Introduction 

As you plan your vacation, you can visit many websites for advice on where to go, where to stay, what to see, and where to eat. You can read reviews of hotels you’re considering before you book them and see the menus of restaurants before you make a reservation. You can even find out how often your airline is on time. But when it comes to where your pet will be spending your vacation, chances are good you’re flying blind. 

Good news: we found several area kennels that will let you pack your bags and leave your worries about your pet behind. Even more good news: at several of these kennels, top-quality care comes without doggie-spa prices. 

Consider Your Pet-Care Options 

Before settling on a kennel, it makes sense to consider the other alternatives. 

Taking Your Pet Along 

One option is to take your pet with you. This option has the advantages that you’ll share the experiences with the pet, that you’ll be sure that the pet will receive loving care, that you’ll spare your pet the stress of separation, and that you’ll avoid the expense and inconvenience of arranging for care by a sitter or in a kennel. 

But taking the pet might not be possible. Maybe you are going for work. Even if it’s a vacation, the places you’ll be staying may not allow pets or your means of transportation may make bringing a pet impossible or prohibitively expensive. What’s more, having a pet along may be thoroughly inconvenient—what do you do with the pet when you want to go out to dinner, to the art museum, or to a ball game—much less to a business meeting? 

And there are risks. Pets may be terrified and injured if they are handled roughly by airline baggage handlers; some have been left for many hours in airline handling areas or shipped to the wrong destination; and some dogs have died of heat stroke in airplane baggage compartments. Problems also can occur if you take your pet with you in your car. If your pet is not accustomed to traveling, it may become anxious (and might actually pose some danger to you if it acts wildly enough to disturb the driver). There’s also a good chance your pet will become mildly sick as a result of changing water supplies. More important, if you are not careful to keep a pet on a leash at all times, there’s a danger that it will wander off, become disoriented, and be lost for good. Finally, you can’t leave your pet alone in a car, even for a brief time, without exposing it to a serious risk of heat stroke. (If you want to take a dog along, you can get a list of hotels and motels that accommodate dogs in the book Traveling With Your Pet, available for $17.95 from the American Automobile Association.) We discuss this option more fully below. 

Friends and Pet Sitters 

Another option is to leave your pet with a friend, neighbor, or pet sitter. The advantages of having your pet stay with a friend or neighbor are that you can be reasonably sure of the kind of individuals who will be caring for it; you’ll know that it won’t be alone overnight; and you may save yourself some inconvenience and money. But you can’t really be sure how skillfully and carefully your friend or neighbor will care for your pet; a pet may get lost or injured trying to return to your home (if the friend’s home is not near yours); you expose the pet to the stress of separation from you and from its usual environment; you risk injuring the friend’s belongings, pets, or family members if your pet becomes anxious and acts destructively; and you put a burden on your friend. 

Having a pet sitter come to your home to check, feed, exercise, clean up after, and relate to your pet has some significant advantages. Your pet gets to stay in familiar surroundings, eat its usual food, and continue familiar routines (although the timing of routines is likely to be different from when you’re home). Your pet won’t be exposed to illnesses or parasites that can be picked up in a kennel. If your pet reacts poorly in an environment with other animals, you avoid that stress. In addition, the sitter can provide other services, such as picking up papers and mail, watering plants, and giving your house a lived-in look. If you use a professional pet-sitting service, you also avoid burdening friends or neighbors. 

On the other hand, using a sitter has some important disadvantages. Whether the sitter is from a commercial pet-sitting service (see below) or is a neighborhood youngster, you can’t be sure of the skill, knowledge, or concern that will be brought to the job. You are heavily dependent on the sitter’s showing up when promised even if weather or personal problems make this difficult. Unless you arrange for the sitter to stay at your home overnight, your pet will still be alone for long hours. There’s a chance that your pet will slip away to look for you. Your pet may damage your home in reaction to the emotional jolt of being left behind. If you use a commercial pet-sitting service, you give a stranger access to your home. And the care—especially if rendered by a commercial service—can be quite expensive. 

Most of what we hear from pet-sitter customers is positive. But there are enough negatives to warrant a measure of caution. For example— 

“The person did not make all the visits that they were paid for. It was obvious that my pets were NOT taken care of.” 

