Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL INFORMATION
What are the drop off and pick up times?
You can drop off and pick up your pet between the hours of 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 4:30 pm.
Our dedicated animal care technicians are busy taking care of our current boarding pets before and after the listed times. They're hard at work feeding, medicating, walking, and ensuring our kennels are clean and comfortable.
Why can I not drop off earlier or later?
How will I be notified of my pet’s wellbeing?
We make sure to keep you updated on your pet's well-being with daily pictures and notifications, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
For canine boarding, we require Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, Influenza Vaccine, and an Intestinal Parasite Test. For feline boarding, we require the Rabies and FVRCP Vaccine. If your pet is over 13, please see our "Senior Pet Protocol" for additional requirements. All over-due vaccines are required to be completed a minimum of 1 week prior to the boarding reservation.
What vaccinations and medical requirements are necessary for boarding?
Absolutely! We provide Purina Pro Plan EN Gastrointestinal food to all our boarders. However, if your pet is on a special diet, we recommend bringing their own food. If you choose to bring your own food, please ensure it's in a small container or split into baggies for convenience.
Does SFPC provide food?
While we understand the desire to bring personal items, we prefer not to as they can be forgotten or lost. Additionally, pets may chew or soil them due to the new environment. We provide food, bedding, and toys for their comfort.
Can I bring personal items or belongings for my pet during their stay?
We have specific guidelines for medication administration during your pet's stay. Medications cannot be crushed and mixed with your pet's food prior to their visit. Nutraceuticals or vitamins are considered medications since we carefully track their ingestion. The pricing for medication administration is as follows:
Pills, powders, and topicals: $8 per day
Controlled substances: $10 per day
Insulin injections for diabetic pets: $12 per day from Monday to Friday. On weekends, there is a technician visit charge of $54 (inclusive of both Saturday and Sunday). If your pet requires a glucose reading before insulin administration due to not eating, the reading will cost $25.
Is there a specific protocol for medication administration?
How often is my pet walked? (Canines Only)
We walk our canine boarders four times daily Mon-Fri, three times on Saturday, and twice on Sunday.
How often is my cat taken care of?
Litter boxes & kennels are cleaned twice daily.
Are there any additional services or amenities available for my pet during their stay?
You may request extra playtime ($15/day) or grooming services.
SENIOR PET BOARDING
What age of pets will this be applicable to?
13 years and older, unless your pet has a chronic medical condition, such as heart failure, immune deficiency, kidney failure, etc.
Bloodwork that has been within the last 3 months.
Boarding consult with an LVT or Doctor (Relief Vets are allowed).
A regular health assessments done by a technician every other day throughout their stay.
What is required to be able to board a senior pet?
My pet was just here for an exam & bloodwork was already completed. - Do I have to do all of that again?
No! As long as the bloodwork was completed within the last 3 months, you will not be required to do it again. If you were here for anything other than an annual exam with a doctor (i.e medical concern), a boarding consult will be required at a discounted rate.
What if my pet is only staying for one night? Is all of this really necessary?
Yes! Whether your pet is staying 1 night or 1 month, it will all be required.
I don’t have time to come in for an appointment, can’t the LVT or Doctor do the consult and blood work while my pet is there for boarding?
We can schedule an appointment for the day of drop off if you insist, but the exam will need to be completed along with the blood work while you are still present. This is to ensure that the pet is able to board with us prior to you leaving.
We can offer resource for at-home pet sitting. Of course, if anything were to happen during this time that you are away, the sitter is welcome to bring in the pet & we will notify you for exam/diagnostics/medication.
What if the doctor decides that my pet is not able to board?
OVERDUE MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO BOARDING
Vaccines typically take about a week to become fully effective in providing protection against diseases. Requiring vaccines to be completed at least one week before boarding ensures that all pets in our facility have adequate immunity, minimizing the risk of disease transmission.
Why do you require vaccines to be completed at least one week before boarding?
What is required for boarding?
Canine: Rabies, Distemper/Parvovirus, Influenza, Bordetella, and intestinal parasite test.
Feline: Rabies, Rhino/Calici/Panleukopenia
While we offer vaccination services, it's important for vaccines to have sufficient time to build immunity in your pet's system before they are exposed to potential pathogens in our boarding facility. This helps ensure the safety and health of all pets in our care.
Can't you just vaccinate my pet when they arrive for boarding?
If your pet's vaccines are overdue, you must schedule an appointment with our team to update them as soon as possible. Once the vaccines are administered, you can then schedule your pet's boarding stay after the one-week waiting period.
What if my pet's vaccines are overdue?
Cross-contamination between pets can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, including parasites like worms. By requiring vaccines and implementing other preventive measures such as fecal testing, we aim to create a safe and healthy environment for all pets in our facility.
Why is minimizing cross-contamination important?
While we do monitor pets for signs of illness and provide necessary treatments, preventing the introduction of parasites through vaccination and other preventive measures such as fecal testing is a more effective approach to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all pets.
Can't you just treat pets for worms when they're here?
Even if your pet has been dewormed recently, there's still a risk of them being exposed to new parasites while in our boarding facility. Requiring vaccines, bi-annual fecal tests, and a waiting period helps minimize this risk and ensures the safety of all pets.
What if my pet has already been dewormed recently?
We understand that there may be medical reasons why a pet cannot receive certain vaccines. In such cases, we recommend discussing your pet's specific situation with our team to determine the best course of action for boarding.
Will there be any exceptions to the vaccine requirement?
Prior to boarding, we will ask for documentation of your pet's vaccination history. If there are any concerns or if vaccines are overdue, we will work with you to ensure that your pet is up to date on their vaccinations before their stay with us.
How will you ensure that all pets meet the vaccine requirement?
Is there an additional cost for ensuring my pet meets the vaccine requirement?
There is no additional cost for completing the medical requirements prior to boarding.