Frequently Asked Questions
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Boarding and Day care FAQs:
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Can we visit the facility?
You are welcome to visit us during the visiting hours. If you are bringing your dog for a trial, prior appointment is required.
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What ages of dogs do you board?
Dogs need to be at least 4 months old. We want to ensure that all dogs have enough time to develop a stable immune system and they have completed their vaccination schedule before they are in a facility with other dogs. We can only take in senior dogs (older than 10 years) that have been regular boarders and are in good health. Senior dogs that have not been boarded regularly find it very stressful trying to cope in the new surroundings away from their pet parents.
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Can my dogs stay together?
Yes, dogs from the same family can stay together in the same suite. Please let us know if they need to be fed separately at checkin.
What if my dog does not like interacting with other dogs?
Many dogs, like many people, are not comfortable in a crowd. That is why we have our "Private Retreat" option. With our Private Retreat option, your dog will spend the day in his or her own space. These dogs receive at least 3 hours of outside free roaming time plus a dedicated 30-minute 1:1 play/petting time per day with one of our staff members.
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Does my dog need to be on a leash when arriving or leaving?
All dogs are required to be on a leash at all times when coming or going. This is for the safety of your dog, especially in our parking area. Not all dogs that come to Petspace are dogs that are friendly with other dogs.
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Can I bring my dog’s food or snacks if they are boarding?
If your dog is on a commercial dog food diet, we recommend bringing your dog’s food from home. We can also purchase the dog food at additional cost. If your pet has any food allergies or dietary concerns, we definitely recommend supplying your own food. If you do decide to bring your own food, we recommend bringing it in pre-portioned re-sealable baggies. This ensures that we have plenty of food for your dog’s stay. If you do not pre-portion the food, it does need to be in a re-sealable bag or steel containers. If your dog is boarding with us for five days or more, you may want to consider increasing the amount of food your dog eats, due to their increased activity level. You could also bring treats / snacks / any special food your dog loves. We can refrigerate the food if required.
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My dog is vegetarian. Do you serve veg food?
Yes. We take great care to ensure that vegetarian dogs are fed either curd / milk / soya / veg rice
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What else can I bring?
You can bring water proof mats (yoga mat or carpet) and blanket for your pet to sleep on. You could also get 1-2 toys or clothes with a scent of home. However we will not be able to assure return of these items.
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How do you manage to ensure a tick/flea free environment?
We require all dogs that come into the facility be tick free and be on a tick flea preventive as a precaution. We check the dogs daily for presence of ticks/fleas. In addition, we fumigate the place regularly. In a rare event where a dog gets dropped with ticks without informing us, he/she is separated for a period of time and thoroughly cleaned up before interacting with other dogs.
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Can my dog run or jump away?
We have double gates at all entrances and exits ensuring that running away is not possible. Dogs are continuously monitored when they are outside, so digging and escaping is not possible. We will not be able to board dogs that have the tendency to scale the fence and jump away. While touring the facility, carefully ascertain if the height of the fence is adequate for your pet to be safe inside.
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The place seemed very noisy with loud barking during my visit. Do they calm down?
Most dogs bark with the excitement of seeing a new visitor or when a new dog is introduced to them. This happens for a little while; they then settle down and go about their day. This is one of the reasons we limit visiting hours and request that you come with an appointment so that it causes least disturbance to our boarders.
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How do you de-stress dogs that have separation anxiety or have difficulty adjusting to the place?
We frequently get pets that take a while to adjust, especially the first time boarders. Some require their space to get over the anxiety, while some need constant human attention. Some dogs whine through the night while some refuse to eat. We spend a lot of time with these dogs reassuring him/her and give them time to open up. We feed them their favourite food or hand feed them till they start to eat on their own. We also have a Reiki healer on board to help with dogs having adjustment issues. Most dogs enjoy their stay and leave happy. This is the reason it is very important to get a dog acclimatized through trial visits to the new place before boarding them.
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Why is my dog so tired after day care or boarding stay?
Some dogs may be tired or even a little sore for a day or two after daycare or boarding with us. This is because most of them play hard and get a lot of exercise and stimulation while they are here. Even though they have rest areas available to them, most of the dogs choose to play for a good portion of the day, which may be more than they are used to at home. Dogs that are boarded here, sleep longer than usual and get adequate rest. Day care dogs tend to sleep at home which is one of the advantages of sending a dog to day care.
My dog drinks lot of water when he's back. Why?
