Green Acres Kennel

Why is boarding such a good option for pets?

When traveling, people often go places where pets are not allowed such as restaurants, museums and other attractions. For the pet, this means staying behind in an unfamiliar environment or being left in the car, particularly perilous in the warmer months and climates. Traveling with a pet has the additional risks of the pet getting scared and running off, or becoming sick. Changes are usually very stressful to a pet, especially cats, and traveling is a constantly changing situation. Boarding facilities provide a safe, caring environment with a staff trained to care for your pet and monitor their health while keeping them secure. A quality boarding facility gives a pet's guardian peace of mind, knowing that their pets are safe and comfortable.

Why is it not a good idea to leave the pets with friends or family members?

Actually that can be an option if the person you choose is well trained in caring for pets, is around a significant portion of the day and during the nighttime hours, and if your pet gets along well with pets that the other person may have. It is a big responsibility to take care of another person’s pet and can be inconvenient if the pet gets ill or runs away while in their care. Few yards and homes are as secure as a good boarding facility.

What if the pet doesn't do well being boarded?

Although this happens rarely, it is a possibility, and when it does occur any reputable boarding facility will make you aware of your pet's unhappiness and distress and will suggest other options. In these cases we always recommend the pet stay at home and that you hire a well qualified pet/house sitter who will stay at your home and watch over both your pet and home. When you go this route, always make sure the pet sitter is well qualified and your pet is familiar with them; they need to have the same level of knowledge of animal behavior and healthcare as any employee at a boarding facility. Additionally, make sure they have a backup plan in case they become ill or have an accident while caring for your pet.

What do we need to bring with us when we board our pet?

There are several things you should bring with you when boarding your pet.

1. If it is your pet’s first visit, bring proof of vaccinations. All dogs boarding at Green Acres must have current vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper, and Canine Cough/Bordetella. All cats must have current vaccinations for Rabies and Distemper and we encourage vaccination for Feline Leukemia.
2. An emergency phone number where we can contact you or someone else if the facility has any question regarding your pet or your pet requires emergency care. If you leave a third party as your emergency contact, please be sure that they are aware that you have done so, that they are familiar with your pet and that they are willing and able to make decisions on your behalf.
3. Any medications, prescription or otherwise (e.g. Aspirin), that your pet requires. All medications should be in containers clearly marked with your pet’s name, the name of the medication, the correct dosage for your pet, and if a prescription, the name of the veterinarian. Please bring sufficient medications to cover the duration of your pet’s stay as well as a couple of extra days should your return be delayed.
4. If your pet requires food other than what we provide in the kennel, you should bring enough food for their stay. Green Acres feeds NutriSource food. If you wish your pet to be fed something other than what we provide you may bring your own food or purchase any of the food we sell at Green Acres. Any food you bring should be clearly labeled with your pet’s name and the amount they are to receive at each feeding.
5. If your pet will be picked up by someone other than yourself, please leave us with the name and phone number of the person(s) authorized to pick up your pet.  No pet will be released until your account is settled.

Can I bring my pet’s toys and bed?

Yes, you may bring your pet’s toys; however, when possible they should be clearly labeled with your pet’s name. We also request you limit the number to one or two. If you do not wish to bring your pet’s toys, we will provide them with toys that we maintain in the kennel. Please review our belonging’s policy.

For cleaning and sanitation purposes, bedding and blankets from home are not permitted. Green Acres has a large supply of bedding for our boarding guests, and please be assured that your pet will rest comfortably.

How do I know my pet won't get fleas while boarding?

While we cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that an animal will not get fleas while boarding, here at Green Acres we make every effort to be proactive and prevent this from happening. Each pet that boards at Green Acres is checked for fleas when they check-in. Any pet found to have fleas or flea dirt must have a flea bath and Capstar® before being admitted to the kennel. Capstar® is an extremely effective and pet safe product that is used to eliminate live adult fleas on a pet. For more information on Capstar® please see http://www.capstar.novartis.us/. There is an additional charge for a flea bath and Capstar®. Each pet is then checked daily to make sure they do not pick up any fleas during their stay. If fleas, or evidence of fleas are observed, the animal will then receive a flea bath and Capstar® during their stay.

In 1997 we observed that many of our clients started to use some of the new flea control products available from their veterinarian (FrontLine® and Advantix®). These products work very well and we encourage you to discuss them at your next veterinary visit.

How often will my pet get exercise?

During the warmer months the dogs are allowed free access to their indoor and outdoor runs from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM. When we are heating the kennel, the dogs are allowed to use their outside runs several times during the day. The duration of this time is dependent on the weather. The cats have runs filled with climbing posts and toys to keep them occupied. We also have a large cat playroom which we rotate the cats through during their stay.

We encourage you to take advantage of our optional playtime programs if your dog or cat will be staying with us for more than 2 or 3 days. The dogs and cats really enjoy this extra interaction.

What do my pets do during playtime?

We try to customize our playtimes to the activities that your pet enjoys, whether it be simply walking around and smelling the world, playing fetch, playing with other dogs, or sitting on a lap and getting petted and brushed. Dog playtimes may be conducted inside or outside. We will allow dogs to play with other dogs when requested by both clients, providing the dogs get along. Cat playtimes are conducted in one of the cat playrooms by a staff member who will play with your cat using interactive toys and spend some time just snuggling.

Can I have friends and family come and visit my pet while they stay at the kennel?

We do allow friends and family to visit providing you have given us their names and permission to visit. For insurance purposes, visitors are not permitted to visit in the kennel area and will need to take the pet out either to the front fenced yard or off the premises for a visit. Please note that once your pet leaves the kennel building it becomes the sole responsibility of your friend/family member until returned to Green Acres.

It is also important to note that some animals actually do better without visits, as they have an opportunity to adapt and remain in the kennel environment rather than have to continually adjust to ever changing settings.

How do you charge for my pet’s boarding?

We charge for boarding like a hotel charges for a room. You are charged for the day your pet is dropped off and for every subsequent day your pet is here after our 12 noon checkout time. Pets groomed on the last day of their stay are not charged for boarding that day (except Sundays and holidays).

How early should we make reservations and what is your policy on cancellations?

While we wish we could accommodate all of you that want to board your pets with us during major holidays, we only have a set number of kennels. To ensure you get a reservation when you need it, we encourage you to book as soon as possible. Reservations for major holidays and school breaks such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, February Vacation, and Spring Vacation generally need to be made 4 to 8 weeks in advance. Reservations for any summer weekend generally need to be made 2 to 4 weeks in advance.

Boarding is a seasonal business and we need to optimize our run usage during peak times. Some kennels do this by overbooking and then placing "extra pets" in crates. We do not believe in this practice because we do not feel it is fair to your pets or to you. Once we are full we maintain a waiting list. As we get cancellations, we call people on the waiting list to offer them the space and dates they have requested.

In order for this system to work, it requires that people cancel reservations in a timely manner. It is our policy that reservations must be canceled at least 72 hours in advance, or you will be billed for the dates and runs you reserved. This amount of time is necessary in order to fill the run that has been reserved. Thank you for all of your understanding and cooperation.