Reservations may be made over the phone, by email, sending a text message, or at the facility during a scheduled appointment (after taking a tour, dropping off or picking up your pet). If you are a new client, you will need to fill out a Boarding Agreement and a Pet Information Sheet for each of the pets you plan to board. You will also need to provide verification of all the required vaccinations for each pet. This may be done by bringing in copies of the vaccination certificates, or by having your vet send them over.
Rabies
Distemper combo
Bordetella (canine cough)
All three vaccinations must be current according to your veterinarian. Animal House will not administer any vaccinations.
All male dogs over the age of 10 months must be neutered. No exceptions.
In the simplest of terms, the bordetella vaccination is the canine equivalent of the human flu shot. It helps protect your dog from contracting canine cough. Just like the human flu, canine cough is both seasonal (usually spring and fall) and epidemic. For this reason, we recommend vaccinating every six months instead of once a year. Your dog is more likely to come into contact with the virus in areas that frequently have large numbers of dogs. This can be a dog park, a boarding facility, a shelter, or even the veterinarian’s office. Dogs can carry the virus without being ill or showing any symptoms. Dogs can also still get canine cough even though they have been vaccinated. Just like the human flu shot, the bordetella vaccination only HELPS protect your dog from the virus. If your dog does contract canine cough, there is no medicine that the vet can give you to get rid of the virus. Just like the human flu bug, canine cough simply needs to run its course. However, your vet can prescribe medications to ease some of the symptoms and guard against secondary infections. If you suspect that your dog has canine cough, it is best to call your vet and get a recommendation on the best course of action for your particular dog.
You may bring anything from home that you feel your pet would enjoy while they are in their kennel at night. All that we ask is for any bedding to be washable, and that you limit the number of toys to 3. If you have a dog that is crate trained, or a puppy that you are trying to crate train, feel free to bring the crate. The kennels are large enough for even the largest crates to fit in. If you have any questions about certain items please feel free to ask when you make the reservation.
Yes, especially if your dog enjoys chews or has become conditioned to expect treats at certain times or for certain behaviors. We will gladly give your pet any special treats that you want to bring. In our experience, dogs that enjoy bones and other chews, have an easier time adjusting to their kennel when they are given something to ‘keep them busy’ the first night they stay with us. Since many owners are very careful about what they allow their dog to eat, we do not provide chews for any of the boarding dogs. However, if you want to bring something from home we are happy to give it to your dog while you are away. Dogs that are used to getting treats at specific times of day, or for performing certain behaviors (going potty, for example) also adjust more quickly to the kennel routine when these at-home treat times are reinforced while they are boarding. If you have a treat-giving routine at home, please specify the details when you are filling out the pet information sheet. Be as detailed as possible so that we can reinforce the routine appropriately.
The exact amount of time will vary day to day, depending on the particular group of dogs that we have boarding each day. On average, it will range between 6 and 8 hours each day. On days that we have very social and well behaved dogs, the total time out of their kennels could reach 10 hours. On days that most of the dogs require individual attention and exercise, the average time could drop to 4 hours. We strive to provide the maximum amount of ‘free time’ to each dog, but do so only in a safe, supervised and low-stress environment.
If we feel that your dog isn’t doing well with the other dogs, we willseparate him/her from the group. During socialized playtimes they will either remain in their kennel or be limited to a separate play area. We will do this for a number of reasons, not just for overly dominant or aggressive dogs. If your dog displays signs of shyness, fear, anxiety, or otherwise appears uncomfortable in the socialized pack, we will keep his/her exercise and playtime limited to human interaction. Many times older dogs, young puppies, dogs with medical conditions, only pets, and working dogs that have a very strong bond with their owner may feel overwhelmed by a group of unfamiliar dogs in an unfamiliar setting. Sometimes, as your dog becomes more accustomed to the daily routine of the kennel, he/she may begin to gain more interest and confidence in playing with the other dogs. As this happens, we will slowly introduce your dog to one or two of the other boarders. If you have specific concerns about your dog being socialized please ask/inform me.
This depends entirely on how comfortable your little dog is around larger dogs. We select playgroups based upon size, age, activity level, and play style, and all dogs are screened before they are allowed to socialize. So, for example, all of the large dogs that enjoy chasing tennis balls and are not toy possessive/aggressive will be exercised together. The same goes for all of the large dogs that enjoy wrestling, all of the small dogs that enjoy playing chase, all of the elderly dogs that enjoy sniffing each other then laying down, etc.
The business phone number is the absolute best way to get in touch with us. It is a cell phone and we keep it with us at all times. If you do get the message box, please leave one! If we happen to miss your call, we check the messages as soon as we can, and will make every effort to accommodate you. If you do not leave a message then we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your needs.
When you make a boarding reservation, you will need to make an appointment time to drop off and pick up your pet(s). Arriving on time for these appointments is important as we arrange the daily exercise schedule around the appointments we have each day. If you arrive at an unscheduled time you may be asked to wait. If you are dropping off before a flight, this may interfere with getting to the airport on time. If you have scheduled to have your dog bathed before pick up and you arrive early, it is possible that your dog will not be ready to go home yet. So, please plan accordingly. We do understand that unexpected circumstances do arise, and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs, but advanced notification is expected.
Should you need to cancel a reservation, we ask that you give at least 7 days advanced notice. Reservations cancelled with less than 7 days notice will be subject to a cancellation fee equal to one night of boarding. Exceptions to this will be considered on an individual basis.
To make a reservation during Spring Break, Thanksgiving, or Christmas we require a non-refundable deposit equal to one night of boarding. This deposit needs to be received within 10 days of making the reservation. We will contact you when we receive your deposit and will confirm your reserved dates. If we don’t receive your deposit within 10 days, we will cancel your reservation. This deposit will be applied to your boarding total.
There are very few items that we do not allow owners to bring from home. The two items that we do not need are food or water dishes. We provide stainless steel bowls and buckets for all the boarders, and prefer that you leave all dishes at home. The one exception to this is an elevated feeder. If your dog requires a raised feeding surface then you will need to bring it from home. Other than that, everything is fair game. Owners are allowed to bring beds, blankets, cushions, toys, treats, t-shirts, towels, crates, or virtually anything else that they feel will make their pet more comfortable. The one thing we ask is that any bedding be washable. If you have any questions about specific items please feel free to ask.
If your dog requires a specific diet, then you must provide the food. Otherwise, your dog will be fed Annamaet dog food. Brochures are available at the facility if you would like to know more about Annamaet, or you can check out their website at annamaet.com.
Payment in full is due when you pick up your pet. For stays of 10 days or longer, Animal House requires a 50% deposit when you drop off your pet. At this time, we accept payment in the form of cash or check only. Sorry, We Do Not Accept Credit Cards!
PICK-UP & DROP OFF TIMES
By Appointment:
