As much as pet owners may want to take their furry or feathered friends wherever they go, sometimes it’s not practical. This is why finding a kennel or pet care service you can trust is paramount.
Every year, the BBB receives hundreds of complaints nationwide from pet owners about kennels. Complaints range from disputes over billing to treatment of the pet. Owners say their pets came back from poor boarding kennels severely dehydrated and malnourished or rife with fleas, ticks and even maggots. Worst-case scenarios include pets that became extremely ill from their stay at poor facilities that resulted in lengthy stays at the animal hospital.
If you are looking for a reliable kennel for your pet during the holidays or any time of the year, the BBB recommends the following checklist:
- Check the kennel out with the BBB first to make sure they have a good track record for keeping customers satisfied.
- Ask friends, neighbors, veterinarian or local animal shelters for recommendations.
- Personally visit the facilities. Check for cleanliness and offensive odors, and note the overall safety of the kennel and cages.
- If your pet is prone to running away, ask about steps the kennel has taken to make their facilities escape-proof.
- Ask how your pet may come in contact with other animals. Some kennels let animals play together while others keep them separate at all times.
- If your state requires inspections, look for the certificate on the wall and make sure the kennel is properly licensed.
- Ask about the feeding schedule, water accessibility and frequency of – or fees related to – exercise.
- Note the friendliness of staff members and how they interact with other boarding pets. Ask about their backgrounds and experience.
- Make sure the facility requires that all entering pets have proof of immunization and ask about their policies regarding flea and tick control.
- Ask about the hours for drop off and pick up and make sure you understand the billing policy.
- Finally, ask what happens in the case of a medical emergency or other unexpected situation.
Start With Trust. For more advice on staying safe online this holiday season, visit wynco.bbb.org/consumer-tips- holiday/ or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371. Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A+ to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in the last 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org