This page provides important information to assist you in planning for your pet's stay with us. Please read it ahead of your pet's reservations. It is lengthy but covers a LOT of ground. Topics include:
Reservations
Vaccinations
Fleas, Ticks & Other Unwelcome Beasties
Pet Health & Medical Situations
Things To Bring (& What To Leave At Home)
Holidays
Inclement Weather & Unforeseen Calamities
Vaccinations
Fleas, Ticks & Other Unwelcome Beasties
Pet Health & Medical Situations
Things To Bring (& What To Leave At Home)
Holidays
Inclement Weather & Unforeseen Calamities
If you have any further questions, please let us know!
Reservations
Advance reservations are required for your pet's boarding stay. We recommend making your pet's reservation with as much advance notice as possible. During our busiest times of the year (holidays and summer), you should make your reservation multiple weeks in advance to ensure there is space available. If you request space at a time we are booked to capacity, we will inform you and add your pet to a wait list.
Reservations can be made online, giving you the ability to manage your own account, or by calling our lobby for personal assistance (please leave a message if we cannot answer - sometimes we have our hands full with our furry guests). If you submit a reservation request online, we will send you a confirmation email or give you a call. If you have not heard from us after 48 hours, please call to confirm the reservation. If your reservation is for less than 48 hours from the time you request it, please call right away to expedite the process.
If your plans change and your pet will not be coming to visit us, most of the time we only ask that you please give us as much notice as possible so we can open that space up to other guests. However, reservations spanning major holidays may require a non-refundable deposit upfront, which will later apply toward your final invoice; cancelling such reservations forfeits the deposit amount.
A credit card is required to hold a reservation. This will be used as payment at the time of your pet's check out, and a detailed receipt will be immediately emailed to you, or hand-delivered to you along with your pet, upon request. If you are coming to our location to pick up your pet and would prefer to pay with another method, please let us know prior to your arrival.
Credit cards or cash are required for payment. We cannot accept personal checks.
Reservations can be made online, giving you the ability to manage your own account, or by calling our lobby for personal assistance (please leave a message if we cannot answer - sometimes we have our hands full with our furry guests). If you submit a reservation request online, we will send you a confirmation email or give you a call. If you have not heard from us after 48 hours, please call to confirm the reservation. If your reservation is for less than 48 hours from the time you request it, please call right away to expedite the process.
If your plans change and your pet will not be coming to visit us, most of the time we only ask that you please give us as much notice as possible so we can open that space up to other guests. However, reservations spanning major holidays may require a non-refundable deposit upfront, which will later apply toward your final invoice; cancelling such reservations forfeits the deposit amount.
A credit card is required to hold a reservation. This will be used as payment at the time of your pet's check out, and a detailed receipt will be immediately emailed to you, or hand-delivered to you along with your pet, upon request. If you are coming to our location to pick up your pet and would prefer to pay with another method, please let us know prior to your arrival.
Credit cards or cash are required for payment. We cannot accept personal checks.
Vaccinations
Any updates to your pet's vaccination records must be emailed to us at dogwoods325@gmail.com. Please contact your vet's office to confirm your pet is up-to-date on all the required vaccines listed below, and have them email us your pet's current record. Please do this as soon as possible after making reservations. Vaccine records must be received by us no later than a week prior to your pet's boarding appointment, as time is required on our end to process the information into your pet's account. If your pet's boarding is less than a week out, please email any new records to us as soon as possible, but no later than the day prior to their check-in date.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure their pet's vaccines are all up to date and communicated to us prior to boarding.
Pets with expired or missing vaccines cannot be checked in.
For dogs, we require veterinary proof of:
Rabies
Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvo (DHPP)
Bordetella (canine cough)
Canine Influenza (CIV)
For cats, we require veterinary proof of:
Rabies
Feline Distemper
Feline Leukemia
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure their pet's vaccines are all up to date and communicated to us prior to boarding.
Pets with expired or missing vaccines cannot be checked in.
For dogs, we require veterinary proof of:
Rabies
Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvo (DHPP)
Bordetella (canine cough)
Canine Influenza (CIV)
For cats, we require veterinary proof of:
Rabies
Feline Distemper
Feline Leukemia
Vaccinations must be given by a licensed veterinarian. For the safety of all our guests, vaccinations not administered by a veterinarian (such as by a breeder, pet owner, etc.) cannot be accepted.
Many of our repeat customers make a habit of asking their vet to send us the new records each time their pet receives a checkup, so we're always up to date and ready for any future visits.
Please do not wait to bring records at the same time as you check in your pet. You may be turned away.
Both for the health of your pet and the health of our other guests, we cannot make exceptions for expired or missing vaccines.
