Hi all.
In the light of recent "negativity" surrounding boarding kennels, I would like to share the experience we had on Tuesday. A 12yr old Golden Retriever whom we have boarded for many years came for one of her regular stays. At lunch time she was perfectly ok, had a potter round the field as she usually does and came back into her kennel. In less than an hour we noticed her in a non-responsive condition, and immediately took her to the vet. She was found to have a massive internal bleed, caused by a ruptured splenic tumour, a condition that had been building for some months, but caused no symptoms until it ruptured. We waited untill the op had finished, and then took the dog to the emergency clinic where she was to stay for the rest of the day and night. The following morning we collected her from the emergency vets and took her back to her own vet to await collection by her now returning owner.

The points I wish to make are, if this dog were at home at the time this tumour ruptured, her owner would have returned to a dead dog, as she works afternoons, and we were told the dog would have died within a short space of time, so the constant attention received by the kennels meant she was tended to immediately, and obviously her life was saved.

Secondly, the bill for this op came to £523.34 which WE paid via the insurance, even though the dog had had this condition for some time previous, having never shown symptoms, we could claim the cost back in full. How many pet sitters would do that?

Lastly all the taking and collecting, backwards and forwards from vet to vet was met by us, with again no cost to the owner.

Now whilst I do not wish to critisise ANYONE who works (needs must) or dislikes boarding kennels, if it wasn't for the fact this dog was with us at this time, she would now be dead, instead, she is now at home making a steady recovery. Her owner is extremely grateful for the prompt treatment she received, we are just pleased she is going to be ok.
Dawn.

Nice one Dawn well done:) I myself dont have a problem with ALL boarding kennels. I have put a couple of dogs in one once and they came out with scabs all over them (will never go there again). But I tried it again some where different after doing lots more research and they were fantastic. So as long as you do your research first I dont see a problem. :)

Well done Dawn :) - Lucky it didn't happen overnight.
Lara x

well done dawn,there are some lovely kennels but some leave a lot to be desired

Hi Dawn

Brilliant!! :) Wish all boarding Kennels where like yours. I had to board my G.R. some years ago, and although I thought I'd done my homework, when we went to collect her, she was unrecognisable, so depressed, I vowed never again. It's good to hear that there are some very caring places out there......now I've just got to find them

liberty

what a star you are dawn:)my kennel owners are also brilliant with my dogs who actually get excited when we pull up outside.They provide them with lots of care and attention, walks and even cuddles.As it is quite a small kennels they have more time for our dogs and know them all very well, milo even got a toy given to him last time on the way out.The bloke who runs it is very friendly, open and approachable and takes an interest in all my dogs, and it's a miracle but milo, who is very anti- men, really likes him.
I know not all boarding kennels are good, i have had one of my dogs -years ago- coming out of a kennels recommended by my vet covered in his own wee and poo that he had obviously been lying in for a week.The kennel owners justification for this was that i hadn't requested that he be bathed!!!!, true but i had thought his s...t would be cleaned up!!!:)

Yes there is good and bad, however I posted it because of some peoples obvious short-sightedness, annoys me, but I do understand that we all have our "hang ups" about something, we are all only human!!

On this occasion Sue (L) did all the running about, so perhaps it is she that should be commended not me, I just wanted to let you all know that this time the dog was in the RIGHT place at the right time, and that kennels are NOT all bad.
Dawn.

It's great to hear of a kennels doing a 'proper job', as they should. I wish they were all as conscientious. As you say, the dog was fortunate that this happened when someone was around to notice. If it had happened in the middle of the night the result could have been so different. Thank heavens for good luck.
:)

Dawn,
That's brilliant - what good luck that she was with you :)
I think it's a shame that if people have a bad experience at a particular boarding kennel, they think that somehow they must all be the same.
personally, I have only ever boarded Baillie once, and granted he survived and seemed fine.. but it was my guilt at leaving him that I found hardest to cope with.
I'm sure that there are many kennels who are wonderful and I'm sure as many more that aren't so.. but good on you and keep up the good work!!!
Sharon