Pretty please, be 100 percent certain that you know your dog's vaccination expiry dates for rabies, parvo and distemper - and that you keep copies of that paperwork handy.
We have been turning a few people away this summer because vaccinations are either not current, or current paperwork can't be tracked down.
The vaccinations must be current with none being given in the two weeks prior to boarding, otherwise your reservation will be cancelled.
Previously we would call veterinary clinics on behalf of our customers to access that information, but changes at the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association now make that difficult.
Where things can go wrong:
Some customers wait for their veterinarian to remind them that their dog's vaccinations are due. Reminder cards don't always get mailed out. It happens.
Some customers get vaccinations done during the two weeks prior to boarding. No. Please don't. We will not accept your dog.
Some customers assume that because they've been to their veterinarian for something else - say an ear infection - that vaccinations are also current. Not always. Often times if your dog is being treated for something or has gotten surgery, they won't be vaccinated at that time because of the extra stress on their system.
Some customers take their dog to several veterinary clinics for care. That's ok, but that means the only person with a complete medical history is the dog's owner.
Some customers self-vaccinate. If your dog's vaccinations have not been administered by a veterinarian, we will not accept your dog for boarding. With a veterinarian-administered vaccination comes a health check-up, so it's the best way for us to ensure that our kennel remains healthy for everyone.
We can mess up. Yes, we're human. We can enter the wrong information into our system then ask to see certificates again. It's like showing your passport at the airport over and over again :)
It's your job to make sure your dog's vaccinations are up-to-date. Our job is to check that you have done your job. Please round up your certificates and know expiry dates for rabies, parvo and distemper. For anyone with a smart phone, take a photo of your certificates - that way you'll have a copy at your fingertips at all times. If you're old school, please keep that file folder some place handy so you can pull it out at a moment's notice.