If you wish to board a new puppy or kitten of less than 18 weeks of age, please call us directly to discuss the status of their vaccination program.
If you have a geriatric or medically-compromised pet and your vet has prescribed a vaccine routine that differs from our requirements, please call us directly to discuss.
Many of our repeat customers make a habit of asking their vet to send us the new records each time their pet receives a checkup, so we're always up to date and ready for any future visits.
Please do not wait to bring records at the same time as you check in your pet. You may be turned away.
Both for the health of your pet and the health of our other guests, we cannot make exceptions for expired or missing vaccines.
If you wish to board a new puppy or kitten of less than 18 weeks of age, please call us directly to discuss the status of their vaccination program.
If you have a geriatric or medically-compromised pet and your vet has prescribed a vaccine routine that differs from our requirements, please call us directly to discuss.
Fleas, Ticks, & Other Unwelcome Beasties
All pets must be current on a flea and tick preventative at the time of check-in,
even if they are full-time indoor pets at home.
Preventative measures, routine veterinary checkups, and regular grooming cannot prevent everything. It only takes your dog or cat coming into contact with a single microscopic larvae, spore, or even just one flea to contract something nasty and that you may not have noticed yet. Due to our close supervision of guests, sometimes we see things that have gone unnoticed at home. (We know you don't follow your pet around and keep notes about it all day long like we do... at least, we assume you don't. If you do, consider applying for a position on our staff. You'll fit right in!)
If your pet is observed harboring unwelcome critters of any variety while visiting us, we will take appropriate action to address their situation promptly; this may include bathing, acquiring and administering topical or oral medications from a vet, providing samples or transporting your pet to the vet for symptom identification, or other measures. We will communicate with you in a timely fashion and add the related services and charges to your invoice. We must address infestation or infection issues swiftly and comprehensively for the health of all of our current and future guests and staff.
All pets must be current on a flea and tick preventative at the time of check-in,
even if they are full-time indoor pets at home. (Yes, we know we repeated that. It's important!)
Pet Health & Medical Situations
We all know predicting the future is impossible and unexpected situations can arise at any time, including when your pet is boarding (and, of course, usually on a weekend or holiday, haha...). If a non-emergency medical situation arises while your pet is staying with us, we will attempt to contact you first to inform you and ask for your guidance in how you would like us to proceed. If it is an emergency situation or a situation we deem critical, we will act on it immediately and continue to try reaching you in the meantime. This may include transporting your pet to a vet clinic or emergency vet for care, picking up any medications prescribed, etc. Charges covering our additional time and care for your pet will be reflected in your invoice.
We have a very compassionate and well-trained staff, and are capable of handling many pet medical issues, both first-aid and long term conditions. However, we are a pet hotel, not a medical facility, and will always be upfront if we believe your pet would be better suited to boarding in a veterinary environment. Every situation is unique and we are absolutely open to speaking with owners when they have pets with special health needs, but we will decline hosting pets requiring injections, or with compromised trachea, esophagus, or breathing conditions. In our experience, these issues can too-easily and suddenly require emergency medical intervention that we are not equipped to provide on-site, but is readily available in a veterinary setting. We appreciate your business! But your pet's health and safety is always our priority.
We have a very compassionate and well-trained staff, and are capable of handling many pet medical issues, both first-aid and long term conditions. However, we are a pet hotel, not a medical facility, and will always be upfront if we believe your pet would be better suited to boarding in a veterinary environment. Every situation is unique and we are absolutely open to speaking with owners when they have pets with special health needs, but we will decline hosting pets requiring injections, or with compromised trachea, esophagus, or breathing conditions. In our experience, these issues can too-easily and suddenly require emergency medical intervention that we are not equipped to provide on-site, but is readily available in a veterinary setting. We appreciate your business! But your pet's health and safety is always our priority.
Things To Bring
(& What To Leave At Home)
Food
Please send your pet's usual food from home; this provides dietary consistency and familiarity while boarding. We can accommodate foods that require refrigeration or frozen storage, such as raw food diets. Please bring dry food in a closed container or plastic zipper bag with your pet's name on it.
Special diets are usually not an issue for us to handle, and in most cases can be administered at no additional charge. Please let us know if your pet has any known food sensitivities, even if it does not require anything special.
If you forget your pet's food, we will serve your dog or cat dry kibble we keep on hand for such situations. We cannot be responsible for acquiring special foods for guests who forget to bring their own.
Please do not bring your pet’s food or water bowls, as we use bowls specifically designed for our facility.
If your dog uses a slow-down bowl at home or requires elevated food bowls due to a medical condition, please let us know when making your reservation. In these rare cases, we may ask you to bring their mealtime items from home.
We cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Medications
Please, always send your pet's medications! We want to maintain their home health routines while they are visiting to ensure they have a comfortable stay. Medications that can be administered with your pet's normal breakfast and dinner will not incur any additional fees. Please try to avoid beginning a new medication routine during your pet's stay. Complex, time-consuming, or intensive medical instructions or procedures may incur additional charges. Let us know your pet's usual medication routine when you make your reservation.
Please note, we do not host pets requiring injections. We strongly advise boarding diabetic pets or pets with other significant health concerns at a trusted vet facility. Please contact us with any questions.
Again, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Bedding
We provide comfortable, clean, personality-appropriate bedding for each of our guests. You don't have to send anything!
However, you may bring a favored blanket for your pet if it can be easily washed in our standard-size agitator washing machine. Any bedding that does not meet this description will be stored during your pet's stay, while they enjoy relaxing with our comfy in-house alternatives.
Please do not bring anything uniquely valuable, irreplaceable, any difficult-to-clean items, or any items you know your pet may damage. Even the most predictable and well-behaved pet can unexpectedly damage a beloved item when they're away from their normal environment. Heirloom quilts and designer dog sofas should stay home, please.
If your pet has medical handicaps or other situations requiring special bedding, please discuss this with us when making your reservation.
Again, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Toys
We have quite an ever-changing variety of toys, lots of tennis balls, and multiple seasonally-available kiddie pools for our canine guests to use and enjoy while they are outside in our playground areas.
Cats have climbing and scratching posts, hidey castles, kitty toys, and sometimes an empty cardboard box or paper bag. They also have a large window with a very entertaining view of our garden and a range of wildlife to watch that like to fly, climb, and hop around searching for tasty treats. (The little thieves especially love our strawberries in the spring and summer. It's quite a show for feline guests.)
You may also bring a toy for your pet to enjoy while relaxing in their private accommodations. Please keep anything valuable or delicate at home. Tennis balls or any toys which could be swallowed or torn apart are not permitted, and will be stored away. Your pet's health and safety during their visit will always be our top priority.
Also also wik, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Treats
You may bring treats that your pet is accustomed to getting at home. Please do not bring any treats or foods that your pet has never had before, things that can be shredded and swallowed (such as Nylabones, pieced rawhide treats, etc), or things that are known to risk gastrointestinal upset.
To ensure the health and safety of guests while in our care, we will occasionally withhold certain treats sent from home based on our own assessment, even if your pet does great with them at home under your supervision.
Please let us know if your pet has any known food sensitivities when making your reservation.
We respectfully ask you refrain from 'spoiling' your pet with any new or unusual food items in the couple of days leading up to their visit. Giving a dog a 'special treat' before their stay usually means we'll get a 'special treat' from them not long after they arrive! We know every single thing you do for your pet is out of love, but trust us on this one. Spoil them with extra snuggles or tennis ball throws instead; and if you just can't resist giving them a fast food slider, please wait until the ride home after you pick them back up. Many thanks in advance!
Please send your pet's usual food from home; this provides dietary consistency and familiarity while boarding. We can accommodate foods that require refrigeration or frozen storage, such as raw food diets. Please bring dry food in a closed container or plastic zipper bag with your pet's name on it.
Special diets are usually not an issue for us to handle, and in most cases can be administered at no additional charge. Please let us know if your pet has any known food sensitivities, even if it does not require anything special.
If you forget your pet's food, we will serve your dog or cat dry kibble we keep on hand for such situations. We cannot be responsible for acquiring special foods for guests who forget to bring their own.
Please do not bring your pet’s food or water bowls, as we use bowls specifically designed for our facility.
If your dog uses a slow-down bowl at home or requires elevated food bowls due to a medical condition, please let us know when making your reservation. In these rare cases, we may ask you to bring their mealtime items from home.
We cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Medications
Please, always send your pet's medications! We want to maintain their home health routines while they are visiting to ensure they have a comfortable stay. Medications that can be administered with your pet's normal breakfast and dinner will not incur any additional fees. Please try to avoid beginning a new medication routine during your pet's stay. Complex, time-consuming, or intensive medical instructions or procedures may incur additional charges. Let us know your pet's usual medication routine when you make your reservation.
Please note, we do not host pets requiring injections. We strongly advise boarding diabetic pets or pets with other significant health concerns at a trusted vet facility. Please contact us with any questions.
Again, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Bedding
We provide comfortable, clean, personality-appropriate bedding for each of our guests. You don't have to send anything!
However, you may bring a favored blanket for your pet if it can be easily washed in our standard-size agitator washing machine. Any bedding that does not meet this description will be stored during your pet's stay, while they enjoy relaxing with our comfy in-house alternatives.