“It was a disaster. Without asking us, she moved her boyfriend into our house. She cooked dinners for him from the meats in our freezer. And we had to return early because the dogs were not eating and were very stressed. So who knows what else went on... Although we requested she return our house key, she never did and we were forced to change all our locks.” 

“On several occasions, she or her staff forgot to come to our house to care for our pets. In one case, they didn’t come even once during a five-day vacation. On another occasion, they came for the first couple of days, then somehow forgot and didn’t come for the last couple of days...” 

A Stay at the Kennel 

Like the other options, using a kennel has pluses and minuses. 

Assuming everything goes right, your pet will be taken care of and you won’t have to worry about last-minute foul-ups. You can be sure that your pet will not be left alone. Serious health problems will be spotted and referred to a veterinarian if they occur. And you don’t have to impose on anyone. 

But using a kennel can be expensive and, if you don’t live near one, inconvenient. Also, a stay in a kennel—if your pet is not used to it—exposes the pet to the stress of separation from you and from its familiar environment. Stress makes a pet more susceptible than it might otherwise be to disease, and the proximity to other animals might increase your pet’s exposure to some kinds of health problems. At many kennels, these problems are largely avoided by having caring, attentive staff and comfortable, clean, and stress-free facilities. But we received an astonishing number of serious complaints from subscribers about kennels, showing dramatically why you’ll want to exercise caution when selecting a kennel— 

“My dog was returned once with a neck injury and despite [his] being in a great deal of pain, the staff did not recognize it.” 

“He came home matted with feces and food. His eyes were inflamed, even though we instructed them of his sensitivity to cleaning products. He was not fed the food (special diet) we provided them with.” 

“I dropped my dog off there for two days and he came back with the most flea bites that I have ever seen on a dog. He also got a severe urinary infection...” 

“Our dog contracted kennel cough even though she was vaccinated. When I called...they admitted that they were having rampant problems with kennel cough for weeks prior to our dog boarding with them, but they never notified us to give us the option of taking our pet elsewhere... As a result, we had a vet bill and 10 miserable days with our sick pet gagging almost nonstop and throwing up spittle everywhere.” 

“Dog lost weight. He was in a damp kennel with little more than a rag for a bed.” 

“When I commented on the listlessness of my dog when I picked her up, they said she must be ‘tired.’ She turned out to have Giardia and was later hospitalized.” 

“After a week at this kennel, my dog came home with a severely infected wound and had lost five pounds when she only weighed 25 to begin with. I would never bring any pet to this facility.” 

What follows is an effort to help you find a top-quality kennel at a reasonable cost. 

Sniffing Out the Best Kennels 

What Their Customers Say 

To help you choose a kennel that you and your pet will be happy with, we gathered information on Puget Sound area kennels. 

Our Ratings Tables report ratings for each kennel from surveys completed by area CHECKBOOK and Consumer Reports subscribers. Though the surveys asked consumers to rate kennels for their care of dogs, owners of cats and other pets may find the data interesting. 

Although no pet owner can be sure he or she knows what a kennel is really like when outsiders are not around, many pet owners inspect the kennels they use—everyone should—and most are aware of the condition of their dogs before and after boarding. (For more information on our customer survey and other research methods, click here.) 

As you can see, there is substantial variation in the customer survey ratings. For example, scores for “returning dog in good condition” ranged from 55 percent “superior” to over 90 percent “superior.” 

Your Own Quality Investigation 

In addition to the customer reports on our Ratings Tables, you can check various other facts that bear on a kennel’s quality. Make sure to inspect personally any facility you are considering using for your pet and to ask questions. The following are points to check. Most relate to finding a kennel for a dog, but some apply to other pets. Some points you will be able to verify on your own; for others, you’ll have to take the kennel’s word. 

Openness 

• Can visitors inspect the kennel at any time during business hours? You’ll obviously learn more about what a kennel is really like if you can inspect it unannounced rather than coming only after staff has had a chance to prepare. It’s also reassuring to know that a kennel will be continually prepared for other visitors who may come while you are away and while your pet is staying there. Some kennels argue that letting strangers walk through the entire facility gets the dogs needlessly agitated; we believe that’s a price worth paying for the benefits of openness. A second-best solution is for the kennel to allow limited access so that boarding areas can be observed from behind glass. Whatever visitors policy a kennel has, you can learn quite a bit by coming a little earlier than expected to pick up your pet (but don’t inconvenience the kennel by coming outside of normal check-out hours or by coming early for a pet you’ve asked to have groomed). 
• Are kennel staff members willing and able to answer any questions you may have about kennel policies or about your pet’s stay? 

