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Old Pets & Boarding

03/02/2012 12:03:00

This is a tough topic for me but it is something I think should be discussed:

My pet is getting old and its health is going downhill despite all my efforts to provide food, medicine and veterinary care. What are the effects of boarding my pet with health issues that are deteriorating? What happens when my pet passes while being boarded?

It is tough to have an elderly pet. I have 4 that are getting old and do not look forward to the time when their health starts to decline. Fortunately, at present they are healthy and still act much like puppies. However, that is not the case for some "pawrents".

As a boarding facility we have pets arrive for boarding taking various types of medications for various health issues. Of course, these issues are not of a contagious nature or we would not allow them to board. However, when boarding your pet under the best of circumstances, it is stressful regardless of their health status. Some pets board better than others usually because they are better socialized. Sometimes pets pass at an early age unexpectedly and for no 'apparent or visible' reason.

Having been in business for over nine years now, we are starting to see some of the pets we have boarded for so long reach their "golden" years and many have passed on. Some are just getting a little feeble and others are aging rapidly and reaching or exceeding the life expectancy for their breed. I have realized this year, that we, as a boarding facility, are going to have to start asking the tough question "What do you want us to do if your pet passes while in our care?" I wish I could tell you this has never happened here, but unfortunately I cannot. Believe me when I tell you that it affects us as much as it does the owners of these pets, because we, too, get attached to your pets. They are yours when at home, but when they are here, they belong to us and we care about them as much as you do.

"What are my options?", "Will you call me if something happens?" you ask.

If you can be reached, we will contact you as soon as possible. If you are unreachable, we will notify your emergency contact listed in our files. Be sure when you leave your pet in our care we have current "Emergency Contact" information and any contact information available for you if you are traveling internationally. If you do not want us to contact you prior to your arrival to pick up your pet, please let us know when you arrive with your pet for boarding.

For the smaller pets (20-25 lbs) we can preserve them and keep them for you to take home to bury, or if you wish, or we can take them to the Humane Shelter. The shelter charges for disposition of pets and the rates are available in our office. The larger pets must be handled immediately due to lack of appropriate preservation space. The shelter offers two types of cremation - Mass (no ashes returned) and Private (ashes returned to owner) and those prices are available in our office.

I know this is a tough topic for all of us. But, if your pet is elderly or has had health issues, please let us know your desires when your pet arrives for boarding. If we have no information on hand for disposition, we must use our best judgement in handling this situation. A form is available in our office for completion. Please ask for it so we do the "right" thing for you.

Sincerely,

Sharon Kidd

Halloween - Time for Fun but be careful!!

10/18/2011 10:02:00

It is a great time of year isn't it. The seasons are changing, weather is getting cooler and Halloween will soon be here. Time to dress up our pets and take them out for a stroll. If you are dressing your pets for Halloween send us a picture. We'd love to post this to our website. Just email the picture to wckpets@wckpets.com.

It is fun to dress our pets, but we must do so with caution. Consider the following when choosing your costume:

Are there buttons and things that my pet can possibly chew off and ingest?

Sometimes cute can be dangerous so please be aware of this.

Chocolate, raisins, grapes and other food/candy

items can be dangerous for our pets.

Be sure your pet doesn't get any of the above items. They can be deadly!!!

If they do you should seek veterinary attention immediately. Our pets don't have the

necessary enzymes it takes to digest these food and it can be a deadly treat.

Just like our children we want to make sure they are well behaved and well socialized when we take them out for a stroll in their costumes. Also make sure that our pets are on a leash so they can be better controlled and kept out of harms way.

Happy Halloween Everyone... Have Fun ... But do be SAFE!!

