Pet boarding is the act of leaving your pet at a professional facility meant to care for them while you’re away. Pet boarding facilities are called many names, such as boarding kennels, doggy daycares, pet hotels and resorts, and veterinarian boarding kennels. Boarding facilities offer short daytime care, overnight, and longer stays for traveling pet parents. Pet boarding is different from pet sitting, which is when you hire a qualified sitter to stop by your home a certain number of times while you’re gone. Pet sitters feed dogs, take them for walks, and give them attention, so they won’t get lonely. Pet boarding is a more formal arrangement for care compared to pet sitting, and it requires a kennel license, city or county approval, and in some counties oversight by the local Department of Agriculture which requires protocols to help maintain standards to prevent the transmission of diseases.

Some common types of pet boarding facilities include:

• Boarding kennels: These facilities offer individual, designated areas for each pet. They may be preferred by pet parents who want to keep their pets separated from other animals due to aggression, meekness, or dislike of other animals.

• Pet hotels and resorts: These facilities offer luxurious accommodations, such as comfortable beds and other amenities, to simulate a hotel experience for pets.

• Veterinarian boarding kennels: These facilities are often attached to veterinary clinics and offer medical care in addition to boarding services.

• Doggy daycares: These facilities offer short-term daytime care for pets.

Pet boarding can give pet parents peace of mind that their pets are being looked after around-the-clock when they’re gone. However, it can be stressful for some animals, and there is a chance of injury from self-trauma or altercations with other boarders. Pet parents should carefully assess whether pet boarding is a good fit for their pets.