Facilities 

• Will your dog have its own run? The most common kennel design gives each dog an indoor stall or pen that is connected directly to its own outdoor run (at some kennels the entire run is indoors). An alternative is free-standing dog houses, each in its own run. Either of these arrangements virtually assures that your dog will have a chance to exercise, since providing the opportunity to exercise requires little or no effort on the part of kennel staff. 

Another arrangement is to keep the animals in cages from which the kennel’s staff can lead them to a common run for exercise. Although several 15-minute exercise periods per day are probably enough for the health of most dogs, this arrangement is less desirable than the others because you can’t be sure the staff will be as conscientious as promised about giving your dog its scheduled exercise or about cleaning the exercise area after each dog’s use to prevent the spread of disease. You’re safest to use a kennel that simply does not have any cages that don’t have their own runs. We have found that kennels that do not have separate runs for each animal—mostly hospitals and clinics—tend to rate considerably lower on our customer survey question about “returning dog in good condition” than facilities that have separate runs. 

• Are the runs and stalls large enough? Runs should be long enough for a dog to break into a short gallop and wide enough for the dog to wag its tail without hitting the sides of the run. Four feet by 10 feet is probably adequate for a medium-size dog; a longer run may be needed for a large dog. Stalls should be large enough for a dog to move around comfortably. Cats, which exercise isometrically (by stretching), don’t need runs. A two-foot by three-foot by three-foot cage is sufficient, although a bigger space is preferable. 
• Is there a dry, comfortable bedding area for each dog? A resting board in a run lets a dog avoid having to lie on concrete when it’s wet or hot (in unshaded runs). A sleeping box with bedding will enhance a dog’s comfort and help it keep warm. 
• Does every cat cage have a perch for the cat to sit on? While cats are generally easier to accommodate than dogs, this feature is a must. 
• Does the kennel provide a “play area” for cats? This feature is a plus for cats that enjoy additional space and are active. 
• Are runs arranged so that dogs can get sun, shade, and protection from rain? Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and seems to be good for the health and temperament of some dogs. But on a hot or rainy day, shelter is essential. Some kennels have removable covers for their runs; others are constructed so that part of each run is sheltered. 
• Is there a solid barrier between each cage? It’s a good idea to have a concrete barrier or other solid barrier 18 inches or so high between the stalls. This gives dogs the possibility of a little privacy and prevents them from urinating into each others’ cages. 
• Are appropriate temperatures maintained? A good heating and cooling system is important for your pet’s comfort. In particular, short-nosed dogs must be kept cool so they don’t suffer heat stroke and short-haired dogs must be kept warm. 
• Does the kennel have a good ventilation system? Canine cough and some other illnesses are spread by airborne viruses. A kennel’s ventilation system should provide an air exchange every five minutes or so (although this may not be practical in very hot or cold weather). Ventilation is especially important for cats, which are susceptible to some serious respiratory diseases. 
• If you are boarding a cat, will it be kept in a room separate from dogs? Dog kennels can be extremely noisy, and may traumatize a cat that is not used to the constant barking. 
• Is the kennel adequately lighted? Your pet should get artificial or natural light at least 10 to 12 hours per day. 
• Is the kennel’s fencing adequate? The fencing around individual runs and around the entire kennel area should be solid enough and high enough to prevent dogs from escaping or getting into each others’ runs and to prevent strays from intruding. Chain link fences with two-inch or smaller squares are ideal. If runs are not covered or if a section at the top of each fence is not slanted in, some dogs will be able to escape by jumping or climbing. The bottom of the fence should come within about two inches of the ground. Unless the ground under the fence is concrete or another impenetrable substance, some dogs will try to escape by burrowing. If kennel staff is alert to the escape artists, all enclosures do not have to be equally secure. 
• Does the kennel have a central-reporting fire alarm system? Are there working smoke detectors throughout the facility? 

