Carolyn L. Cheney
Board of Directors
What do we do with our beloved dog(s) when we want to go away for a few days or an extended period of time? From years of experience of having pets, we have handled the situation in different ways. When my husband was stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., we saw a group of dogs running around the housing area. We knew they were obviously strays who had probably been abandoned by folks who had left the post. One night Joe brought home one of the strays. We named him Deros, and he was with us for many years.
Deros, who had quite a few street ways, was quite a wild critter. We wanted to go away for a weekend so we took him to a boarding kennel. When we picked him up, they said they would be unable to keep him again. We got the message. Apparently Deros thought he was king of the pack and tried to prove it. Needless to say Deros started traveling with us all of the time, and it worked well. He liked our camper.
Sheba, a dog we had before our current dog, was a wonderful traveler and stayed with us in hotels. This works well for people who have well-behaved dogs. Most hotels charge a daily dog fee, and they ask that you not leave the dog alone in the room. We usually stayed at a particular hotel in Portland that was very dog-friendly. I noticed that the hotel put all of the dog owners and their dogs in one section of the hotel. We always had a bit of a doggie smell about us, but we had a happy dog so we tolerated our doggie perfume.
One of the few times we went away for a two-week period, we hired a pet sitter. A friend of mine had a very trustworthy teenage son, and he agreed to live in our home and take care of Sheba. This arrangement worked very well for us and enabled us to relax knowing Sheba was in good hands. This method of taking care of animals is well worth the money. Sheba was quite old at this time, and we were concerned about taking her out of her home environment. She bonded with her sitter very quickly, and when we got home, she was not that anxious to see us. Even though we felt a little bad about the lack of an exciting welcome, we were pleased that she was happy with the sitter.
When we got out present dog, Henry, we made the decision we were going to get him accustomed to going to a boarding kennel. He started going when he was about 6 months old.
The Humane Society of the United States recommends before boarding, you physically check out a few kennels in your area. It is important that you feel totally comfortable when you leave your pet in someone’s care. It is important to ensure the kennel is clean and well ventilated, and that the staff is knowledgeable and caring. The kennel operator should require proof of vaccinations and that the animal is well. Make sure the inside run or individual enclosure is comfortable and find out how and when do the dogs get exercise. Some kennels have outside individual runs; other kennels allow the dogs to play together in an outside enclosure if the owners approve. It is important that when you make arrangements to board your pet to make the kennel operator aware of any quirks, medical problems or behavior problems your pet may have.
I would suggest that first you board your dog for a couple of days to see how he does. When we board Henry, we take his bed, his medications and his food. It is important the dog be socialized or he might not be the best candidate for a boarding kennel.
Being an “only child,” Henry loved the other dogs. In fact he was too social. After he was neutered, he was a much more welcomed guest. Now when Henry sees me take his bed and put everything in the car, he wags his little short tail so fast. He knows where he is going and that he is going to be able to play with all kinds of dogs.
Please visit us at the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We have many cats and dogs waiting to go to their own homes.
