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) (0 al 0, z w PI w ME ›. idial ROCHESTER AREA: Call (810) 969-26f) a --/ z