Please do not bring anything uniquely valuable, irreplaceable, any difficult-to-clean items, or any items you know your pet may damage. Even the most predictable and well-behaved pet can unexpectedly damage a beloved item when they're away from their normal environment. Heirloom quilts and designer dog sofas should stay home, please.
If your pet has medical handicaps or other situations requiring special bedding, please discuss this with us when making your reservation.
Again, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Toys
We have quite an ever-changing variety of toys, lots of tennis balls, and multiple seasonally-available kiddie pools for our canine guests to use and enjoy while they are outside in our playground areas.
Cats have climbing and scratching posts, hidey castles, kitty toys, and sometimes an empty cardboard box or paper bag. They also have a large window with a very entertaining view of our garden and a range of wildlife to watch that like to fly, climb, and hop around searching for tasty treats. (The little thieves especially love our strawberries in the spring and summer. It's quite a show for feline guests.)
You may also bring a toy for your pet to enjoy while relaxing in their private accommodations. Please keep anything valuable or delicate at home. Tennis balls or any toys which could be swallowed or torn apart are not permitted, and will be stored away. Your pet's health and safety during their visit will always be our top priority.
Also also wik, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Treats
You may bring treats that your pet is accustomed to getting at home. Please do not bring any treats or foods that your pet has never had before, things that can be shredded and swallowed (such as Nylabones, pieced rawhide treats, etc), or things that are known to risk gastrointestinal upset.
To ensure the health and safety of guests while in our care, we will occasionally withhold certain treats sent from home based on our own assessment, even if your pet does great with them at home under your supervision.
Please let us know if your pet has any known food sensitivities when making your reservation.
We respectfully ask you refrain from 'spoiling' your pet with any new or unusual food items in the couple of days leading up to their visit. Giving a dog a 'special treat' before their stay usually means we'll get a 'special treat' from them not long after they arrive! We know every single thing you do for your pet is out of love, but trust us on this one. Spoil them with extra snuggles or tennis ball throws instead; and if you just can't resist giving them a fast food slider, please wait until the ride home after you pick them back up. Many thanks in advance!
Holidays
On a few major holidays we do not offer lobby hours, allowing us to fully focus on the pets boarding with us, and to accommodate our dedicated staff members' own family celebrations. The standard days are listed below, but other dates may be added as needed to accommodate unique situations.
We often post a staff member at the entrance to our single-lane scenic driveway on the busiest days around holidays, to control traffic flow and facilitate a smoother experience for everyone. More rarely, normal lobby hours may differ on the days before and after some major holidays to allow our staff extra time to care for our additional furry guests; you will be informed in advance if this will impact your appointment.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Day
Easter Sunday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year's Day
Easter Sunday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Inclement Weather & Unforeseen Calamities
When weather conditions are poor, we take a common sense approach to how and when we escort our canine guests outdoors. Potty breaks and activities are reasonably shifted around events such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, and winter weather events. Since we reside on-site, pets boarding with us always continue to receive uninterrupted care. In the case of situations that prevent safe travel to or from our facility, we will be in contact to make alternate arrangements for pets scheduled to check in or out during the event; similarly, please contact us ASAP if you need to update your pet's boarding plans. Reservations extended due to weather or other extreme or uncontrollable situations will continue to incur regular fees for boarding care during the added time your pet remains with us.
Out Of Hours Check Ins & Check Outs
~ For Emergencies Only ~
Under normal circumstances, if you are unable to pick up your pet within our office hours, you may simply contact us via phone or email to make arrangements for a friend or relative to pick up your pet for you, or to extend your pet's boarding arrangements.
Out of hours pet entry or exit may be possible in emergency situations, depending on staff availability, for a nominal charge of $75 per pet if advance notice is given; $100 per pet will be charged on holidays when the lobby would otherwise be closed all day. This service is not guaranteed to be available upon request, and you may be refused. Please do not arrive at our facility without contacting us first to arrange an appointment. We cannot accommodate impromptu guests or tours, as our staff members are actively engaged with other facility tasks and responsibilities all day, every day of the year. Thank you for respecting our hours.
Out of hours pet entry or exit may be possible in emergency situations, depending on staff availability, for a nominal charge of $75 per pet if advance notice is given; $100 per pet will be charged on holidays when the lobby would otherwise be closed all day. This service is not guaranteed to be available upon request, and you may be refused. Please do not arrive at our facility without contacting us first to arrange an appointment. We cannot accommodate impromptu guests or tours, as our staff members are actively engaged with other facility tasks and responsibilities all day, every day of the year. Thank you for respecting our hours.
