Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach out to us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We offer boarding and sitting services for dogs and cats.
Yes, we provide food and water for pets during their stay. However, we STRONGLY recommend that you bring your pet's own food to avoid any dietary issues. Water bowls are cleaned daily and refilled as needed.
Yes, you are welcome to bring your pet's bed or toys to make them feel more comfortable during their stay. Please know that bedding can be soiled and we may not have the washer/dryer capacity to properly clean the bedding. During group play, we will not bring out individual toys to prevent resource guarding.
We have designed Whisker City Boarding so that your pet can have an entertaining and enriching time during their stay. Because we are not completely isolating pets to a single kennel, we need to know they are healthy and if there are health challenges we can address and accommodate. We do not want to spread communicable diseases that are easily preventable.
We ask for the owner tour and the meet and greet so that all parties know and are comfortable with the stay.
The building that Whisker City is built in has a long history of animal care. Every species imaginable has received care over the last 40+ years. Most recently, there were a large volume of cats that were being cared for including a very robust feral cat population in the surrounding area. Many of those cats are still regularly receiving meals at feeding stations around the neighborhood. This means that there is also a very robust FLEA population. In an effort to protect you pet, we require that they have active and effective prevention.
Priority for Day Stay & Play is given first to guests staying overnight. Second priority is to Day Stay & Play guests with previously scheduled reservations. Availability for Day Stay & Play will then be on a walk-in, first come/first served basis until facility capacity is reached. Check-in is 7am-10am on day of reservation. Check-out is 3pm-6pm same day. Even Day Stay & Play guests need an owner approval of facility and a BARC if participating in group play.
Yes! Whisker City Boarding has lots of doggie play space. We have the ability to create different play groups based on the play styles of our guests. While some dogs are comfortable playing with dogs of every shape, size, and play style, others are not. For those dogs we can create play groups in which dogs play with other dogs of similar size and temperament. This means we have separate groups for puppies, seniors, small dogs, gentle adults and active adults.
While we certainly hope this never happens, we do have a set of procedures to ensure that your pet gets the medical attention it needs and that all other guests are protected. If your pet becomes sick our first course of action is to contact you and your regular veterinarian and take whatever steps you and your veterinarian consider appropriate. If your veterinarian is unavailable and we think immediate action is necessary, we will contact you and go to the nearest emergency room, just like you would if you were home.
Whisker City will not take your dog off premises but every dog gets the chance to be outside in our enormous play-yards. Unlike other pet facilities where your dog plays inside and the only opportunity for fresh air is an on-leash walk along a busy road, at Whisker City your dog plays outside.
Yes, so we understand that not every dog likes to play with others. We can modify your pet's schedule to receive playtime in smaller groups, with family only or alone. If your pet is a cat, fear not! All of our play and exploration times are done either individually or with cats from your own family. If your pet does not get along with other dogs OR humans either, Whisker City may be too stressful to stay.
A deposit of 50% is required at booking to hold your pet's place. This amount will be applied as a credit during the stay. The remainder of the balance for the stay in addition to any al la carte options is due at check out.
Cancellations must be made 3 days (72 hours) before scheduled stay for overnight stays. If you cancel with less than 3 days notice, you will forfeit your deposit. No deposit is taken for day stays. However, if you do not show up for a scheduled day stay three times, you will no longer be able to schedule and will need to utilize those services on a walk in basis.
During peak boarding times, a deposit of the entire boarding stay will be require to book your pet's stay.
We do not offer early check-in or late check-out. We do offer an additional Day Stay & Play to be added on to the boarding reservation to accommodate. For example, your overnight booking starts at 3pm on a Thursday, but you need to leave town at 9am. You can schedule a Day Stay & Play for Thursday morning at drop off between 7am and 10am.
The reverse is true for checking out. If your reservation ends by 10am on a Monday, but you are not able to pick up until 5pm. You can add a Day Stay & Play to your pick up day and pick up between 3pm and 6pm.
Being away from home and routine can have several common side effects. Diarrhea and weight loss are common. Burning extra calories and the excitement of being around so many friends can really change normal GI function.
Upper respiratory infections are also common. We take every precaution to prevent this from happening. Its why we ask for exams, vaccines, and owners to certify health. Its also what we clean all bedding, bowls and the facility daily. But like a child daycare, risk of respiratory infections are higher in group settings.
Odor is also common. Dogs that play with other dogs and stay for extended periods of time need to be bathed. We keep the facility clean, but the guests need to be washed as well.
The safety of guests and staff is paramount. We really try to put dogs together that we believe will get along, but occasionally a scuffle will break out. In the event of a dog fight, there are several escalating steps we will take.
First we will attempt verbal correction. In a firm, loud voice we will say NO, STOP! All staff carry walkie talkies and will be alerted in case further action is needed. Those dogs will now be separated.
If verbal correction does not work, we will use an air horn. This is a loud, unfamiliar sound that will hopefully be unusual enough to interrupt the fight. The staff is trained to respond to the sound of the airhorn by securing all other dogs into kennels to ensure safety and interrupt any possible pack mentality.
If verbal commands and the airhorn do not work, we have a dog safe capsaicin deterrant spray. This is to be used as a last resort to prevent serious injury to the staff and parties involved. If the spray is deployed, we will take steps to wash the dogs and rinse their eyes and bodies after an assessment of the injuries.
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