Health Screening and Prevention 

• Does the kennel require proof of vaccinations? Animals are much more likely to get sick in a kennel than when they are at home with you. First, they are exposed to illnesses that are carried by other animals in the kennel (in this respect, boarding a dog in a kennel is similar to putting a child in daycare). Second, the stress they experience while in a kennel makes them unusually susceptible to sickness. A kennel that requires appropriate vaccinations not only assures that you are taking the proper steps to protect your pet, but also reduces the chances that other animals in the kennel will be diseased (and a danger to yours). Dogs should have the following vaccinations: DHLP-P (canine distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvo-virus), rabies, and bordatella (canine cough). Cats should have FVR-CP (feline distemper and upper respiratory diseases) and rabies vaccinations. Your veterinarian may wish to vaccinate for other transmissible diseases (e.g., feline leukemia), so consult the vet prior to boarding. 
• Are animals carefully examined at check-in? At check-in, kennel staff should examine each animal’s eyes, ears, mouth, genitals, anal area, skin, and coat in an effort to detect any disease or parasites. If an animal has fleas, most kennels will treat it at your expense. Some kennels treat all dogs as a precaution. 
• Does the kennel have an isolation room? Although a kennel should refer serious medical problems to a veterinary hospital, it should have an isolation room in which to hold sick animals. The isolation room should be completely separate from the area where the other animals are housed and should have solid walls and doors and a separate ventilation system. 
• Is the kennel clean? Cleanliness is critical to your pet’s health. Carefully inspect the kennel’s floors, walls, and fences. Also be sure that water and disinfectant are not sitting in puddles. Take a good look each time you drop off or pick up your pet. 
• How does the kennel smell? The kennel should not be foul-smelling. A mild smell of disinfectant is fine, but a strong disinfectant smell might be masking other odors. 
• Is bedding washed daily or whenever it becomes soiled? 
• Is the facility in good repair? Jagged pieces of fence and other flaws may be dangerous. 

Care and Comfort 

• What choices of food are available? Find out what kind of food the kennel serves. If it is a brand you are not familiar with, you might want to ask your vet’s opinion. If your pet is a picky eater, ask whether the kennel offers a choice of different brands and types. Some do. Or find out whether the kennel will feed your pet food that you provide. Most will, but some charge for this service. 
• How flexible is the kennel about its feeding schedule? Most kennels feed dogs only once a day. Some older dogs should be fed twice a day. If your dog is on a twice-a-day schedule, find out whether the kennel will accommodate it. 
• Is clean water always available to each animal? 
• Is some form of bedding provided to each dog? 
• Can you bring your pet’s toys and bedding? Most kennels will allow this, but it does pose some sanitation problems and requires some extra effort on the kennel’s part. Also, most kennels won’t guarantee that you’ll get back what you bring. So don’t bring more than necessary. 
• Will the kennel give your dog extra, individualized exercise by special arrangement? Most offer this service although some charge a fee for it. If your dog has a separate indoor/outdoor run, it will probably get plenty of exercise without any special arrangement. But individualized exercise provides human contact that is beneficial to dogs. 
• Will the kennel administer shots and pills? All of the kennels we surveyed will administer pills, though some charge to do so. Many will administer shots. It is essential that many types of medications (such as heartworm preventatives) be continued during boarding. 

Staffing 

• Does the staff show affection for the animals? Most individuals who work in kennels do so in part because they like animals. Be sure that’s true of the staff at your kennel. 
• Is the staff experienced and well-informed? Check how long the kennel has been in business under the same management. Note how the staff responds to questions. 
• What are the arrangements for veterinary care when needed? If you have a veterinarian you prefer, check whether the kennel will use him or her if needed. You can expect to pay for transportation and veterinary fees if a vet is needed. 
• Is a staff member on the premises 24 hours per day? If not, what steps are taken to ensure the welfare and comfort of your pet throughout the night? 

Miscellaneous 

• Do the animals appear to be happy? 
• Are grooming and other services you might desire available? 
• Will you be able to check in on your pet while away? Many kennels now let customers monitor their pets via Webcams. 
• Is the kennel a veterinary hospital (or clinic)? On average, the non-hospitals rated higher than the hospitals on almost every question. We’ve spoken with several veterinarians who have pointed out that healthy pets that board at an animal hospital or clinic are more prone to return home sick from disease picked up from hospitalized pets. One vet asked, “Would you go to a hospital for a vacation?” 
• Is the kennel a member of the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA)? This might appear to be a useful indicator, but don’t put much weight on it. There is no quality screening and there are no education requirements for ABKA membership (although there is a code of ethics), and several kennels told us they did not believe that the benefits of ABKA membership justified the costs. But on our customer survey, kennels that were ABKA members were, on average, rated higher than kennels that were not members. 
• Is the kennel owned or managed by a Certified Kennel Operator (CKO)? The ABKA offers a program for the certification of boarding kennel operators. To qualify, an operator must have at least three years of experience operating a kennel, must earn points for participation in ABKA-sponsored activities, and must pass exams developed and administered by the ABKA. 
• Are any of the kennel’s employees certified Pet Care Technicians (PCT)? The PCT program is a multi-level correspondence course sponsored by the ABKA. We are unable to judge the quality of the program (or to determine whether participation in the program is a cause of quality). 

