Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your minimum age for boarding a dog?

Our primary concern is the welfare of our guests. For this reason, our minimum boarding age for dogs is 4 months. It is generally recommended that puppies get their first round of "adult" shots at 12 weeks (including rabies) and the second round at 16 weeks. Additionally, in any kennel environment, a young pup could possibly be exposed to airborne viruses it could not fight off. Our recommendation is to board puppies at your veterinarian's office until they have reached our minimum age requirement.

Can my pet catch a disease by being kenneled with other pets?

Yes, your pet can be exposed to disease when kenneled with other animals. The risk is, however, quite low, and virtually eliminated when kennels require advance vaccination to ensure a healthy population of boarding guests. Additionally, high sanitation standards and quality living conditions are vitally important to ensuring an absence of disease.

Our modern sanitation procedures, air flow system, required vaccinations, kennel suites construction, and staff training programs all help to create a healthy, safe and secure environment for your pets when they are in our care. You may have heard "horror stories" of poor treatment and conditions at kennels in the past... we have taken great pains to ensure that Alpha Boarding Center provides a first-class, highly sanitary environment that dispels any fears you might have about boarding your pets with us.

We strongly suggest a tour, before making a boarding selection, of any facility that you might consider in your area. Here's what to look for:

You should be able to tour any aspect of the facility without an appointment, at any time during business hours.
It should smell and be clean from top to bottom.
Staff members should be available and capable of answering any of your pet care questions.
You should request and receive reference lists of current and/or past customers to check on their satisfaction.
Staff members should own pets and appear kind and friendly toward the animals in their care.
The kennel should require vaccinations from a licensed veterinarian prior to allowing a pet to be boarded.
kennel suites or runs should be spacious and clean, and independent from one another.

Why is my pet so thirsty when she comes home from a boarding visit? Doesn't she get water when she's with you? Or, why won't she drink when she's being boarded?

Pets will frequently become very thirsty from the excitement of seeing their family and loved ones again when they are picked up. It's natural and you should expect your pet to be a bit dehydrated from all the excitement once you get them home.

While in our care, pets are monitored carefully for their consumption of fresh water, which is continuously checked and refreshed throughout the day. And, just like the excitement of coming home, when they first are checked-in and settled in their suite, they will tend to become very thirsty. We watch this carefully and are sure to provide plenty of fresh water upon check-in to get the pet fully hydrated. After the first 30 minutes or so, they settle into the new routine, get comfortable, and establish regular eating and drinking habits.

Can my pets be boarded in the same kennel?

Yes, we can accommodate your wishes and board your pets together in the same suite, as space allows. Typically we allow up to 3 dogs under 30lb each to board together in the same suite, this allows adequate space for each pet and promotes both comfort and safety. Up to 3 cats can be boarded together in one condo.

My pets like to have toys with them. Can they have their favorite toys while boarding at Alpha Boarding Center?

Your pets may have one or two toys to play with in their suite during their stay. If you bring toys from home, be sure to mark them with permanent ink with your last name. Your pet's toys will stay with them in their suites and we do our best to return all toys. Occasionally, a toy may be lost during playtime or cleaning. If you prefer not to bring toys from home, you can purchase toys in our retail center for your pets stay.

My dog has a special diet. Can I bring my own food?

If your pet requires a special diet, we encourage you to bring their food when boarding. Our trained associates will follow your instructions to make sure your pet follows his regular diet.

There is no charge for special diets.

My pet is diabetic and requires shots.

Despite the qualifications of our well-trained staff, pets with significant medical needs are better off under a veterinarian's care than in our pet boarding center. We do not accept diabetic pets for boarding but will refer you to to a highly qualified veterinarian who can board and administer treatments to your pet.

However, we do administer other medications you bring for your pet at no charge.

What is your policy concerning vaccinations?

We have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all the animals in our care, so we require that every guest be vaccinated against certain serious, contagious diseases. Dog guests must have current vaccinations for Rabies, DHLPP and Bordatella. Cat guests must be vaccinated against Rabies, Distemper and FVRCP. We recommend updating your pet's vaccines a week or two in advance of your visit to ensure maximum protection of your own pet as well as others. We know there is some debate about the benefits/risks of vaccinations. After reviewing the advice of medical experts on the subject, we have decided to take a conservative approach. For more on the health benefits of vaccinating pets, check the web sites of the American Veterinary Medical Association, www.avma.org or the American Animal Hospital Association, www.healthypet.com.

What happens when a pet becomes ill? Do you have a staff veterinarian?

Alpha Boarding Center has 24-hour, on-call veterinary support. We maintain relationships with several veterinarians and pet hospitals so that we are always assured of emergency veterinary care whenever it is required.

Can I make reservations on-line?

There is a registration form on-line for you to complete. To make sure there is no miscommunication, the reservation is not validated until you receive a phone call or an e-mail from Alpha Boarding Center with the confirmation number.

Can I take a tour of your facility before I decide to use your services?

We recommend a tour before using any pet care facility. You should always visit to make sure you are comfortable leaving you pet there. When taking a tour, you should be shown all the areas of the facility and be given a tour without having to make an appointment. This also gives you the opportunity to ask lots of questions to make sure their services can meet your pet's needs.

What are your checkout and check-in times? And, am I charged for the full day when I check my pet out?

Pets my be checked-in and out at any time during operating hours. Unless Day Boarding, you are only charged for the nights the pet spends with us. So, if your pet is dropped off on Saturday morning and picked up Sunday evening, the charge would only be for one night's stay.

Is Day Boarding available?

Definitely. When your pet stays at Alpha Boarding Center for Day Boarding, your pet is boarded in one of our spacious suites. We also give your pet a playtime session and treat. Day Boarding is much like boarding except that the pet is picked up by 6:30pm and Day Boarding is only offered during the week.

Do you offer Doggy Daycare?

Not at this time.

Do you provide grooming services?

Alpha Boarding Center grooms all breeds of dogs and cats. We have a trained groomer who specializes in breed-specific cuts.

Grooming rates vary depending on the breed of your pet and the type of services you choose. Making a call directly to the center and discussing your pet's needs with a member of our staff is the best way to obtain a quote.

Do you tranquilize pets before you bathe or groom them?

Alpha Boarding Center's professional stylist will not tranquilize a pet in order to groom it. Our stylist is well trained to handle nervous pets, and treat every pet with tender loving care. If a pet is too agitated to be safely bathed or groomed, our staff will not attempt to force the service on the pet.

Does Alpha Boarding Center employ heated drying cages in its grooming facilities?

No. In fact, we have a policy against the use of these devices in our grooming salons. Our grooming associate is trained to hand-dry pets after they have been bathed. The process involves brushing out the coat to remove shedding hair, while blowing it dry with equipment similar to, although larger than, the hair dryer you might use at home. When the pet's coat is almost completely dry, he maybe put into a holding compartment to rest. A high volume of ambient, room-temperature air is circulated in that compartment. We NEVER add heat to the circulating air.

The health, safety and comfort of all of the pets in our care is of primary importance to us. We have established our grooming policies, selected the equipment we use, and trained out staff with those requirements in mind.