How do you find the perfect place for your dog or cat to stay.  The best advice is to ask your friends and family who they use. This can help you to eliminate any of the dodgy ones.

Look on the internet and see if there are any reviews for the places people have recommended, this will give you an idea of what views other people have before you decide where to place your pet. After all you usually research your holiday destination before booking, there are a lot of sites to help you get it right. But our pets rely on us to choose wisely on their behalf. You don't want to spend your whole holiday worrying if you have chosen the correct place.

Ask your Vet they will have a pretty good idea on which kennels to choose. Before you book take a look around don’t be embarrassed to ask it is quite normal to want to see where your pet is staying. See if they have a visitors book to see what comments might have been made. 

If you try and get your pet in on a late booking in July for two weeks, and the kennel has space, that should trigger alarm bells, unless of course the kennels are very large. Like Hemjoy’s mentioned below. Just trust your judgment, if the staff look friendly and relaxed the atmosphere in the kennels is likely to be the same.

If you do your research correctly you will not feel guilty about leaving your pet  behind. Better still try a holiday where you can take them with you as well.

We always take Monty's vetpad bedding and a favourite toy with us. Also don't forget any medication that they take. Always leave your Vets telephone number, even if they are staying away from their area, you never know if they might need to be contacted if your pet falls ill whilst staying there. They must be vaccinated plus make sure that they have the kennel cough vaccine as well. Most good boarding places will insist on seeing their up to date vaccination cards for your pets before registering them.

Leave your contact details and that of a friend or family member in case your are out of the country and cannot be  reached in case of emergencies, tell the kennel if you dog needs a muzzle if being treated by someone unknown, this will eliminate any unforseen accidents.

I have three that I know are superb and trust, one of them I have used for over 20 years!

The ones I use most are local to where I live, The first one is run by a couple in their late 50’s early 60’s. It is a fab place only small, I think they have only twenty kennels which are for the summer, and about 10 which are suitable for the winter months.

The dogs are walked twice daily, they have long runs attached to their kennels and also an all weather play area, all the kennels look onto each other so the dogs are kept amused all day, at night they are tucked up in bed with a rawhide treat. Monty has a waggy tail when he arrives and when he leaves.

They don’t have to advertise word of mouth is good enough, and you have to book up nearly a year in advance. I am sorry but I am not sharing it with you as they are busy enough and are one of my favourites.

 The second local one I use is called Acorn Kennels, This is superb, it’s friendly and they just love pets, Nigel and Hayley run the kennels and there is also a grooming service. Monty loves it there as well, gets lots of fuss and he can be professionally groomed as well. They cater for most pets, rabbits etc. It's in a lovely setting just outside of Peterborough and well worth booking your pets  in for their holidays. I wouldn’t recommend somewhere where I wouldn’t leave my pets so it must be good.

The last kennels that I use is the one I have used for twenty years. I moved away from the area 7 years ago, but if we go back visiting friends, Monty comes to and if we stay over night we book Monty in here if we are unable to keep him with us. The kennels is in Berkshire, and its “Hemjoy Hotel” for dogs. I have had three different dogs that have stayed here. When we returned with Monty, it was nice that they remembered our much loved dog ‘Benson’. He was a Saluki x Collie, a little tinker would be the right words to describe him. Benson lived till 18 and a half, what a character. So we feel right at home there, we may use them up to five or six times a year.

The setting is superb, lovely kennels and in the middle of nowhere, super for their daily walks, they also have exercise paddocks so that they get a good run.  They have a good selection of kennels for our all year round temperatures.

Also remember if you have a rescued pet the centre where you got them from are sometimes happy to take in boarders.

So choose your kennels or cattery wisely for peace of mind for both you and your pet!