Shopping for a Reasonable Rate 

Although your first consideration will be the health and comfort of your pet, you’ll also want to consider price. The price differences among kennels are substantial. For example, when we checked, boarding a 35-pound Springer Spaniel for a week would have cost you $105 at three different facilities and $252 at Bone A Fide Dog Ranch in Snohomish. 

Our Ratings Tables give you the information you need to figure out which kennels will be lowest priced for your dog or cat. The table shows per-day prices for dogs of four different sizes, for a pair of medium-size dogs boarded in the same run, and for a cat. At some kennels, the price per day goes up as dogs get larger. But at other kennels, size doesn’t matter much. Cats are generally less expensive than even the smallest dogs. Some kennels will give you a discount of a dollar or so per day per dog if you agree to have two of your own dogs share the same run. 

We also show prices for various services, such as special exercise or giving a dog a pill. These special services are free at many kennels, though some charge $10 or more per day for 15 minutes of special exercise. 

It is a good idea also to ask about another factor that can have a significant effect on cost: check-in and check-out times. A number of kennels will allow you to check in your pet in the morning and check the pet out in the afternoon on the following day and pay for just one day. With others, checking in before noon or out after noon will mean you pay for two days even for an overnight stay. You might ask the following questions when calling kennels: 

If I am leaving my pet for an overnight stay, what is the earliest time I can drop off the pet without paying for two days? What is the latest time I can pick up the pet without paying for two days? 

You also will want to know when the kennel is open for drop-off and pick-up. A very common complaint we receive from kennel customers is that facilities aren’t open for drop-off or pick-up during convenient hours, particularly on weekends. If the kennel is closed on Sundays, for example, you might have to pay for a Sunday night stay even though you are back in town—and ready to get your pet Sunday morning—or you might have to pay a special fee for the kennel staff to meet you at the kennel for a pick-up outside of regular hours. So, ask this question: 

What are your normal hours for checking in and checking out pets, without additional pick-up/drop-off fees? What arrangements, if any, can be made for drop-off or pick-up outside of those hours—and at what cost? 

Before and After 

For your pet’s kennel stay to go well, you not only have to select a kennel carefully; you also have to prepare your pet properly and care for it properly after its stay. 

There are several points to remember about preparation. First, from an early age, teach your pet to get along with other people. One way to do this with dogs is through obedience training. Second, be sure your pet has had all appropriate vaccinations. Since production of antibodies takes time, it’s best to have your pet vaccinated at least two weeks prior to the time of boarding. Third, check your pet for ticks and other parasites. Fourth, do not feed your dog for three or four hours before going to the kennel; this will minimize the risk of indigestion. 

At check-in, tell the kennel how you (or someone else who can make decisions about your pet) can be reached. If you have a veterinarian you prefer, give the kennel the vet’s name and number. If your pet is taking any medications, be sure to give the kennel an adequate supply along with written instructions. If your pet needs a certain kind of food or other special treatment, be sure to give the kennel written instructions and any needed supplies (you may have to pay extra for such special services). 

Be sure to let the kennel know of any unusual health conditions or personality traits (such as climbing fences or biting) so the staff won’t overreact, and mention any special fears (such as the fear of thunder) so the staff can be prepared to calm the animal. Finally, don’t exhibit a lot of emotion; your pet will sense it and be more upset than it otherwise would be. It is often a good idea, if possible, to leave while your pet is still in the reception area so that it will know that you are not still there when it is taken to its quarters. 

After you pick up your pet, don’t feed it for several hours. If your dog is thirsty, give it some crushed ice cubes. In the excitement of seeing you, a dog is likely to overeat or over-drink, with resulting digestion problems. 