Your dog has access to water 24/7 while at Petspace. There are large bowls of fresh water in each play area that are changed several times throughout the day. Also, all dogs have an individual bowl of water in their suite. As with being tired, the increase in activity and excitement of getting back home may also increase your dog’s water intake. Don’t be alarmed if they want to drink more water than usual when they get home (though you should encourage them to drink slowly and small amounts at a time to prevent vomiting).
FAQs regarding health:
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Would you be able to administer medication?
Yes, we will administer medicines. All medications must be in the original package and you must send along a detailed prescription or detailed notes. We do not administer injections.
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Can my dog get hurt playing while in day care or boarding?
Just like children who play on playgrounds in daycare or at school can get hurt from time to time, dogs playing with each other in the play area can get hurt too. Dogs play with their mouths and paws and like to wrestle around on the ground with each other. Injuries are rare due to continuous monitoring as well as careful grouping of the dogs. However, there's a possibility of broken nails, nicks and scratches, paw pad injury, limping or dog bites. Most injuries are minor and can be cared for at home. You need to be sure that you are comfortable with this before allowing your dog to socialize and play in the play area. If you are not, Private Retreat is always an option. Most owners find that the benefits of allowing their dog to play outweigh the risks.
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What if my pet becomes ill or requires medical attention during their stay?
In the event that your pet requires medical attention, we will make every attempt to reach you or your emergency contact. If we are unable to contact you or your emergency contact and we feel your dog needs medical attention, we will get the vet on call to check on the dog. If the situation is an emergency, or if your dog needs care after regular hours, we will take your pet to a veterinary emergency clinic. We will make sure that the pet is given excellent care in the event of any such medical issue.
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Why do some dogs fall ill during their boarding stay and others manage fine?
Dogs that are not used to staying away from family go through a lot of stress. Some of the symptoms are physically visible some are not. Anxiety results in drop in immune levels. Due to this they are susceptible to illness which may not affect other cheerful dogs. It is very important to share accurate medical history to ensure symptoms will be acted upon immediately.
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How do you ensure the health of the dogs boarded?
We check for the vaccination records to ensure dogs that are boarded are all vaccinated. We do a visual, physical check on drop off to ensure that the dogs show no symptoms of any disease. We take utmost care to ensure food is cooked and served in a hygienic environment. Food is cooked twice a day ensuring it is warm and fresh when served. Water bowls are changed frequently. Play areas and pet suites are cleaned with disinfectants. We do a thorough physical check of dogs every alternate day and the record is maintained in a "Health monitor". Exception is with dogs that are not comfortable with full physical check. Dogs that are skipping meals, having loose stools, vomiting and seem lethargic are observed and appropriate action taken. Dogs showing symptoms of distress are shown to a vet on call and the pet guardian is informed. We ensure that any physical discomfort that is noticed is accurately shared with the pet parent and medical treatment given.
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If a dog shows symptoms of any contagious disease after being dropped off, how is it handled?
If it is a life threatening illness, the dog is immediately quarantined and shifted to a medical facility after informing the pet guardian. If it's a non-life-threatening illness the dog is started on treatment as prescribed by the vet and kept in quarantine. The place is thoroughly disinfected and dogs that have been in contact with this dog are quarantined and kept a watch over for any symptoms. The pet guardians are kept informed of the occurrence. We have a separate area where we can quarantine infected dogs.
My pet lost weight during their boarding visit, is this normal?
It is natural for dogs to lose a little weight while boarding. Most of the weight loss is due to excitement of being with other dogs and the exercise they receive playing with their friends. Dogs get constant activity that is not the same as their more sedentary lifestyle at home. Therefore they burn a lot more calories during their boarding visit, which is why we recommend increasing their food slightly. In addition, some dogs may not eat all of their food at each feeding since they are in a different environment and may not adjust well due to separation anxiety. In case the dog is losing weight in spite of increased food intake the pet guardian is notified.
Finance FAQs:
If my dog falls sick or is injured who takes care of the expenses?
Just as with a child falling ill or getting injured at day care or school, if your pet develops any illness or gets injured while playing, the pet guardian is responsible for the vet expenses.
What happens if a dog is dropped for long stay and the pet owner does not pick the dog or defaults on payment or is incommunicable?
In the unfortunate event of payment not received for more than 7 days, after 3 written notices and attempts to contact at the given numbers and address provided during checkin fail, we will initiate legal action. We are not an adoption center. Though we foster and re-home dogs from time to time as part of our community service initiative; we only take up dogs that are brought to us by animal welfare officers.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel your reservation it’s as easy as a phone call or email to let us know. There is no penalty as long as we receive a phone call or email atleast two days prior to the reservation.
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Other questions? Give us a call or stop by!