Puppy Requirements for Boarding

08/01/2011 12:15:00

In order to board at World Class Kennels, puppies must have had all their Distemper-Parvo vaccines and their bordetella vaccines (2). Most vets have given the series of 4 (DHLPP) shots by the time the puppies are 3-4 months old. During that time they should have had at least one or two Bordetella Vaccines (one vaccine and one booster). Some vets do not give a rabies vaccine until the dogs are at least 4 months old. I am mostly concerned with the DHLPP and BORDETELLA vaccines. Being protected against Distemper-Parvo and Bordetella is most important to me because they are the most contagious and it is important we protect yours and other pets from these two viruses. Your pets are not likely to encounter a rabid animal of any type while boarding, so I leave it to your vets' discretion as to the age appropriate for the Rabies vaccines. I do believe personally that by age 6 months, Rabies vaccines should have been given and do require it after the age of 6 months.

Kittens should have the FVRCP and are required to Rabies vaccines at least by 6 months of age.

It is important to keep your pets up-to-date on their vaccines. You never know when an emergency will happen and you need to board your pets.

Employee Dedication

07/23/2011 10:40:00

When you take your pets to board at a boarding facility, do you see the same familiar faces or do you see new faces all the time?

I am so blessed to have good, dependable employees working in the kennel. Christy & Liz have been here for almost 4 years. You will always see one of them here regardless of which day of the week you arrive or depart. They love what they do and just as I do, they get attached to the pets we board and love them just as much as you do.

When we have dogs that won't eat or seem a little blue, Christy, Liz or I will sit in the kennel with them. If they aren't eating, we'll hand feed them (yes, even the big dogs too!). If they seem a little standoff-ish, we just sit quietly and talk to them in a soothing tone and eventually the dogs will usually start to nuzzle our hands wanting to be petted and given belly or ear rubs. Yes, we even resort to bribery with treats and toys. Not every dog enjoys boarding, but we attempt to make it as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

I can truly say the employees here are dedicated to their jobs. They have put their jobs before family when necessary and been here on the hottest, coldest, rainiest days imaginable. I cannot thank them enough.

Hot Hot Weather - What are you doing to keep your pets Cool?

07/18/2011 07:33:00

Wow!! Can you believe this heat? I don't remember any summer as hot and humid as this one has been and it seems we can look forward to more of these hot days. When the weather is this hot, we get the dogs out early for their morning turns in the play yards. Once it gets really hot they are closed inside and stay cool in the air conditioning. We know that many of the dogs like the bulldogs and little flat-faced dogs don't do well in extreme heat so we don't take them out during the heat of the day. We typically just take them to the play yard, let them do their business and return them quickly to their kennels.

This time of year is tough on everyone's pets at home. Be sure your pet has an area he can get out of the heat and has plenty of cool water. Put the water in a shady area and be sure your pet has access to shade or an indoor area where he can escape the heat.

Stay cool and take care of yourself and your pets.!!

Invitation To Tour Our Facility

07/12/2011 14:46:00

Have you ever been to a boarding kennel that wouldn't allow you to see where your pet will be boarded? I guess the first thing I would ask is why not? My second thought would be "What do they have to hide?"

At World Class Kennels we encourage you to bring your dogs (as long as they are up to date on all required vaccinations) and walk around, get familiar with our facility, and talk to our staff. We feel it is important for you to know where your pets will be living while in our care. When you arrive for boarding here, we allow you to take your pet to their kennel and get them settled in.

Have you ever taken your pets food, toys and treats to the kennel where you board only to be handed them back exactly as you had packed them? Well, here we like for your pets to have their belongings because we find they board better with familiar things around them. When you board the first time (or anytime) we like for you to bring something that smells like you (a dirty t-shirt?). If they can smell you, they feel as though you are close by and this alleviates some of their separation anxiety.

Consider this our standing invitation to visit us and tour our facility.

Our office hours are: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm

Saturday 8am - 12 Noon

We look forward to seeing you and your pets.

Sharon, Christy, Liz, John & Shane

Welcome !!

07/12/2011 11:29:00

Welcome to the World Class Kennels Blog. We look forward to communicating with clients and potential clients. Take a look around the website and offer any suggestions you might have for improving our services and our facility. Since we have the capability now of making changes without having to rely on someone else, we'll be able to keep you up to date on what is happening here and any changes to policies & procedures.

We look forward to hearing from you. Drop us a line..

Sharon, Christy, Liz, John & Shane

Your World Class Kennels Staff