When a family emergency, illness, or travel forces people to leave their home, many are constantly confronted with the heart wrenching question of how or who will care for their much-loved animals. Some pet owners attempt to solve this problem by taking their pets with them, only to discover that hotel restrictions, travel-induced pet illness, and runaway pets can turn their trip into a disaster. Often neighbors or friends are asked to care for a pet, but being good-intentioned does not equal being knowledgeable about the pets. Again, the results are often unsatisfactory. Pets entrusted to such part-time custodians frequently escape or become seriously ill because of lack of reliable, frequent, and knowledgeable supervision.

You need to find a solution where all of your pet's needs will be addressed. Professional boarding kennels and care services are a great way to keep your pet safe, happy and well-cared for while you are away. Each year, over 30 million pet owners understand that full-time, experienced and educated boarding kennel staff arrange for the most reliable, safe and protected pet care to be had.

Experienced, principled boarding kennels are an intrinsic aspect of a pet care program and the process of picking a boarding kennel can be a difficult, baffling experience for so many pet owners; this is why the ABKA (American Boarding Kennels Association) has collected this information together to help you assess, choose and conduct business with a local boarding kennel.