The subject of vaccination while boarding cats and dogs seems to keep re-occuring so let me put the record straight re:-
                                   The Boarding Establisment Act of 1963

      Under the "Model Licence Conditions for Cat Boarding Establishments" drawn up by The Institute of Environmental Health Officers who issue licences the following applies

section          16.00     Disease Control and Vaccination

sub section      16.02  Quote "Cats boarded or resident must be accompanied by an up to date record of vaccination against feline enteritis, feline respiratory disease and FeLV and other relevant diseases.
Vaccinations must have been completed at least 4 weeks before the first date of boarding. This record of vaccination must be kept on site throughout the period that the cat is boarded. Four weeks is the maximum time necessary for vaccines to become fully effective. A shorter time is acceptable if suitable veterinary evidence is provided based on manufactures instructions." end quote

again under   Under the "Model Licence Conditions for Dog Boarding Establishments" drawn up by The Institute of Environmental Health Officers who issue licences the following applies
 

Section          16.00                    Disease Control And Vaccination
Sub section     16.02
                               Quote " Dogs boarded or resident must be accompanied by an up to date record of vaccination against distemper, kennel cough, hepititis, parvovirus,leptospirosis and other relevelant diseases. Vaccinations must be completed at least 4 weeks before the first date of boarding. This record of vaccination must be kept on site throughout the period that the dog is boarded. Evidence of recent broad spectrum de-worming must be provided for dogs which will have communal exercise area. Four weeks is the maximum time necessary for vaccines to become fully effective. A shorter time period is acceptable if suitable veterinary evidence is provided based on manufactures instructions" end quote.

The above are taken from some of the rules that boarding establishments have to abide by irrespective of what vets say or homeopathic ideas.
Kennel owners like everyone else may have their own thoughts on the subject, but as a business the kennel owners should abide by the above, so whatever you hear from any other source, the above is the official version.
Bazza ( Boarding Kennel Owner )

Full copies of the above guidelines should be available from your local council Environmental Health Dept.
Bazza

All I can say is it`s about time the guidlines where challanged, they are only guidlines after all & especially when it say*A shorter time period is acceptable if suitable veterinary evidence is provided based on manufactures instructions" end quote.*
So it`s OK to accept manu`s instructions when it suits them but not when the same manu`s state the duration of vaccines? These guidlines say they were drawn up in 1963, things have changed a hell of a lot since then & they need to be changed as well.

Christine, Spain.

Just done a quick google to see what it says but all I can find are license applications not the act itself and they say
*c) that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread of infectious or contagious diseases, including the provision of adequate isolation facilities.*

Certainly enough room there to show titres are more than enough for taking all reasonable precautions I would think.

Christine, Spain.

Hi Bazza.  I notice that you say "kennel owners should abide by the above"  Does that mean it's obligatory or just a guide?  Is the licence recinded if the owner doesn't comply?
I did know of a large boarding establishment that operated without a licence, thankfully now closed, but the clients using it had not idea that it was unlicenced - the owner was very articulate and a convincing speaker!!

Hi all
      Don't shoot the messenger these guidlelines are drawn up by the Institute of Environmental Health officers who are implimenting them, the comments made  afterwards are not part of the guidelines just my thoughts of them.
They are additional to the actual Boarding Establishments Act 1963 which is far less clear. All I can suggest is getting copies of the Act and the guidelines and read them for yourselves under the actual act it
says quote:-

                                       Animal Boarding Establisment Act 1963
                                                    1963 CHAPTER 43

Section 3
sub section a
                            "That animals will at all times be kept in accomadation suitable as respects construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting , ventilation and cleanliness.

b
       That animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding material, adaequately exercised,and (so far as nexessary) visited at suitable intervals

c

    That all resionable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread among animals of infectious or contagious diseases, including the provision of adequate isolation facilities.

d

  That appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the animals in case of fire or other emergancies

e
        That a register be kept containing a description of any animals recieved into the establishment, date of arrival and departure the name and address of the owner, such a register be available for inspection at all times by an officer of the local authority, veterinary surgeon or veterinary practioner authorised under section 2 (1) of this act."  end quote

This is actually on the statute books and is law the previous is the updated version drawn up and now adopted by the local councils.
As you can see you can drive a coach and horses through the act as it states sufficient this regular that and as necessary.
The new guideines are a slight improvement on the act itself but done without consultation of boarding kennel/cattery  owners because I actually rang up the Institute to ask. it was drwn up by the environmental health officers -vets-animal shelters. I was Imust admit a little bit amazed that these guidelines were drawn up and adopted by local authorities ( bylaws in my area).
If they had bothered to even send out a questionaire to boarding establishments regarding standards etc concentious boarding establishment owners no doubt could have vastly improved these guidlelines but they didn't so that is now what we have got.
As I say don't shoot the messenger I am quoting direct from the papers infront of me be they right or wrong that is how things are.
Bazza

Hi Bazza,
Totaly agree with you!
If they had send out questionaires to boarding kennels and actually spoke to the people working in this sector
things might be different.
As a boarding kennel owner myself I have to deal with quite a few people questioning the rules regarding vaccinations, and the fact that vets opinions differ a lot on the matter doesn`t make it any easier!
I have recently contacted my local invironmental health officer and have raised the questions of titre tests and homeopathic (sp) vaccines. He said they would discus it in the next meeting. ( heard that one before) Seem to be the only kennel in this - large - area to have problems with customers regarding this.
Personaly I believe that since vaccinations have evolved over the last however many years rules should change with them, but till such times..............

Cara

Sorry about the spelling mistakes couldn't alter them
Bazza

http://www.waverley.gov.uk/environment/lice_board.asp

This link may be of some help as it is fairly general in the UK

Hi Bazz, sorry wasn`t having a go at you, hope you didn`t think so :) Just the stupid rules!

Christine, Spain.

I'm curious,
do kennel owners usually check that the pets have vac.cert.before accepting any animal into their care? Only we use a very well established kennel or did do,with our previous dog (Spice is still too young,we feel to kennel,but she will be going there next year,if she settles well over a trial weekend or two).

We never got asked to provide proof of vac.only got asked if she was up to date and to put in their book her vet details and the date her vacs.were done.

Now it has occured to me that some people are maybe 'less than honest' shall we say,(I am not pointing any fingers here just generalising!) and may say their dog was vaccinated,but if no proof is asked for,then what assurances have any of us that this has been done and further more,what risk may we be putting our dogs at if this was to be the case :(

I know some people have reasons to not vaccinate their dogs,each to their own,we always did so in the past and have continued to do so and would happily provide proof of such if it were requested of us.
I think because we know the kennel owner very well,maybe he did not ask us for proof,but may do so with other people,I feel now I should check this with them next time we visit :)

Jacqueline

Well we ALWAYS check vaccination cards, and unless its showed and is correct then the dog or cat is turned away.  We put all the details on our computer program for inspection should it be required.  Some kennels are required to keep the cards on site.
Dawn.

Dawn how do you know the certificate you have been shown refers to the dog/cat in your kennels ?

Thats a strange question!  However, all details of the pets are taken before hand, and unless people have lots of dogs/cats of the same breed, colour, sex and age, its not that easy to forge one! and to be perfectly honest totally pointless.  You could also check with the Vet.
Dawn.

Think we need ID cards for dogs, to avoid the illegal trade in completed vaccination cards !!! LOL

Seriously, I am always asked to bring completed cards for inspection when my dogs go in and on my last visit she retained these as she was due an inspection.