My dog has been in kennels on a number of occasions, we have just moved to a new area with my hubby being away I thought I would put the dog in kennels Friday to Monday and have a trip to my mum and dads.
I went to collect him this morning and gosh what a state he was in, he stunk of pee and was covered all over his back and back legs of pee his feet where all yellow. This kennels also has a grooming shop connected to it but my dog looked as though he had'nt been brushed. As soon as I got him home I gave him a good brush then he went straight up for a bath.
I did have my dog booked in for 2 wks in July but i have now found another kennels to take him.

Thankfully he is settled now in a nice clean bed all curled up .

Has anybody else had a bad experience of taking their pets to boarding kennels ?

Yes we went away for two weeks once leaving two dogs we told them clearly and wrote it down they had to be fed separately or the bigger one would eat all the food - came back to a half starved dog and a huge fat one, both had kennel cough and fleas ! We always take them with us now !

Aww poor dogs!!! The last time I put two of our dogs in a kennel was a long time ago and was the last time..... like Molliepops, we told the kennel owner to feed them separately because one always woofed everything down quickly before checking the other one's dish and I was totally ignored and had one overfed dog and one that was starving....

If we can't take our dogs with us, our in-laws house-sit for us and it's so much better for the dogs and for us to not have any worry! The groomer of our Spaniel has the only kennels that I trust to care for my dogs but so far they're lucky being able to stay home if we can't take them! I'd rather not go away than have them looked after by the kennels Harleybobs used!

Do these bad kennels think you would ever use them again?

am very lucky that my mother in law has her own dog walking and home boarding business - all the dogs she cares for have a daily diary where she takes notes on the dogs likes and dislikes, special care instructions, and writes a little bit about the dogs 'holiday' - complete with pictures! - for the owners to read when they get home. our dog loves it at her house.

When I was young we had a little Cairn terrier. The only time he had to go into kennels was when we went on holiday and couldn't take him one year. When mum went to collect him, someone elses dog was in the reception, a huge thing, and damn near killed our dog, they couldn't get him off. As far as I remember, they didn't even pay the vets fees. Nowadays of course (this was back in the 1960s) we would sue the pants off them.

sorry to hear you have had a bad experience, I took my dog to one a few weeks ago and although it was clean and there wasn't many pens he came back via my ex without any of the things I'd taken for him, so I had to make a return journey, I'd also bought some anti-anxiety herbal tablets for him as he doesn't get on with other dogs, and they weren't given to him, all his treats went missing (which was odd as I'd bought them to be administered with the dog tablets) not good at all. He didn't seem too bad in himself but I'll not be going back there again.
I have since found an agency that do "animals at home" you pay so much per night and meet a host family/person who will look after your dog in their home whilst you are away, so no need for kennels anymore, bit more expensive but the peace of mind is worth it.

I have considered a pets at home service but the only thing with that is he does'nt really like strangers especially men coming into his home (if we are here he is fine).
He has always enjoyed his stay at kennels where we used to go, I just hope the other 2 I have found are good, I'm going to go and have a look around them at the weekend.

I wish we did'nt have to put him into kennels but where we live we don't have any family around us.

It might be worth looking into Harleybobs as I got to meet the lady who is looking after mine before I took him to stay, when I joined up with the agency (animals at home) the lady who runs it took lots of info about my dog and his likes/dislikes phobias etc, and the lady who my dog goes to is on her own and in a bungalow, probably about 65+ so he loves it, gets very spoilt and comes back nice and relaxed, rather than me go away and fret about him being in a kennel I left him for 4 days at this lady's and felt much more relaxed about it didn't worry at all, and he was fine. It costs £20 a night but I think that's worth it, my family are all in Dorset/Kent and I live in Derbyshire, my ex doesn't want anything to do with my dog anymore so it's just me who looks after him - I know how difficult this can be when you don't have a support network around you to help but if you aren't keen on him going into kennels then it could be worthwhile seeing about a home care service. I googled it and found this one (covers Nottingham & Derbyshire - not sure where you live). Good luck x

That's terrible, I don't understand anyone who could run a kennels and then just treat the dogs like an afterthought

Our grey is obviously used to being in kennels, so we had no worries about her on that score, but the first time we put her in just felt like we were abandoning her We came back to find a fabulously clean, well-fed and happy dog. She came out of her pen, tail going mad, ran straight for me, then my husband, then went over and stood beside the kennel owner so he could pet her too

We took that to mean she was being treated well and she's being going there ever since. Someone did once say to me always to visit the kennels beforehand to get a feel for, and a smell of, the place, so that might be something to try if you need to kennel your dog again in the future.

I hate when kennels don't take proper responsibility for your pet - I've had a couple of experiences, the first was when I took my two to a kennel near my mum - the owner put them into a crappy concrete pen, with no shelter or bedding area. I asked him to move them, he said that the pen was just a 'holding area' and that they'd be moved when I'd gone. When I returned a week later, they were in the same pen, and were filthy, wet through and shivering (it was December) I was furious, I've never gone back.

