Whether your favorite pet is a new puppy, or maybe an older cat that requires special attention, it can be hard finding a place for them to stay when you are away from home. If you don't have friends or relatives who can visit your home each day, you will need the services of a good pet boarding facility.

Ultimately, choosing a boarding facility is a decision that must be made carefully. Unless you know someone or have excellent referrals already, it's hard to know where to go. The best scenario is a place where you know your pet will be well taken care of and content. Since many house pets don't do well in strange surroundings, finding a place that will meet their needs and keep them reasonably happy is especially challenging.

Before you consider using a given facility, go visit and get a feel for it in person. You should not skip this step. Is the facility clean? Is there an unusually foul odor in the air? Do the pets staying there appear to be happy and healthy? Are they kept in sanitary cages?

Do not board your pet at any facility that does not require current vaccinations. This should include a worm check.

Some veterinarians offer pet boarding services as part of their everyday business. One thing may surprise you, though. A veterinary hospital may be a poor choice for boarding your pet, unless they have a separate staff and facility just for performing this service.

Consider this. If you were a cat or dog, how would you feel hanging out in a human hospital for a few days? Hospitals are what they are. They are places for sick and recovering pets. Your pet is not likely to have much fun staying in a veterinary hospital while you are gone, nor are they likely to get the attention and exercise they need.

Most vet clinics are not well equipped to offer boarding services. The staff in those facilities is usually focused on taking care of sick pets, and those awaiting or going through surgery. Odds are, if your pet is boarding at such a facility, he will be attended to only after all the "patients" have been taken care of. Veterinary hospitals are not usually staffed around the clock, so your pet may be spending a lot of time alone without attention or exercise. In addition, he may be kept in close proximity to sick animals, which is not a good situation. That said, some vets do offer separate facilities for boarding that are adequate - just do your homework and check things out in person first.

While you are visiting a potential pet boarding facility, see if the animals are monitored and kept safe and secure while exercising or playing outdoors. They should not be left in any confined area without supervision for extended periods of time. Observe all fencing and make sure it looks secure, with no holes or "easy to dig out" places at the bottom.

If you are boarding a cat, they should be contained in an area that is separated well from the dogs. Few things can stress out a normal cat worse than around the clock barking and howling!

If you will be boarding a dog, be certain to find out how he will be cared for. How often will he be fed? Will he have regular outdoor play time? Will they give him his own healthy dog food that you bring from home?

A good idea is to ask your veterinarian if they can recommend a good local pet boarding facility. They will usually know all the pros and cons of the ones in your area. Just take time to visit in person any kennel or other facility you are considering for your pet. It wouldn't hurt to take your pet along, too, to see how they react to the surroundings.

One last thing to consider when visiting and evaluating a boarding facility - watch the staff and see how they interact with the animals. To do this job well, one must love animals and have a tremendous amount of patience with them. Not everyone is gifted with this ability. If the people working directly with the pets are impatient and unfriendly with them while you're there, think of how they must act when you leave.

Deciding on a place to leave you pets is an important decision. Keep all these things in mind when you make your choice.