
“One excuse is that their insurance policies will not permit it,” said Leeds. “Another is that it’s summer, and their employees are too busy (to give a tour). But the real reason is that they don’t want you to see how the animals are jammed into the kennels.”
Bob Beezie, owner of Illiana Boarding and Grooming in South Holland, agrees that a physical inspection is crucial.
“See how the room is kept, and check the bed where the dog will sleep,” he said.
“Also check out the runs. Every dog should have a run where it can physically get outside and get fresh air. Dogs need that exercise. And those outside runs should have some type of covering–either fiberglass or metal–to protect dogs from bad weather or hot sun. Dogs love to sit out in the shade in the summer.”
In additon, Beezie said, the runs should be at least 15 feet long and 4 feet wide, and include doors for dogs to enter and exit the kennel.
Customers should also insist on kennels that keep dogs separate from one another. “If a kennel has 50 runs, the operators should board only 50 dogs,” said Leeds. “There should be just one dog to a run, unless the dogs belong to the same family and are familiar with one another.”
That physical separation is important for several reasons, said Carlos Velez, owner of Glendale Boarding Kennels, a 12-year-old facility in Glendale Heights. “Some dogs just won’t get along with one another,” he reported. “There can also be feeding problems. And if you’re giving a dog medication with food, you don’t want another dog eating that food.”
As you inspect the area where the dogs are kept, let your nose be your guide, added Velez.
“Note any offensive odors,” he said. “If you walk into a kennel and it smells like a kennel, someone isn’t doing their job. On the other hand, you don’t want to smell overpowering cleaning agents or perfumes. Those could be agents designed to mask odors, and you don’t want your dog exposed to that.”
Ventilation and temperature controls are also essential to providing a safe environment for pets. Heating and air conditioning should be provided in the kennel to maintain a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees, said Leeds.
Prospective customers should also assure themselves that the facility isn’t tranquilizing pets, and that medications are not given unless supplied by owners, along with specific instructions.
“It should also have a veterinarian on call and close by, so if a dog gets sick, there can be prompt medical attention,” said Beezie.
In addition, expect a facility to ask for proof of vaccinations, for the protection of other customers and their pets as well as the employees. “Every dog should have proof of vaccination for rabies, distemper and parvo virus,” said Leeds.”Those are the primary killers of dogs.”
The quality and number of employees is one more factor customers should take into consideration. “Ask how many employees the facility has,” said Leeds. “There should be at least one employee for every 50 dogs. And if they’re advertising that they exercise the pets, they should have more than one employee for every 50 animals.”
If you’re boarding a cat, make sure that the facility provides a completely different kennel for felines–again with separation between pets not owned by the same family. And because cats exercise by jumping, greater emphasis should be placed on providing vertical space in areas where they are kept. Every run for cats should have a scratching post and a jump shelf or two, said Leeds.
In sizing up cat facilities, the olfactory sense again is the key. “You can tell a poorly maintained cattery by the odor,” Leeds reported. “It will smell of urine. The area should be relatively clean smelling.”
Finally, make sure that the facility you choose is licensed by the Illlinois State Department of Agriculture. The department makes inspections of licensed facilities about once every three months, according to Leeds.
The cost of boarding pets can vary in different regions of the Chicago area. Boarding a dog can range from $8 to $25 a day, while boarding a cat can cost from $5 to $12 daily.
Expect to pay toward the lower end of that range in the southern suburbs, and the middle to high range in the city, west and north suburbs.
For a copy of the American Pet Boarding Association’s “Ten Commandments of Pet Boarding,” send a self-addressed, stamped business size envelope to: APBA, P.O. Box 931, Wheeling 60090.