The second was my mums dog, he's a boxer and quite boisterous, so we phoned around for good kennels that could cope with him. When we collected him, he was cowering in the corner of the pen, shaking - not like him at all. We asked the owner why the hell he was in that state, and the reply was, ''Well, he didn't seem to want to mingle, so we just left him''... I suspect he got a smack or two for his boisterousness, as he was in a terrible state for a week or so, jumpy and subdued. Again, the last time we went near the place.

Now, I have a great place for my boys, they get all excited when they go, they take good care of them, and it's attached to a vet's hospital, so if they need any treatment while they're kennelled, the hospital does it. As for my mam's dog, we've never kennelled him again, if he needs minding, we get someone to dog-sit him in his own home.

Its awful when your trust is betrayed like that
The only time I have kennelled any of my dogs was my Border Collie, when we were on holiday when my daughter was small and wanted to go to theme parks. We wouldn't leave him in the caravan, so we put him in local kennels just for the day, we only did it three times, I hated it, but he seemed to enjoy it, especially the one on a farm where the owner took him for several long walks
My cousin left her dog in a kennels recently and they managed to lose her, they took her out off the lead and she ran..My cousin spent weeks searching for her, without any help from the kennel owners. Thankfully she eventually found her way to a garden of a couple who had seen the posters about her and they were reunited

My cat goes into a cattery though, for two weeks a year, she's fine there and the people are real cat lovers, but sadly , they have retired, and there are new owners, so I am rather nervous about her going there this year.

Yes about 25 years ago one of my dogs which I had was called PUDDING because she was a little bit overweight LOL, anyway I went on holiday and put her into kennels.

When I picked her up 2 weeks later she was half her size and was in terrible condition. It took a long time for me to get her right again sadly she died about 2 years later unconnected with a stroke I was devistated as she was one of my fosters that I had decided to keep.

I swore I would never put another dog in kennels and I havent. IF we go away not the dog either comes with us or we get a dog and cat sitter.

We always use the same kennels local to us - and they are great !!!

They really look after the animals left in their care - to the extent that our dog actually looks forward to going !!!

When we drive up their private road, kennels is part of working farm, dog gets really excited - and when we park up to book him in, he gets lots of fuss etc.

Only time we couldn't get him in and had to use another local kennels - omg, what a nightmare !!!

We collected him after a weekend break - and just by looking at him it was obvious that he hadn't been cared for at all.

Thing is the kennels that we used this one time, ended up in the national and local news a few months later - 100 dogs abandoned etc. 98 St Bernards + 2 others.

Asking local vets / RSPCA / friends & neighbours for best kennels is always the way to go.

P.S. Our "regular" kennels, last time we went even gave us a days boarding back - the last time the dog was booked in there we had paid upto and including the Sunday, but my brother-in-law collected the dog on Saturday afternoon - when we went to pay for his next stay, they remembered and gave us a day for free.

We like our local kennels, as does our dog !!

PPS - if you google 'brigstock kennels' - our preferred kennels is (under local business results) option B.

I've used lots of kennels and catteries and they do vary quite a lot. I always go along to see them first before I book the animals in, and the better ones will virtually insist that you do this. I also always help to take the cats (as it is now) to their enclosure, so that I can see where they're going. You can tell a lot both by the appearance of the kennels/cattery, and the appearance and manner of the staff. A good place will look spotless, and will have virtually no animal smell. If it stinks, don't go there!

Our dogs have never been in kennels...We always take them and if we can't we don't go on holiday.
Unless they can stay with family but only for a maximum of two/three nights...I really can't bear to part with them as it is,so kennels?NEVER!!!

Kind of a nuisance when you want to go to the Bahamas for a couple of weeks, though!

Seriously, I think people do get a bit hysterical about kennels and catteries, by far the majority are clean and caring places.

My Lab Jak went to our local kennels 3 years ago. They trapped his tail in a kennel door and did not seek medical attention, about a month later and numerous vets visits a third of his tail had to be amputated I have told everyone I know with a pet not to use this place and Jak does not go in kennels anymore

Gosh Roan that is really bad... Did you not sue the kennels ?

If they are still in business then maybe you should do an online review of them.

Cody came back filthy from kennels once, and her bed was covered in wee. We think she was just left in the 'cage' and not let out for a wee or anything. She was also half starved.

She now goes to kennels run by a family who own, breed and show boxers and they adore her. She loves going there

Paul goes to his 'grandparents'' if we go away anywhere

We see our 2 as part of the family and so take them with us, they travel well and love the Travelodge at Whiddon Down

Ok, this is about my 2 cats but the gripe is still the same. I paid a humungous amount of money (and they insisted I pay it all up front) to put them into a recommended small luxury cattery thinking and being told they'd get tip top treatment. I paid extra as well to ensure they had the food they liked (not whiskas or felix). I took a lot of things with them inc their own bowls, bed, toys, bags of treats and their little harnesses. The woman asked me how I felt about hoovers which I thought was an odd question. She then said that she likes to hoover out their pens daily. I said that they would hate this and would need to be removed when she hoovered. No problem she said I'll do that. Also as it was Feb and snow on the ground, I expected the heaters to be on and was again told, yes, no problem.

