What information do I need for a kennels or cattery booking?

Licensing Requirements

It is a licensing requirement that all pets staying in kennels and cattery facilities are fully vaccinated.  These are the vaccinations your vet gives your dog/cat as standard practice.

However, some kennels also require kennel cough, which is a non-standard vaccination. This means that your vet will not automatically prescribe it; you have to request it.  It is important to check with your kennels if this is required before booking in. The Grange Retreat requires all standard vaccinations along with kennel cough.

Vaccination Booklets

Most owners will have a hard copy of vaccination records for their pets. Vaccination records are a booklet with vaccine numbers, dates that they were given, and dates that they expire.  The Retreat will need a copy of this.  If you have misplaced yours you can make a quick call to your vets to obtain them.

More about Standard Vaccinations

Want to know more about which vaccinations are required for dogs in the UK?

Read Medivet’s blog about vaccinations and boosters using the following link:

https://www.medivet.co.uk/pet-care/pet-advice/dog-vaccinations/

If you are interested in the vaccinations and boosters for cats check out the below:

https://www.medivet.co.uk/pet-care/pet-advice/vaccinating-your-cat/

Different kennels have different policies on pet belongings.  The Grange Retreat tries to make sure your pet feels at home during their stay. Therefore, we ask that you bring along anything your pet finds comforting.  This could be a crate, a bed, or a special blanket.

Dogs can get very excitable in kennels as it is a completely new environment. For this reason – be sure that you don’t bring anything precious as dogs have been known to chew their belongings during their stay!

Our insurance requires that we have a boarding contract filled in for each of your pet’s stays.  This is quick and simple to fill in.  You can either request a printed form or you can complete this online at the following link:

Booking Contract

Food Provided?

Some kennels and catteries provide food; The Grange Retreat has food available if your dog and/or cat is not a fussy eater and does not have allergies.  We provide an all-inclusive food program that includes breakfast, lunch (if required), and dinner up to the day of departure.

We have premium food brands available for dogs. Change of diet can upset a dog’s tummy, so most of our owners bring in their pet’s food. No evening meal will be given on the day of departure as we know some dogs can get car sick.

Likewise, we have premium wet food for cats and a good supply of biscuits.  For the sake of car sickness cats will not be fed an evening meal on their departure day either.

How much food to bring

If you are going to bring food with you, please make sure you bring enough for their stay, plus a little extra in case you are unable to return from your holiday on time.  We also request that you let us know the measurement of food your dog and/or cat will need and how many times a day they need to be fed.

If you are a dog owner you can do this by separating meals into individual bags or you can bring a large container and write your pets name on it along with their feed in grams.

The Grange Retreat asks all new owners to fill in a personality questionnaire to learn a little about their pet’s likes and dislikes before they visit.  This allows us to devise a tailored enrichment plan for each of our pets.  If you are yet to complete this for your pets, please follow the link below.

Personality Questionnaires

The safety and health of pets are paramount to The Grange Retreat, for this reason, we charge no extra fee for medication administration. If your pet takes supplements, tablets, or is a diabetic we are still happy to take them.

All we need is some information about what they need and how often and we will ensure that your pet is well cared for while away from home.

Each dog and cat has a private suite where they stay. Dogs from the same household can share a kennel suite.  Cats from the same household can share a cattery suite.  A 15% discount will be applied for every additional pet sharing the same unit.

Housekeeping is carried out every morning where beds are made and suites are cleaned ready for the day. We have a rigorous cleaning process to ensure that your pets remain clean during their stay.

We walk dogs at least twice per day around our 8 acres but alongside this we offer off-lead paddocking, where your dog can play fetch or have some social interaction with other dogs in our care, providing of course that they are a socialite rather than a lone ranger. Paddock sessions take place twice a day for approx. 60 minutes. An additional session will be added for boarders in the evening to allow for a toilet break before bedtime.

Cats are encouraged to stretch their legs and join in for some rigorous play chasing lasers or mice at regular intervals throughout the day.  We know that some cats prefer a more sedentary lifestyle and that’s perfectly fine too, we have different activities to engage with each character.

• Do you take dogs and cats in season?
  Yes, we take dogs in season. We ensure that they are separated from any intact males.
• Are you open bank holidays?
  Yes! We are open for animal care 365 days of the year. We do not, however, accept drop-offs and collections on bank holidays.  Additional fees for boarding on public holidays do apply.
• Do you take dogs and cats recovering from operations?
  Yes – let us know vets’ advice and we will follow any advisories accordingly.
• Can I bring in treats?
  Yes – if your dog and/or cat has a usual routine then we will try our best to stick to it. Any home comforts that will make your pet’s stay more comfortable are welcome.