Frequently Asked Questions:

What vaccinations are required for my pet to board at Country Roads?
All pets must be up-to-date with their Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella (Feline Leukemia for cats) immunizations. Distemper and rabies injections should be administered at least 10 days prior to boarding.  Intranasal Bordetella should be administered at least 5 days prior to boarding.  

​Please do not be offended if we ask to see your dog's current records prior to boarding and if you are in any doubt about your pet's compliance with our needs, please call and ask. If you have made a reservation, received an email confirmation, but your dog does not have the proper immunization, the 72-hour cancellation fee will be in effect.

Note: we do everything possible to reduce the risk of your pet getting Kennel Cough or Canine Influenza.  However, vaccines do not prevent against all strains and there is always a small risk of contracting these viruses when in an environment with other dogs.

Are there any breeds of dogs that can’t board at Country Roads?
There are not breeds, but behaviors that make some dogs a poor fit for a kennel situation. We cannot board dogs that behave aggressively toward kennel staff. To maintain the confidence of all clients (and insurance company) we can not board dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior, especially towards people, while at Country Roads.

We mean no disrespect to you or your pet, but when a dog is boarding they sometimes do not behave the same as at home and we prefer not to introduce avoidable risks to staff and other boarders.

Is there a minimum stay requirement?
No... but... we prefer not to take one-night bookings on Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays.

Does Country Roads do daycare?
Based on availability and special circumstances, we will occasionally do daycare. We will often recommend a trial for a new dog to help the owner and the dog grow confident in staying at Country Roads.

Does Country Roads accept pets for "long term" boarding?
We prefer not to board pets for longer than three or four weeks, believing that pets should not be separated from their families for that long if possible.  We do respect that under some circumstances long term boarding may be the best option for a pet and will happily have a conversation on the specifics of this type of request.

Are there age restrictions for dog boarding at Country Roads?
We are happy to board dogs of almost any age.  In the case of puppies, please ensure that all of their vaccinations are complete and note that we will only board puppies are at least six months old and house trained.  We believe that young puppies' early weeks and months with their new families is incredibly important and will only board them in extreme circumstances.  In the case of ageing dogs, please let us know of any issues your dog is having and be aware of the additional stress boarding can put on a pet.

I have more than one dog.  Can they stay in the same kennel together?
Yes, depending on size and behavior.  Dogs sharing a kennel (see rates that apply) should always live in the same house and not have a history of persistent fighting or aggressive eating.  If dogs do fight or are from separate homes they should never share a kennel.  We do not recommend that dogs with a combined weight greater than 100 lbs share a kennel.

What is your pick-up time?
By appointment ONLY, all pets must be picked up by 11:00 am on their scheduled day of departure, otherwise they will be charged an additional daily rate. However, pick-up is by appointment ONLY during regular business hours. 

What is your drop-off time?
By appointment ONLY during regular business hours.

Can my pet board at Country Roads if they are on medications?

Yes.  We administer most supplements and medications free of charge, including subcutaneous injections but not intramuscular injections.  Unfortunately, we cannot board diabetic dogs that require daily testing.

Will my dog be exercised with other dogs?
Normally we exercise social dogs together at playtimes.  If dogs appear reluctant to play with others or you have a preference for them to take playtimes alone, for health, age or any other reason, that’s just fine also.  Just let us know yours and your dog’s preference.

What is playtime?
Playtime (and potty breaks) are when we let dogs out of their runs and onto the grassed play area – typically 5-6 times per day, for durations that vary with the weather.  Depending on your pet, they might play fetch, or just run around and check out the new space.  We do individual playtimes for dogs that are not comfortable socializing with others.  Also, for safety reasons, we never take your pet outside of our perimeter fencing and they are never allowed outside of those confines during their stay.

Do I need to bring food for my pet?
We highly recommend that you do.  A change of food can upset your pet and to minimize stress we advise you to bring enough food for your pet’s stay, labelled correctly and with either an appropriate measure or good instructions to ensure the correct amount is fed to your pet.

While a pet will not starve themselves, it is common for pets not to eat for some days when their environment changes, so if we can avoid changing food, we always should.  We will try tidbits of food to encourage reluctant eaters (with your permission).

What can I bring to help my pet to feel at home?
Please feel free to bring bedding and toys that your pet has an affinity for.  While we will always try to have them returned in the condition you brought them, we cannot guarantee that your pet won’t damage them.  Please only bring items that can be washed in a washing machine, in case they become soiled, and nothing that is glass or ceramic.  We will not accept more than two pet beds per kennel as we cannot clean more than two simultaneously.

Please label everything you bring for your pet and do not bring food or water bowls.

I have not boarded my pet before.  How do I know they will board successfully?
Most pets are fine with boarding but we highly recommend that if your pet hasn’t boarded before you bring them to us for a one-night trial stay to get them familiar with kennel routines and identify any issues before required boarding.  Your pet will gain confidence from you leaving them at the kennel and picking them up again - they will understand and expect that next time you will come to get them.  Anything we can do to reduce stress on pets is worthwhile.

Is the kennel staffed 24/7?
While we make our home on the property, we are not present in the kennel 24 hours a day, but we do have video monitoring in place at all times.  However, there is always someone in the kennel during opening hours and with the dogs at playtimes outside of opening hours (4-5 times per day).  No matter what the weather, we have no problem getting to the kennel to care for your pets.  Even when we are closed, we are close by.

Is your facility climate controlled?
Yes.  Not only does the entire facility have automated heating and cooling, we also have a high-tech air purification system installed to combat airborne disease transfer.

What do you do if there is a medical emergency with my pet?
If your pet becomes ill, we will make every attempt to contact you and discuss action.  If we cannot contact you, we will proceed to take the pet to your designated veterinarian, or a local 24-hour animal hospital if necessary.  Treatment, as deemed appropriate by the veterinarian, will be at your expense.

What if I have to cancel my reservation?
Life happens!  We do not charge for any reservation cancelled with 48 hours notice.  If a reservation has to be cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, we charge for one day’s boarding, unless the reservation is for a holiday weekend, when we charge for two days’ boarding.