What About Pet Sitting Services? 

If you are considering a pet-sitting service rather than a kennel, there are several points to keep in mind. 

Pet-sitting services are usually more expensive than a stay for a single pet at a kennel—pet sitters generally charge between $45 and $75 per day to care for one dog. If you have more than one pet, most pet-sitting services offer discounts for the additional pets, and some charge by the visit, regardless of the number of pets they care for. So, pet owners with two or more dogs might actually save by using a pet-sitting service. 

Unfortunately, you can’t inspect a pet-sitting service as you can a kennel. You have to depend heavily on what the firm says it will do, although you may be able to observe a service that walks dogs in the same area where you walk yours. 

You can find pet-sitting services by asking other pet owners or veterinarians. You might consider firms that have gotten favorable recommendations and comments from CHECKBOOK subscribers comment/readco.cfm?ServicecatID=138">here. Here is our advice for choosing a service— 

• Ask to see current written documentation that the service is bonded and that it has liability insurance. 
• Check references. Ask for references in your neighborhood. That limits the firm’s ability to choose only its most satisfied customers. Also, your neighbors might be more conscientious than other customers would be about giving a thorough reference. 
• Meet with the specific individual who will be caring for your pet. Have this person come to your home. See how he or she gets along with your pet. Note how thorough the sitter is in asking about your pet’s habits and needs. 
• Ask how much time the sitter will spend with your pet on each visit and what the sitter will do with your pet. 
• Ask what training and experience the sitter has and how long the sitter has been working with the same firm. 
• Ask about provisions that are made if the sitter becomes ill or can’t come to your home because of some other emergency. 
• Ask if the sitter will take your pet to your veterinarian if the pet becomes sick. 
• Find out what special services the firm offers. Most local firms will administer shots and medications, provide light grooming, rotate lights and curtains to make your home look lived in, care for houseplants, bring in mail, and forward mail. Some will call you at a regular time to report on your pet, water outdoor plants, and stay in your home overnight. Most firms offer a “key hold” arrangement in which they keep a copy of your house key so that they can go to your home if you unexpectedly have to work late or for some other reason can’t care for your pet. 
• Check on prices and exactly what is covered at each price level. 

Once you have chosen a firm, you will need to work with it to ensure the best possible care for your pet. 

• Make arrangements as early as possible, especially for holiday periods. 
• Give the pet sitter a written and oral description of your pet’s routines and habits—when, where, and how the pet eats, sleeps, walks, and plays. Describe any health problems and medication routines. Be sure the pet sitter knows where to find food, medications, and toys. If the pet might hide, tell the pet sitter where to look. 
• Buy plenty of food, litter, medicines, and other supplies—enough to last if you are unexpectedly delayed. 
• Be sure the pet has identification tags, and that the sitter knows where to find verification of vaccinations. 
• If your dog is not used to walking on a leash, practice with it. Your sitter should use a leash. 
• Give the sitter the name and phone number of a veterinarian and of a neighbor. If you know where you will be, leave numbers that the sitter can call in an emergency. If not, set up an arrangement for you to call the firm or your specific sitter to get messages. 
• Let your neighbors know that a sitter will be coming to your home, so they don’t suspect foul play. 
• Call the sitter the day before you leave to be sure you are still on the schedule. Call after you have been away for a few days to answer any questions. 

Should You Take Fido Along for the Ride? 

If you are considering taking your pet with you on a trip, you might want to consider the following advice, drawn from several publications, including the American Automobile Association’s book Traveling With Your Pet. 

Any Travel 

• Be conscious of your pet’s capabilities and prepare your pet for the trip. Don’t plan a camping trip with arduous hikes if your pet leads a sedentary lifestyle. 
• Before your trip, take your pet to the vet for a check-up and make sure all vaccinations are current. Most states require proof of vaccinations for rabies. 
• It is a good idea to obtain a health certificate from your vet no earlier than 10 days before departure. 
• Make sure your pet has a collar ID with its name, your name, and home address information. Include your vacation destination and the name of a friend who is familiar with your itinerary and how you can be reached. 
• If you will be using a crate, be sure it is large enough for your pet to stand, sit, and change positions. 
• Bring familiar toys or bedding to make your pet more comfortable in an unfamiliar environment. Maintain your dog’s regular feeding and exercise schedules, and stop often to let your dog stretch and urinate. 
• Sedatives and tranquilizers may be harmful to your pet. Drug your pet only if your veterinarian recommends you do so. 
• Don’t forget food and water bowls, a brush or a comb, towels to wipe muddy paws, and plastic bags. 

