When your travel plans can't include yourpet,you need to
find a well-run boarding kenneL But how do you tell if the
one you choose is the right place or not? Here's a
nine-point checklist for any facility you are conside
rlir
You shou A ld ll°
b:v ab inSPedieri?
le to tour the whole facility
with little, if any, advance notice. Any facility which
refuses your request is suspect.
Sit otiki
Guess The
Imposter
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM EDITOR
So, you think you know all
about the Torah? Well, deer;
you may bee surprised to learn
that it makes mention of hun-
dreds of animals, and
we're not lion.
See if you can correct-
ly identify which animal
is not cited in either the
Torah or the Talmud (an-
swer at bottom of page):
Ant
Buzzard
Centipede
Dog
Gazelle
Giraffe
Leech
Mackerel
Nightingale
Owl
Sardine
Scorpion
Viper
•
Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI
48034. Be sure to include the
child's name, age, parents'
names, city of residence and
school. We regret that art work
cannot be returned.
Is a dinosaur in a red hat your
idea of a great pet? Do you
think bats are beautiful? Do
you love the look of lizards, or
think the camel at the zoo is a
charming creature?
The AppleTree is looking for
children's drawings of their fa-
vorite animals (real or imagi-
nary) to run on our Pet Page.
We will print as many pictures
as space allows.
Please send to Pet Page, c/o
The AppleTree, 27676
fencing
DoubTe fencing is a
must. Double fencing is
one line of well-main!
tamed fence with another
line of equally well-main-
tained fence a few feet
away from it. This ensures
that even if a dog does get
Cool
Creatures
03 I
out of his run, he still is contained. Single fence fa-
cilities are not adequate.
C Doors
c
2
o
There should always be two doors between your
animal and freedom. Facilities which have doors
directly to the outside in the kennel
.are acci-
:are
dents waiting to happen.
`
,
411
. g. A Member of ABKA?
The American Boarding Kennel Association
(ABKA) is a good sign of the owner's commitment
04.)
c to professionalism. It isn't a guarantee and lack of
it does not mean the place isn't great but it reas-
sures me when Ir.q. j .t.
om.
-= Rewires Vactiiiagons?
f
Good kennels require proof of up-to-date vac-
.S. cinationsl'ncluding kennel cough (bordetella), ra-
bies, distemper, etc.. .Never leave your pet
anywhere proof of vaccinations is i not required.
Ir.
Domino, who belongs to Gayle Baldi
of The Jewish News is a Dalmatian.
•
The
Drawing
Board
t
took
kennel most of the dogs should
ile touring the kennel,
be up near or on the gates wagging their tails, bark-
ing and generally making a nuisance of themselves.
One or two may hang
back but most should not.
The AppleTree is in search of
photos of adorable pooches,
pretty pet piranhas, oh-so-cute
cats and beautiful birds.
Please send us a picture of
your pet and we'll run it on
this very page. Photos should
be clear, but may be any size,
black-and-white or color.
Mail to Pet Page, c/o The
AppleTree, 27676 Franklin
Rd., Southfield, MI 48034. In-
clude pet's name, owner and
city of residence. If you have a
great story about your favorite
animal friend, be sure to tell
us. We may include that, too!
We regret that photos can-
not be returned.
'alleJi6 ayt to uoguaw pug JO
g ‘ noA ing atug buoi 'Buoi tuol e xool UE3 no), :Jaisodug agi ssan9 of Jamsuy
oes It Smell Clean?
Your nose knows. A kennel filled with dogs will
meii like dogs. Along with dogs you may smell
disinfectant. There should be no overwhelming
stench of urine or feces. Occasionally a dog comes
in for boarding who isn't clean in its indoor pen,
but they're rare. If more than a couple of dogs have
urine and/or feces in their indoor areas then some-
thing is wrong.
indoor/ Outdoor Ruhs
These attached runs have an individual door for
each dog. This.;;4
INVISIBlpfp%
ent is safer and less stress-
ful for your pet than being kept in a crate and tak-
en ,o4sii* . a few times daily. The exceptions are
dogsWinay become frightened in the kennel.
For theS6dogs, crating in a quieter area is best.
BoajiKennels and Disease
NcAtte
: I:: how excellent the kennel, boarding
is still a stressful experience for most dogs. Stress
leaves animals susceptible
to disease.
Even a carefully-run fa-
cility will occasionally
have an intestinal bug
shoot through, and it is
possible for dogs who
have been vaccinated
against kennel cough to
pick up a strain not cov-
ered by the vaccine. We
take for granted that our
ren
will
get
colds
or
skin a knee at school or
xw
pp and yet we are surprised when our dogs do
the canine equivalent at a kennel.
The kennel's obligation is to inform you of the
situation, get the dog the necessary veterinary care
while at their facility and to practice thorough san-
itation. Disease is rare at a good facility but it can
happen. That's just part of the package when you
board your dog. Elderly dogs, puppies under six
months of age, dogs with immune problems are
best cared for in a home environment.
You'll be amused to know that even we "dog
professionals" get choked up when we leave our
dogs. Sadness is a normal part of saying a con-
temporary good-bye. Knowing that we are leav-
ing our dogs at top-notch facilities lessens the
worry. As tempting as it is to load your dog up
with toys and special treats when you leave, don't.
In all the years of caring for dogs, I can count on
one hand the number of animals who played with
a toy during their stay. Skip packing the bed as
well, as it may be hard to keep clean and dry. The
best thing to send along with your pal is an easi-
ly laundered t-shirt or towel that smells like home,
and a good supply of his regular food. That's all
he'll need.
Brian Kilcommons is one of the country's foremost
dog trainers and the author of several widely ac-
claimed books on dog behavior and training. Bri-
an is also the exclusive training consultant for
Invisible Fence.
The Original Electronic Pet Containment S.% stem
• 17 Years Experience
• Over 1/2 Million Pets Contained
• Indoor & Outdoor Systems
• Professional Installation, Training & Service
LIFETIME WARRANTY
ONE-YEAR MONEY-BACK PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
Cafi Today for your
MEE? No-Obfigatkon Estimate!
CD
ID
31645 Southfield Rd. • BIRMINGHAM
(810) 646-WOOF
(9663)
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idial ROCHESTER AREA: Call (810) 969-26f) a
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