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Frequently Asked Questions
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When are you available for small animal boarding?We offer small animal boarding Monday through Sunday, including over holidays, but all pick-up and drop-off times must be scheduled in advance and fall within the pick-up and drop-off time windows listed below. No pick-ups/drop-offs are to be scheduled on major holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Easter or Fourth of July. Pick-Up/Drop-Off Hours: Mondays-Fridays: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Saturdays/Sundays: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
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Are you licensed and insured?Yes, we are licensed with the town of Bedford as well as the state of New Hampshire and we are bonded and insured through Pet Care Affiliates, so you can be sure your pet is in good hands while here!
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Do you offer a multiple pet discount?Bonded pets or pets that are able to share the same enclosure will be charged the standard nightly boarding rate plus a discounted fee for the additional pet(s). For example, if you have two rabbits that can share the same suite, your nightly rate would be the standard nightly rate for one rabbit plus an additional $5.00 for the second rabbit. Unfortunately, we do not offer a multiple pet discount for pets from the same family that need to be housed in separate enclosures.
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Does my pet need to be spayed or neutered?To minimize unwanted behaviors while boarding, we require rabbits to be spayed or neutered. All other pets including guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, etc. do not need to be spayed or neutered in order to board with us.
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If I am boarding my rabbit, what will I need to bring?"We want to make the boarding and packing process as streamlined as possible, so all rabbits will be provided with a 4' x 4' exercise pen suite that includes a litter box, litter, bowls, bedding and all other housing essentials; you do not need to bring your own pen or cage supplies. We actually request that you bring minimal personal items from home aside from your pet's food, a hard-case carrier and if desired, small items such as toys or chews. We have a specific cleaning routine that is dependent on the use of our own supplies as well as limited storage space, so we really appreciate you letting us take care of all your rabbit's housing needs!
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If I am boarding my guinea pig, what will I need to bring?"We want to make the boarding and packing process as streamlined as possible, so all guinea pigs will be provided with a 2' x 4' boarding suite which includes fleece bedding, a tunnel, a hideaway and a kitchen area that contains ceramic water and food dishes plus plenty of room for your piggy to eat their veggies and romp around in their hay; you do not need to bring your own pen or cage supplies. We actually request that you bring minimal personal items from home aside from your pet's food, a hard-case carrier and if desired, small items such as toys or chews. We have a specific cleaning routine that is dependent on the use of our own supplies as well as limited storage space, so we really appreciate you letting us take care of all your guinea pig's housing needs!
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If I am boarding my hamster, chinchilla or other small pet, do I bring my own cage?"Yes, so long as the set-up is reasonably sized, all hamsters, chinchillas and other small pets will be housed in their regular habitat or a travel enclosure that you provide to us while boarding. We do not provide cages or cage supplies for the little guys, so please bring all items that are normally part of your pet's cage including bedding/litter, bowls, water bottles, toys, wheels and hideaways.
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How should I transport my pet for boarding?All pets must be transported in a hard-case, fully-enclosed pet carrier that is to remain at Pup 'N Pals while your pet is boarding and will be returned to you at the end of your pet's stay. Cat carriers are a wonderful option for bunnies and guinea pigs and most pet stores carry small plastic carriers for pocket pets. Please do not bring your pet in a cage, an open bin/container or a fabric, soft shelled pet carrier (these can easily be chewed out of!) Thank you!
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If my rabbit/guinea pig is accustomed to drinking from a water bottle, will they transition to a water bowl while boarding?"Yes, in fact many owners are surprised to learn that rabbits and guinea pigs will drink more (studies have shown 40% more) when provided with a bowl versus a water bottle since this is a more natural way for your pet to drink. We do not use water bottles for our rabbit or guinea pig guests since they are difficult to sanitize and can hinder hydration, but all of our guests adapt extremely well to drinking from a bowl and many owners actually choose to switch to a bowl after learning how sucessful their pet was while boarding! P.S. We use heavy ceramic crocks for our guests so there is no chance of the bowl being tipped or knocked over, no matter what size your guinea pig or rabbit is! Please do not bring water bottles or bowls from home.
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Do I provide my pet's food?Maintaining your pet's routine diet is of the utmost importance, particularly while boarding. To minimize digestive upset and to keep everybody on track, all pets will be strictly fed the food that is supplied to us by their owners. This includes hay, pelleted food, vegetables and fruits, treats and any medication or supplements your pet will require during their stay. In the case of longer stays (i.e., reservations lasting longer than 7-9 nights), perishable items such as fruits and vegetables will be replaced by us as the owner's original supply diminishes and owners will be charged a grocery fee which is to be paid upon return. We strongly recommend that you bring enough food to last the duration of your pet's stay though it's always a good idea to pack extra in case of an unexpected change in travel plans. Please note: Because we generously top off our bunny and guinea pig boarder's litter boxes with hay, owners should pack a surplus of hay to ensure no chance of running out!
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If my pet is currently on medication, will they still be able to board with you?"We are happy to administer oral medication to boarders for an additional medication fee, however we cannot accept pets that are being treated for a communicable illness due to the risk of spreading disease to other boarders. If your pet is being treated for a communicable illness, boarding them at a veterinarian facility or keeping them home with a sitter is a safe and appropriate option until they are fully recovered and healthy enough to be around other pets. Thanks for understanding!
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Do you offer nail trims or other grooming services?Unfortunately, we do not provide nail trims or any grooming services including brushing as we think it's best to save these procedures for the vet. If you have a long-haired pet who requires daily grooming, we may not be able to accommodate you.
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How often do you clean enclosures?We want all of our guests to be feeling their best and smelling fresh while here, so we clean enclosures daily using nontoxic, environmentally friendly products. Litter boxes are changed and scrubbed, bowls are washed, bedding is vacuumed and cages are spot cleaned at least once a day. In addition, all pens and housing supplies are thouroughly disinfected between guests so you can be sure your pet remains healthy while boarding.
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Will my pet be allowed supervised playtime outside of their pen?Though we believe exercise and mental stimulation are important for all pets, supervised playtime while boarding is limited for the safety of other boarders. Most guests prefer the comfort and privacy of their pen/enclosure and allowing other pets to explore outside of their normal pens can cause unnecessary stress or even territorial aggression in other guests remaining in their pens. For this reason and as a health precaution, supervised playtime is very limited, but all guests do receive daily interaction and plenty of loving attention while here. Plus, our suites are spacious enough to accommodate even the biggest of zoomies!
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Are boarders allowed to interact with one another?For the safety of all boarders, we do not allow unbonded pets or pets from different families to play or come into contact with other boarding guests. Each pet will be housed in their own separate enclosure where they will be able to see other boarders, but no pets will able to physically interact with each other. This minimizes the risk of "disagreements" and injuries and the potential spread of illness.
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How do I book and pay for a boarding reservation?All bookings and payments go through our secure online payment and booking system located right here on our website. This method is both efficient and convenient and allows payment to be collected prior to service. We do not accept cash or check and all bookings must be paid for by the first day of service. Please note: Since we are limited in the number of guests we can accomodate, we strongly recommend booking as far in advance as possible in order to secure your pet's reservation.
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What is your cancellation policy?Because we are limited in the number of clients that we can take, we do require at least 48 hours' notice in the event that you need to cancel a booking. A full refund or credit will be available to clients who give sufficient notice.
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