Air Travel 

Although many air passengers travel with their pets each year without incident, there are risks. 

• Pets can experience breathing difficulties at high altitudes. 
• Pets may suffer from exposure to temperature extremes. Tarmac and cargo holds where pets wait—first to be loaded onto the plane and then for the plane to taxi to the runway, take off, or unload—are subject to extreme temperatures. Heat emanating from a cement surface, coupled with the heat from the engines of the planes, can easily cause heat exhaustion and dehydration in a very short time. Even after the sun is down, a cargo hold can retain and give off heat. Delay can be a problem: the temperature in the cargo hold can become too hot (or too cold—depending on the season) when a plane sits at the gate or on the runway for extended periods. 
• Airline staffs make mistakes. Pets have been forgotten and left on the tarmac in extreme temperatures. Pets have been sent to the wrong destinations, requiring long and harrowing trips to correct the error. 
• Pets can suffer from nervous disorders and trauma. Noise(s) in the cargo hold can be frightening to pets. Also, air turbulence can traumatize a pet, and pets can suffer from air-sickness. 
• Not all destinations will be happy to greet your pet. Hawaii and many foreign destinations impose quarantine laws that require a pet to be sequestered before joining you. Some forbid the transport of pets altogether. 

If your pet must fly, consider taking the following steps to ensure your pet’s safety: 

• Call the airline to determine the policies, procedures, and restrictions for flying with a pet. 
• Try to book a direct flight and make a reservation for your pet. Some airlines allow a certain number of pets to travel in the passenger cabin as “carry-on luggage.” 
• Call the airline the day before your trip to reconfirm your pet’s reservation.  
• If you must fly during the warm season (or to warm climates), try to fly in the early morning or late at night; if you fly during the winter, try to fly during the day. 
• Make sure the crate for your pet is USDA-approved for shipping animals. Be sure that the crate’s latches are in working order. Check that the crate is securely closed, but don’t lock the crate in case your pet must be removed in an emergency. 
• Line the crate with absorbent material. 
• Write the words “Live Animal” in large letters on the top of the crate and on at least one side. Draw arrows to display prominently the upright position of the crate. 
• Check that all airline tags placed on your pet’s crate have your correct destination airport. 
• Secure an empty food and water dish to the inside of the crate. For trips longer than 12 hours, attach a plastic bag containing dry food and feeding instructions. These items (which should be attached to the crate) must be accessible to airline personnel. 

Automobile Travel 

• Never leave a pet alone in a car. 
• Think about whether your pet’s age and temperament are appropriate for the trip. Young dogs or cats may not have sufficient training and could become a burden throughout the entire trip. Older dogs may not be physically fit for the rigors of a long trip. 
• For safety, it is important that a dog responds to such voice commands as “sit,” “stay,” and “down.” 
• A crate-trained pet is more likely to feel safe in an unfamiliar environment, and hotel/motel staff may be more inclined to allow your pet if they know the pet is crated. 
• If you plan to stay in a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast, make sure you call in advance to check whether or not pets are allowed, and if so, ask about the firms’ rules and whether or not you will be charged any additional fees. 

Vets’ Favorites 

As another way to learn about the kennels, we surveyed area veterinarians. We asked the veterinarians to name the two boarding kennels where they would “feel most comfortable” boarding a dog and the two where they would “feel least comfortable.” 

Below, we have listed the kennels from our Ratings Tables that received the highest number of positive mentions from our survey of vets, while not receiving any “least comfortable” votes. 

There is a correlation between the veterinarian ratings and the customer survey ratings. The kennels that received the most favorable mentions from vets got an average score of 80 percent on the “returning dog in good condition” question on our customer survey, while those that received the most negative mentions got an average score of 72 percent on the same customer survey question. 

Paradise Pet Lodge, Woodinville (7 mentions) 

Cascade Kennels, Woodinville (5 mentions) 

Doggy Haven Resort, Bothell (3 mentions) 

Prison Pet Partnership Program, Gig Harbor (3 mentions) 

Puget Sound Pet Pavilion, Tacoma (3 mentions)