Most problems at drop-off are paperwork and timing, not the pet. Here's what to sort out beforehand — starting four weeks ahead, because two of these can't be rushed.
Vaccination timing and the first-visit evaluation. Both have to happen before your stay, both can take longer than you'd expect, and neither can be fixed on the morning. Everything else on this page can be done the night before.
Many facilities require a meeting, trial visit or assessment before a first overnight stay. Some run it as a group-play test, which a nervous animal may not pass. Ask what theirs involves and book it now — availability for evaluations is often tighter than for boarding itself.
Work from the date each vaccine was given, not the due date printed on the certificate. If anything needs renewing, most facilities require it at least 48 hours to two weeks before arrival — and a lapsed vaccine sometimes means starting a fresh series.
Ask your vet for a full vaccination history rather than a summary — some practice software prints only upcoming due dates, which makes it look as though a vaccine was never given.
Count out enough for the stay plus two spare days. Ask whether the facility gives injectables as well as oral doses, and whether anyone is on site overnight if your pet needs evening or night-time medication.
Most facilities prefer food pre-measured into labelled bags — one per meal, name on each. It removes any doubt about quantity and it's the single easiest thing you can do to make a handover go smoothly.
Where they like to be scratched. What they do when anxious. Whether they guard food. Whether they'll eat if someone's watching. Staff genuinely use this, and it's what makes a first stay easier for the animal.
Most facilities carry insurance. The useful question isn't whether they're insured but what the policy covers, because the two things people mean by it are different.
One question covers it: "Does your policy include care, custody and control?" An operator who knows their business will answer straight away.
If you want to see it, ask for the certificate of insurance from the insurer or broker rather than a photograph of a document. This is routine and nobody reputable minds being asked.
Two related things worth knowing. Your own homeowner's or renter's policy may exclude certain breeds, which occasionally matters at boarding if a facility asks about it. And if your pet is fostered, the rescue may hold cover that extends to the animal while in your care — worth confirming with them rather than assuming either way.
Facilities differ more than you'd expect on what they'll accept, so confirm before you pack. Where we know a facility's rules, they're on the listing.
| Item | Usually | Worth asking |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Bring your own, pre-portioned | Whether they'll feed their own if you run short |
| Medication | Original labelled packaging | Whether they need the vet's written instructions too |
| Bedding | Often refused | Many use their own washable bedding for hygiene, and some won't take textiles at all |
| Soft toys | Often refused | Choking and shared-toy hygiene are the usual reasons |
| Hard rubber toys | Usually fine | Whether they can be washed between uses |
| Collar and tags | Yes, and keep them on | Some remove collars during group play to prevent snagging |
| Leash and harness | Yes, labelled | Whether they use their own for walks |
| Worn t-shirt or blanket | Sometimes allowed | Often the exception to the textile rule — ask specifically |
| Litter and litter tray (cats) | Usually provided | Whether they'll use your brand if your cat is fussy |
| Enclosure and substrate (small pets, reptiles) | Usually bring your own | Temperature, lighting and humidity arrangements |
If your facility says no soft bedding, it isn't being difficult. Shared textiles are hard to sanitise between animals, and swallowed stuffing is a common emergency. A worn t-shirt is often permitted where a plush bed isn't — it smells of you, and it washes.
Everything above, as a one-page checklist you can print or keep on your phone. Free, no sign-up.
Last reviewed August 2026 · Facility policies vary. Confirm anything that matters directly with the facility before you travel.
4,269 licensed facilities. Filter by what your animal actually needs.