Frequently asked questions

 

What do I need to bring with me when boarding or doing daycare at Richlene Kennels?

 

At Richlene Kennels we provide the basics for your dogs boarding stay. This includes a size-specific non-spill stainless steel food and water bowl. We also provide all the necessary bedding including donut beds, quilts, and fleece blankets. If your dog is a chewer, we have bedding specifically for that purpose. We use our own 20ft retractable Flexi leads with soft slip collars.

Please provide your own dogs food for their stay. This needs to be in a sealed air tight container or pre-bagged per day and labeled with feeding instructions. If you forget your food we offer Purina One Chicken flavor or Members Mark Exceed Chicken and Rice dry dog food. It is highly recommended that you bring your dogs food to prevent any upset stomach due to a change in food.

Please also be prepared to fill out our dog information and release form paperwork upon arrival.

 

 

What vaccinations does my dog/cat need to have and how far ahead should they be done?

 

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping all of the pets in our facility safe. For dogs we require Rabies (1yr or 3yr), Distemper, Parvovirus, and Bordetella (Canine cough) to be up to date each year. We require all vaccinations be done at least 14 days prior to boarding. This is to ensure the pet has full immunity and does not have any symptoms/reactions to the vaccine. If it is yours or your veterinarians preference to decline any vaccination protocol please provide a letter from your veterinarian stating this. If it is personal preference not to do vaccinations without medical advice we will accept a titer test.

 

Can I bring a special diet or medications?

 

Absolutely. We will accommodate any diet needs including soft/canned food, raw diet or home-cooked diet. Please be sure than any fresh food will stay good for your whole stay and prepare adequate arrangements if spoiling occurs. We have a standard size refrigerator and microwave for keeping or preparing a special diet. Oral medications can be administered up to 2 times daily. You are responsible for providing food or treats to give oral medications with (examples: cheese, peanut or almond butter, pill pockets). Insulin injections can be administered also. If insulin injections are needed, please bring syringes and instructions on times and amounts. All medication is an additional charge.

 

What are the pick up and drop off times when boarding?

 

All boarding dogs can be dropped off or picked up during our open hours. The day of drop off is always counted as a full day no matter what time they are dropped off. If they are picked up before 1pm you are not charged for that day. Please give adequate time for check-in (15 minutes). If someone other than the owner is picking up/dropping off please have paperwork already filled out by the owner.

 

HOURS:

MON-FRI 9:00-1:00 and 3:00-5:30

SAT 9:00-12:00

SUN 3:00-4:00

 

 

 

Can I have my dog groomed while boarding?

 

Yes. We offer and encourage grooming customers to get their dog groomed or bathed before going home from boarding. Please make arrangements at time of reservation if you would like your dog to have any grooming service. Grooming and bathing is always done on the day of arrival unless scheduled otherwise. Also available: teeth brushing, anal gland expression and nail trims.

 

 

Will my dog be in contact with other dogs?

 

Richlene Kennels has always had the policy in the past to make sure there is no contact between dogs from different households. We are in the process of adding a “play time” option to approved dogs. Dogs must be boarded for one day prior to “playtime” to determine approval based on temperament with other dogs and people. If you wish to have play time we require that dogs be neutered/spayed and at least 12 weeks of age.

 

Note: “Play time” is still in the works at this time. We will be adding additional outdoor space for dogs to run and interactive equipment. We hope to have this available within the next few months.

 

Do I need reservations?

 

Yes. Please make all boarding and daycare reservations in advance. If the reservations are over a holiday period, we suggest booking 2-3 weeks in advance.

 

What is your cancellation policy?

 

We understand that sometimes you need to cancel a reservation. Please make a cancellation at least 48 hours before scheduled drop off to avoid being charged a cancellation fee. If you cancel a holiday reservation and have put down a deposit, the deposit will not be refunded.

 

What happens if there is a medical emergency while my pet is staying at Richlene Kennels?

 

In the event of an emergency, the staff at Richlene Kennels is adequately prepared to react and make decisions as if your pet is our own. We have a boarding release form that goes over many details for our protocol in case of an emergency. Our first step is to make contact with the owner. If medical attention is needed we will try to attend your preferred veterinarian and if the emergency happens after hours we will use NIVES (Northeast Indiana Veterinary Emergency Services).

​

​