When I went to collect, both were skinny and neurotic, pen was absolutely freezing (could see own breath on glass), bed damp, bowls missing, all treats and herbal calming tablets gone, had been fed bl00dy Felix and only once a day, harness had been used to walk their own little dog and was covered in his fur and sweat and the lead had been chewed through..and when I got home and began hoovering the house a day or so later..found that I'd now got one neurotic cat who had a fit and shed his fur on the spot (never in my life have I ever seen a cat shed chunks of fur right in front of my eyes). They'd also been hounded by the owners' jack russels (who were not present when I dropped them off) who were sat outside their pen barking the whole time when I went to collect.

Was absolutely disgusted. Both cats were clearly traumatised. One has never got over the hoover in the pen experience and literally bolts from the house as soon as I use it now. He also runs and hides when he hears a dog bark (had been no problem before). When I got them home, they literally both clung to me for about two days, crying to be picked up or cuddled. I spent two days just laying with them whilst they both laid on top of me, washing and cuddling. That's the most I've ever felt loved by them but boy, did I feel guilty too.

Haven't really been away since as just don't want to leave them in any place again.

lozza73 ~ that's a terrible story ~ your poor cats. I hope you were able to take some action against the cattery, if only to put the word out locally of the awful treatment your cats received.

I've never put any of my pets in kennels. The cats stay at home with regular visits from anyone I can persuade to pop in (usually my mother, the neighbours & friends that the cats are familiar with). The dogs come with me as my holidays are planned around the dogs. I love walking & exploring the UK & there are plenty of cottages to rent that will accept dogs. I've done a lot of travelling in the past so I'm now content to put foreign holidays on hold all the time I've got dogs. My only worry is that my father lives in Spain & should anything happen to him & I have to go to Spain, then I would have to leave the dogs for a few days. But I already have a few friends that I go on holiday with (9 dogs between us!) & I know that in an emergency, they would have the dogs to stay with them.

No, I didn't bother taking any action other than to put the word around to those who had recommended the cattery that I was utterly disgusted (and on this forum). Hopefully, they took my experience into consideration when deciding whether or not to rebook.

Re your dogs and Spain, I would perhaps consider getting your pooches a passport. My sis has done this and has successfully relocated her family and pet cat several times in the last year (to the most unlikely countries you could imagine). Saves on quarantine and means you and your family and pet are all settled. It would mean you could visit your father for an extended period of time if needed. He may also get some comfort from the dogs. Animals are funny things and sense when someone needs some TLC I've always found. On a more positive note, it would mean you could holiday in France or anywhere really, and not limit yourself to cottages in the UK..although we have a beautiful country!!

I think some of the experiences described on here are horrendous, and the places concerned should be shut down, but I still maintain that they are in the minority, and that most kennels/catteries are excellent. I do rather resent the slightly sanctimonious tone that's being taken by people who either take their animals on holiday or NEVER use a kennel/cattery - it's sounding like the inside cat-outside cat debate.

I've had generally excellent experiences of catteries and kennels over 30 years, and I'm sure others have as well. Perhaps they could trade their experiences, before people are completely put off putting animals "in care", and feel too guilty to go on holiday!

2 Years ago, our family went on holiday, my Mum and Dad usually look after our pets and vice-versa, but this year we were all going together. We decided to look around for kennels and a cattery for our Yorkie and Cat to stay in. We picked ones that we thought suited the animals best. We took our dog and everything was fine, they made a fuss of him because he is so small, he was quite happy, and his kennel was clean, warm and homely because of the toys we had taken for him. We were told to feel free to ring us at any time to check how he is, this did put our minds at rest but we did feel guilty.
When it came to take Benji our cat, we met the girl who was going to be looking after him and we gave her a list of his likes and dislikes, we set up his little room with all of his toys, bed, and cushions.

Quite a few times whilst away we rang the Kennels who assured us that Sweep was fine and sitting in the office with them, The Cattery told us that Benji was fine,,enjoying the attention after his dinner, and loving the strokes and cuddles.

As Soon as we landed, we went straight to pick them up, Sweep was great, happy, clean, and was told that he spent everyday with them in the office.
We went to get benji and was told to wait, they would bring him to us, so we paid and waited, and they brought him back to us in his carrier, we said goodbye and took him home. Once home we let him out of his carrier and he had run about in the garden, he ate his tea and came for a cuddle, we couldn't believe the size of him he had gone so fat. We laughed at this because we thought he had been lazing around for 2 weeks, with no exercising just having his meals given to him (which would be his idea of heaven!) We cut down on his food and thought once he gets back into the garden chasing the birds the weight would drop off him. A week later he seemed to be getting bigger so we took him to the vets. A blood test was done and it was announced that his kidneys were failing and that there was nothing they could do. We were devestated, the how's and why's couldn't be answered, Benji had to be put to sleep, he was 3 times the size he was before he went into the Cattery, he was only 2.
It was a awful time for us, the kids were inconsolable, we felt gulity, he was like another baby to us. The Vet asked if he could have eaten poison???? Not that i know of, i told him about the cattery and he replied that nothing can be proven if we asked them about his care. I will never use a Cattery or kennel again.