Choosing a boarding service should resemble choosing a child care provider. The big difference in Wisconsin is that pet care providers don’t have to be licensed or accredited, but child care proveders do. So what does that mean for you?
In Wisconsin anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves a pet care giver or a groomer without meeting any minimum standards. The state does not require a facility be licensed, nor do they have any minimum accreditation levels for groomers, trainers or any other pet service providers. There are no inspections, and no credentialing agencies for pet care services. You are on your own to wade through the promises and marketing hype.
So how do you know if the person taking care of your pets knows anything about providing pet care? Simple answer is you don’t.
We all know intentions are good. Your neighbor probably does love your dog, and the friend of the friend who shaves your dog probably wants your dog to look good. But that, quite simply, is not enough. Good pet care requires training and experience. The longer a person has worked with dogs or cats, the better their knowledge of proper care will be. Trained professionals do not rely upon luck, they rely upon experience and education. They know about disease transmission, proper socialization for all of the different breeds, what constitutes an emergency, and when it is appropriate to wait and watch. They know how to put your pet into a trim that will look good, and serve your lifestyle needs. They notice subtle changes in your pets’ behavior or appearance, and will always recommend when they think you need to seek the services of a veterinarian.
Your dogs and cats can’t talk, so they can’t tell you when things just are not right at their care facility. It is a “Buyer Beware” environment in this state.
One caution is to beware of the “fad services,” like cage-free boarding or no-cage grooming. Do you really want your pet interacting with everyone elses’ pets for extended periods of time when you don’t know how well socialized or healthy the other dogs are, or what the experience of the attendant is? What happens if a fight breaks out and there is only one person there? I own terriers, and I can assure you they are not always friendly towards other dogs! But you would not know that just by looking at them. And does your neighbor have security fencing around the facility? What will they do if a leash breaks and your dog runs away? Do they know the signs of bloat or other life-threatening conditions?
Your primary goal when seeking a pet care provider is to make sure your pets will be kept safe, secure and healthy. That’s why you want to find the really experienced professionals – not the ones who bluff their way through the interview. Experience does matter when it comes to providing safe, secure and healthy pet care. At Cedar Creek Pet Resort we know how to do that – we have been providing quality care since 1995. Talk with our pet-care cousultants and ask them any question you want. If we don’t have an answer, we’ll find it and get back to you with the answer. We want you to trust us to take proper care of your pets,and feel confident that we can do what’s best in any situation. For us, luck and desire are not enough. Experience and your dogs’ health and safety matter most.
Cedar Cree Pet Resort 