Top Ten Things Not to Do When Boarding Your Pet

~ John W. Howell
Photo by Joe Caione on Unsplash

 

This post ran on December 19th, 2016. Boarding pets is a way of life, so I hope you enjoy it.

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This list was inspired by the fact that many people are traveling for the holidays. Not every pet is comfortable going along, so many owners place their pets in a boarding facility. Here are a few hints to keep the outside world from thinking you have clearly lost your mind. Yes, parting with your pet into the care of others is traumatic, but we need to exercise some dignity when surrendering the fur baby.

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Boarding Your Pet

10 If you are boarding your pet, do not deliver them dressed in an outrageous costume. If you do, at best, it may get lost. At worst, your pet will be marked as belonging to a crazy old person who thinks their pet is a child. ( Did you ever wonder why your pet is depressed when you return. Huh Ferd?)

9 If you are boarding your pet, do not ask to meet all the other pets to see if there are any undesirables in the group. If you do, at best, the staff will be too busy to accommodate you. At worst, you will see some characters that will give you nightmares. (This isn’t a country club, Bunky. Your pet has to face the reality of the real world)

8 If you are boarding your pet, do not try to make friends with other pets by passing out treats. If you do, at best, the staff will ask you to stop. At worst, one of the pets getting a treat is allergic to everything. (Looks like Tiny, the WWF champion, is heading your way after helping Brutus get rid of the treat. Hope that the automatic door is working)

7 If you are boarding your pet, do not hand the staff a long list of things they need to do to make your pet happy. If you do, at best, the list will hit the basket the moment you leave. At worst, the staff will realize that taking in your pet may be a monumental liability they cannot accept. (Now you have nowhere else to go, Buster, since you’ve been banned from every other kennel.)

6 If you are boarding your pet, do not overstate the ability of your pet to get along well with others. If you do, at best, your pet will be quarantined from playtime. At worst, you will be called back from your trip to answer a summons relating to your unfriendly pet. (Maybe you can explain to the court that, to your knowledge, your Great Dane never had a taste for Dashound.)

5 If you are boarding your pet, do not insist on leaving a picture of the family to keep it company. If you do, at best, the staff will lose the image. At worst, your pet will not appreciate having to share the cramped space with the photo. (Wonder how it got so wet Buford?)

4 If you are boarding your pet, do not think that by paying extra for a live video feed, you have the right to call the facility at all hours of the night. If you do, at best, your calls will go to voicemail. At worst, you will be banned from this facility and asked to come get your pet. (This is the last one in town, Raymond. What are you going to do now?)

3 If you are boarding your pet, do not spend an inordinate amount of time saying goodbye. If you do, at best, the staff will need to get your pet settled and may tell you to go. At worst, your pet will wonder what is going on and may have an anxiety attack. (Not a pretty picture of you and your pet sobbing on the floor of the reception area.)

2. If you are boarding your pet, do not include all their favorite toys. If you do, at best, your pet will not play with most. At worst, other pets will find the toys more enjoyable and be lost to the pack forever. (It makes you wonder how the toys got out into the general population. Right, Slick?).

1 If you are boarding your pet,  do not forget to have all the immunizations up to date. If you do, at best, the facility has a resident vet who can take care of that for you. At worst, you will cancel your trip since no facility will allow you entry. (Well, too bad those tickets are not refundable)

69 thoughts on “Top Ten Things Not to Do When Boarding Your Pet”

  7. I’m passing this one on to a friend who probably violates at least half of these. I never boarded Dixie Rose, since I figured that would be the end of our relationship. Instead, I opted for pet sitters; luckily, I found a good one who was willing to water plants and collect mail as well!

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  14. Oh dear *rolling eyes heavenward* I fear I might be guilty of some of these. Monk doesn’t travel well, but at least he’s got a great place to be boarded. Now, I just need to remember he needs a shorter goodbye, a shorter list of things that make him comfy, and Mama not checking out the other boarders with an eye to which ones might be “unacceptable” companions, ha!

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  17. That is all good advice. We’ve always tried other accomodations than boarding when we travled, for better and for worse, but all the dogs we’ve had in the past could be boarded if needed. Our current dog, Rollo, unfortunately cannot be boarded. He is too nervous and aggressive towards dogs he does not know, so in his case we must find other accomodations.

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  18. It made me smile thinking about someone delivering their pet in costume. What is going on in an animal’s brain when they see their owner getting ready to dress them up?

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  21. Since we are in Oakland just now to spend Christmas with Mary’s daughter, our kitties are boarded at the “Kitty Hilton”, as we call that animal boarding place near us. There they have the whole attic of a building for themselves, and they’re being spoiled by the staff.

    I did have to leave a list of instructions, though, as Mr. Pickwick needs different eye-drops at different times of the day, and Sister Fidelma needs two different medications with her food.

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