Find Top Local Kennels

Can’t take your pet with you?

One of the first questions an animal adoption center or pound asks is “how much time will you be able to spend with your pet?” It’s a valid question; in many ways, animals are just like people. They need food, water, exercise, and company.

Even if you work from home, odds are you’ll need to go out of town for a few days at least once a year. There are family holidays to consider, as well as vacations, weddings, professional conferences…can you really guarantee that you won’t have to travel for the duration of your pet’s life? Not likely.

So, the question now becomes: how do you make sure your pet gets the best possible care while you’re away?

Neighbor? Dogwalker?

You could ask a neighbor, or perhaps a friend to take your pet in for a few days. It’s a good idea in theory, but in practice, it can actually be quite challenging to find someone willing to take on the responsibilities even for a few days. What if they have pets of their own that may not get along with your furry friend? What if their schedule won’t allow your pet to have his daily walks?

Due to these issues, people begin to consider hiring a dog walker or pet sitter. Someone to come feed and let your pet out, perhaps spend some time with him. Maybe you’ll even get someone to come occupy your house while you’re away. This is a good option, but also can be hard to actually do. And do you really want someone living in your home while you’re away? Will they notice if your pup starts to act listless, or if your cat won’t eat?

Check out your local kennels!

Just like with children, when leaving your pets, you want to make sure they are in the best possible care. You want them to be with people who are experienced, familiar with possible problems, and who actually love to take care of animals!

It’s time to consider looking into local kennels. If you’ve never been to one before, you might feel a little overwhelmed. Not to worry! Ask friends for recommendations, and check out some places for yourself. If you’re starting from scratch, check out our kennel listings by city and state. Our listings are updated consistently to provide you with working links to existing kennel websites.

Talk to the staff; don’t be shy, speak up and ask all the questions you like. Good kennels understand your concerns and answer them thoroughly.  Maybe try a trial run for a weekend to see how your pet reacts to the kennel environment. Once you find a kennel that your pet likes, it will be much easier to travel when you need to. You will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your pet is in expert hands, and will not get lonely or bored while you are traveling.