The boarding kennel alternative: There’s someplace like home

The suitcases are packed and in the trunk, and your itinerary is tucked into

your purse or pocket.  You’re ready to drive to the airport, but there’s one dreaded stop along the way:  the boarding kennel.  Some folks drop off their dog and don’t give him another thought until their vacation is over and they’re ready to pick him up.   But most of us approach this handoff with a sense of unease and guilt.  How will our dog survive without his evening walk?  He’s used to sleeping on my bed -- will he be on a cold concrete floor?  What if he won’t eat, or gets sick from all the other dogs?

Recent years have seen the rise of a cottage industry that can help alleviate those fears: in-home boarding.  Although this service has been around for years, people offering boarding in their home couldn’t afford to advertise it or buy space in the Yellow Pages. Now, with the advent of inexpensive Web sites, pet lovers have turned their passion into legitimate businesses. 

Occasionally I hear about pets who don’t mind being boarded. But think about it: Being cooped up in a run or cage without much human interaction can’t be pleasant. Some pets come home hoarse, bedraggled, or sick from an illness caught from another boarder.  They would be far better off if they could follow their regular routines: eating schedules, bathroom breaks, and regular walks.

Some people who offer home boarding are independent operators, but franchises and online home boarding placement services are taking a leading role in finding the best fit for your pet’s lodging.  Perhaps the best-known Web service is DogVacay.com.  Log onto the Web site, type in your city or Zip code, and a list of local “hosts” appears.   Prospective customers can find out the boarding rate, what type of property it is, how large the outdoor area is, and how often the host is at home.  There’s also a bio of the host, so you can find out more about the living situation and their experience and special skills.  In spite of the moniker, some hosts accept cats, birds, and other pets.

There’s such a variety of hosts and homes that it seems fairly easy to find a good match.  Some hosts have multiple pets of their own – ideal if your pet likes to socialize -- while others are pet-free.  Ditto for children.  There are hosts who are single retirees in an apartment, and others with large families in a big house.  Some of the accommodations have acres of land; others have small yards well suited for little dogs.  Most of the hosts whose profiles I’ve read allow boarders to share their living space and sleep on comfortable beds or furniture — no cages.

The caregivers’ experience with pets covers a broad range.  Hosts include industry professionals, such as certified veterinary technicians, dog trainers, and professional pet sitters, but pet lovers with no formal training in the pet industry abound.  DogVacay offers a “5-step approval process” of its hosts, as well as online education, to help ensure competence.  

It’s essential to know as much as possible about who will be taking care of your pet; clients can schedule a meet-and-greet to vet a prospective host and can e-mail them with questions.   In addition, each host on the DogVacay Web site has a gallery of pictures showcasing the house, yard, and resident pets.  And in case you yearn for a glimpse of your baby while you’re gone, you can get updated photos on your smartphone every day!   I really like the fact that boarders get free pet insurance, which gives you peace of mind if they get sick and need to visit the veterinarian.

You’d think that with all those amenities, in-home boarding would come with a premium price tag.  In fact, rates I saw ranged from $15 up to $100 for 24 hours, with most being less than a kennel would charge.  To add to the site’s convenience, it has online scheduling and payment. 

Another home boarding service is franchise-based FlipFlip Dogs.  They do things a bit differently from DogVaycay.  A franchise representative comes to your home to discuss and observe your pup’s day-to-day routines for feeding and exercise.  Then they match your pet with a suitable “companion family.”  Their philosophy is that it’s easier on a dog to be picked up at home than to be dropped off by the owner and left behind.  To that end, they provide door-to-door chauffeur-driven transportation.  A great idea, but it looks like they have no franchisees in northern Illinois yet, whereas DogVaycay has dozens of host family choices.

Whether you choose an independent host or one from an online placement service, here’s a list of things you’ll need to know about the caregiver:

          - How many years have they owned pets, and what kind of pets have they owned?

·         - How many and what type of pets do they own now?

·         - How many years have they been caring for other people’s pets?

·         - Do they have size or breed limits for their boarders?

·         - Can they deal with behavior problems, such as separation anxiety?

·         - Do they treat their own dogs with heartworm and flea and tick preventive, and do they require their boarders to do the same? (I wouldn’t board unless they do that.)

·         - Will they mix your pets with those from other families?  If so, how do they make sure they’ll get along?

·         - Is there a yard?  Is it fenced?

·         - Will they take your dog for walks, and, if so, will there be an extra charge?

·         - Is it a smoke-free environment?

·         - Will they accommodate special diets and make sure your pet can’t get into the other pets’ food?

·         - Is there 24/7 supervision?  If not, how long will your pet be left alone?

·         - Do they offer a pickup and drop-off service? 

·         - Is there emergency transportation to the vet in case of illness?

·         - What is their cancellation policy?

·         - Are they able to give oral medications, especially if your pet is hard to medicate?  Is there a charge for this?

·         - If your pet needs injections, are they able to do that?  How much do they charge per injection?

·         - Will your pet ever be confined to a cage?

Finally, visit the home if at all possible, especially if the host hasn’t been approved by an online service.

Sometimes a friend or family member is a great choice to take care of your pet when you’re out of town.  But often they’re doing you a favor and have no vested interest in giving your best friend the best care.  This bevy of home boarders seems like an excellent option, and a good way to avoid that feeling of owner’s remorse: While you’re gone, you know your pet will be having a fun vacation of his own!