My dogs have never stayed at a kennel. I used to foster rescue dogs; when I went out of town I got a house-sitter to watch the 10-something dogs. Now I just have my own 3, but also a small horse farm. I get a farm-sitter who watches the whole bunch. My gang stay in their own comfortable surroundings, I know they get the food/meds I've left for them, they don't have to get extra vaccines, and they're not exposed to other animals without my supervision. (And it doesn't cost me $75/day...)

In all the years, that I have had multiple pets, I have never considered a boarding facility.

I either take them, or some, farm out the rest to trusted homes (rarely), or we take separate "short vacas"---that is the most common. Or no vacas for me.

It is a big sacrifice, but one that has to be thought of when your pets are family.

I have a dachshund and an in-ground pool. We bought Otto a "Safety Turtle" - actually made for toddlers but the sensor fits on his collar. Inside there is a very loud alarm that goes off if the sensor gets wet. Rainy days are always a test but we feel better about his safety around the pool.

I have 8 little dogs and haven't been on vacation in over 7 years. I could never afford to put them in a kennel and I would never do that anyway no matter how nice the kennel is. I did finally find someone that I trust that will come stay at my house and is very good with dogs but I have yet to take advantage of that. I have dog sat for many people, having a total of 13 dogs in my house at one time. I treat them all like my own which is why their owners love bringing them here.

I don't leave my dogs anywhere! My husband is a Veterinarian, also, and we are blessed with his staff of technicians, who, for a fee, of course, will come and stay at our home for a week or a weekend to take care of our 9 dogs, 2 cats, fish and tortoise.

I have worked as a kennel manager at Veterinary Hospitals, low-end kennels, high end kennels and so-called "pet resorts." The bottom line is that my pets are too important to me! They are more comfortable at home. Pets left in ANY kennel facility are stressed, which lowers their immune system and leaves them open for illness. Stressed pets act out of character, and even the most level headed pet is likely to try to climb fences, escape from gates, fence fight, stop eating, or more.

In general, the staff at most kennels are not real observant, well-educated people! They may love dogs and cats, but they may not notice if your pet is showing signs of illness or lameness.

And then, there are the diet issues! No matter how carefully you TRY to label the food you take in, NONE of the kennels I have ever worked with have EVER been able to ALWAYS feed the dogs the RIGHT food every time! Someone inevitably screws up and feeds the dogs either the kennel diet - usually some crappy- economy - grain based kibble; or mixed my high-end-artificial chemical free food up with someone elses "kibbles n bits n bits n bits". When you go to pick up your beloved pet, you are then greeted with a dog with screaming hershey squirts!! What Fun!!

Nope!! Not my pets!! Check out Pet Sitters International- for what it costs- its is well worth having your pets comfie and at home!

I found a place I feel comfortable with. Clean. Heated and air conditioned (we are in southern Michigan, winters are cold summers are humid) Only can take 20 dogs. Owners live on grounds. Dogs have outdoor run. I can bring my own bedding and it gets washed! Dogs are walked daily! I can call and talk to my dogs. Best of all the owner LOVES dogs the way I do. I feel like I am leaving them with a friend. For one week a year it's an okay deal. Only $15.00 a day for two dogs housed together. I am so lucky! Pet sitters. So far I have only had one that I know took care of my dogs..... the only drawback was she really doesn't love dogs (something I found out after I returned) so they probably did not get love. My kennel guy loves my dogs. I never worry.

We are the most overprotective 'pet parents' imaginable. We live on a farm and pets and animals are at the 'top of list' for loving care. The only indoor doggies we have are 2 toy poms & they go everywhere with us: Alaska, Canada, on ferries, planes, etc. We raised them from birth & have never left them. We were forced to leave them last summer for a few days and it was a major 'search' for 'THE PLACE'. Although I love our local vet, he is not really set up to board pets. Our son told us about Best Friends Pet Care in Okla City. We visited them several times (unannounced) before we decided to try them. Not only do WE love them, our little 'Pommies' love them, they provide all the features & requirements that you mentioned. I do know there are other Best Friends locations in the U.S., & I can't personally speak for them, but our Best Friends Pet Care in OKC is great. We ask that our 2 sisters stay together and they have their own little 2-room condo and have no 'nose to nose' contact with any other doggies. We have never left any of our 'purring pets' there, but we have friends who have and they love the facility as well. The cats are treated to watching a large fish tank all day!!

I love this post! I am a pet sitter, who bills herself as the pet sitter for the neurotic. I would never leave my pets to just anyone and I can appreciate those who want the best for their pets as well. I stay in the home and I think it is much better to leave them where they are comfortable. Cats especially don't do well with change. Yes I get paid to sleep with cats just so they are not out of their routine. I specialize in geriatric pets and I am responsible enough to give medicine and shots on time. It is nice to know that people can go on vacation and not worry about the care heir fur kids are getting.

thank you so much for being their voice. I am a professional pet sitter for over 12 successful years now. My yorkie died of old age at 19 1/2, she was never boarded. People do not realize the unnecessary stress they endure, feeling that they have been abandoned forever. Dogs do best in their own homes and now, many sitters board in their own homes, cage free, they sleep with them, the whole nine yards. Yes it happens, they go home and run back to the sitters car to try to leave, no better indicator that they have been loved. when your dog is glad to see you, it doesn't necessarily mean that he's had fun, he is probably pretty darn glad you showed up to get him out of there! It's heartbreaking, I have witnessed them just sitting in cages, crying and barking non-stop and it goes on deaf ears. How would your pets treat you if the roles were reversed?

Good post. There are a couple of decent kennels in my area...I still wouldn't board my dog in any of them, though. Kind of like Petprincess said, I think dogs feel like they've been abandoned and left forever. Plus, I, for some reason, just don't trust others with my dog...perhaps I am just overprotective?

I just wanted to thank you Dr. Khuly, for your blog. I am not a blogger, yet. However I really do enjoy and use the information you share. It has been really timely and useful for my 3 large dogs and 2 kittens.

I am a professional pet sitter too and appreciate your concern for your pets. I have the same concern for my pets when I travel, but being on the "inside" of this business, I know the kind of loving care most pet sitters give their client pets. I also know of a few really excellent boarding kennels where the pets have supervised play during the day and indoor sleeping arrangements. Some pet sitters also offer house-sitting in the client's home or boarding in our homes, where your animals have the same privileges and treatement as our own pets. So there are some great affordable options for responsible, caring pet parents.

When I lived in AZ, I had a wonderful kennel - indoor/outdoor heated/cooled runs, grassy play areas where dogs were segregated by size and temperment, lots of toys, love and attention. My dog loved going there - as soon as we pulled in he prectically drug me in the door. The owner lived onsite and only kept about 10 dogs at a time and even brushed him several times when he was blowing his husky coat.

Where I live now in CO - like you, no thanks. The kennels here are all substandard - the animanl shelters are nicer. At one point my vertinarian had a staff member who was a pet-sitter and she was great, but was no longer there when I had my next dog. And the one time I hired a friend's adult daughter? She was supposed to stay overnight at my house and clearly did not. Um, that was the whole reason I hired her! Tough to find someone good.